Since his emergence, Sam O’Neill – better known as TCTS – has become one of the UK’s most tipped producers with his ability to produce exceptional cross-over hits, garnering support both from mainstream and underground tastemakers. Whilst studying at university in Manchester, Sam was introduced to the electronic music scene through experiences at The Warehouse Project and being in the midst of the city’s blossoming nightlife.
Studying throughout the explosion of dubstep and deep house, Sam was surrounded by artists such as Disclosure, XXXY, Deadboy and the Hessle Audio crew. However, early influences are drawn from his childhood where he started playing piano at the age of 8 and played the guitar in several bands. His ear for musicality is evident throughout his colourful productions such as ‘1997’, ‘Live For Something’and ‘You’ that are driven by infectious melodies.
His debut release ‘1997’ happened by chance as Sam submitted to track to BBC Radio 1 and was picked up by prolific radio host Huw Stephens. Having heard it on the radio, Bondax picked the track up, releasing it on their Just Us imprint in 2012. Alongside a steady slew of original productions, TCTS has remixed for the likes of Watermat, Haim, Years & Years, Jessie Ware and Snakehips.
Always wanting to pursue a career in music, one of his dreams included owning his label. Early 2016, Sam founded his label ‘Make Something’ as a platform to release his own music on his own terms. Kicking it off with ‘Jelly’, Sam aims to turn ‘Make Something’ into a platform to host his favourite artists. With his productions taking off, Sam began to teach himself to DJ as a way of being able to road test his latest creations and witness how the crowd reacts to them. Delving back into the club scene, tracks released as TCTS are a mixture of club-ready cuts and home listening gems. The beat-driven tracks ‘Thinking About You’and ‘Forward’ highlight his influences from labels such as Cajual, Dirtybird and Defected and his ability to produce genre-bending hits.
As an in-demand DJ, TCTS has shared bills with Disclourse, Jackmaster, Todd Terje, Duke Dumont, and live highlights include Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Hideout, Creamfield, Miami Music Week and tours of Australia and Asia. TCTS has also tapped into the world-renowned Ibiza scene where he has played at Cream Ibiza and a headline show at Ocean Beach Club. Sam’s eclectic style has garnered support from several credible tastemakers and led to him signing with Chase & Status’ MTA Recordings as well as working with Joe Goddard at Greco Roman for releases such as his third EP ‘Games’, ‘These Heights’ and ‘Coupe De Ville’. His first release of 2017 ‘Do It Like Me (Icy Feet) – a collaboration with Kelis and Sage The Gemini – saw Sam work with Ministry of Sound and reach number 1 in the BBC Radio 1 Dance Chart, a Top 10 UK Dance Shazam Chart and this is only the start.
Sam’s innovative productions has led to his TCTS project becoming one of the most exciting names in the scene as he consistently blends the two contrasting worlds of underground and mainstream together.
