Growing up Sam studied classical piano and guitar to a high standard, and played in a variety of jazz and rock bands, but chose to avoid the narrow horizons of an academic music education. Whilst studying for a degree in Anthropology (he graduated with first class honors), Sam continued to write and perform, composing a wide range of electronic music, much of which has been released by record labels. He has also worked collaboratively with visual artists on installation pieces, and more recently composed the soundtrack to a BBC documentary about the painter and stained-glass artist, Brian Clarke.