British DJ Massuma is having a moment. His debut single Contesto has exploded across clubs and socials, racking up millions of streams and support from global heavyweights like Keinemusik, Carlita, and Shimza. Formerly known as Sam Savage, he has transitioned from spinning for hip hop icons to leading the charge in Afro house with a fresh, multicultural sound. To dive deeper into his musical journey and future plans, we caught up with Massuma for an interview.
Your debut single Contesto blew up almost instantly. Did you expect such a massive reaction, or did it take you completely by surprise?
Since the vocals were so nostalgic for me I always knew it had the potential to blow up. But when Rampa played it in Barcelona for the first time and everyone was singing along, that’s when it hit me how much potential it actually has.
The track was an ID for months before release, driving fans crazy online. How did it feel watching that hype build in real time?
It was amazing to see so much excitement building around the track, it felt like people were really connecting with it even before it had a name. At the same time, it was a little frustrating because the release was out of my hands, and when an early version leaked online it didn’t truly represent the finished record. But that’s what made the official release so rewarding, the anticipation had been building for so long, and once the real version finally dropped, the reaction was even bigger than I imagined.
You’ve reintroduced yourself as Massuma after years of performing as Sam Savage in the hip hop world. What inspired this creative rebirth?
After years of performing as Sam Savage, I felt I’d reached the peak of what I could do in hip hop. With not much fresh music coming out after Pop Smoke’s passing, I knew it was time to explore something new. I’ve always loved House, since the “UK funky house” days, and I was already producing funky house back in 2013/14, so in a way it felt like returning to my roots.
From DJing for A$AP Rocky and Travis Scott to releasing on Keinemusik’s VOD, that’s a huge shift in energy. How do those worlds connect for you?
Both worlds are deeply creative in their own way. Coming from a hip hop DJ background gave me a sharp understanding of how to read a room and connect with a crowd. That skill translates directly into my Afro House sets, just expressed differently.
Afro house is having a real global moment right now. What drew you to the sound, and what do you feel you’re bringing that’s uniquely your own?
Being from a North African background, the afrohouse rhythm was always in my blood. That mixed with the fact I grew up in London which is a melting pot of cultures, I feel I portray it in my music. For example the original sample for “Contesto” is a Latin track which was introduced to me by my first ever girlfriend who was Colombian. I took the vocals and slapped some deep, hard, melodic Afrohouse beats on top of it.
London is now your base. How has the city influenced your approach to music and the way you want to shape your identity as Massuma?
London is so diverse and multicultural that it shaped me in every way. Growing up, I learned fluent Portuguese from my Angolan friends and Spanish from my Latino friends. Those influences naturally found their way into my sound, you can hear that cultural blend throughout my music.
Keinemusik, Carlita, Amémé, Shimza—some of the biggest names are already supporting your debut. How does that early co-sign shape your confidence and momentum?
Massively. Without their support, Contesto wouldn’t have reached the numbers it did. Having those names backing me means everything, especially when you’re trying to get a track signed to a major label. Their validation really fuels the momentum.
What comes next after Contesto—do you see this as the start of a bigger project, maybe an EP or live shows in the near future?
I have another highly anticipated track called “Blonda” coming out on MoBlack and a few other surprise releases throughout the rest of the year. Also a homecoming show at KOKO London, which is an iconic venue, on 6th September and loads of shows abroad. It’s getting hard to get sleep these days, but I’m definitely not complaining, it feels good to be on the road and play my music in many different locations.