Ever feel like your biggest dreams are just waiting on the other side of fear?
Samantha SAvvy was born in the fire of dance. That’s been the heartbeat behind almost everything I’ve created. Not because I’ve mastered fear—but because I’ve had to work through it at every step.
Dance was my first love. Competitive salsa and bachata gave me structure, community, and a stage to express myself. I thrived on it. But when the world shut down during the pandemic, everything paused—including that version of my identity. What stayed with me, though, was the music.
I had been slowly falling for a different sound: kizomba. It crept into my playlists at festivals and lived in the background while I trained. But now, I had time to listen deeper. And once I did, I couldn’t stop. That rhythm moved something in me. I didn’t just want to dance to it—I wanted to curate it, share it, create it.
Want to hear the full story in my own words? Check out the podcast interview below where I dive deep into the journey, the setbacks, and the sparks that lit this path.
I bought the controller—and let it sit in silence
I wasn’t always Samantha SAvvy and the story I share in this podcast paints the picture about how I found myself inventing a new identity. That came later. Before everything transpired I found myself with a burning curiosity. I invested in my first DJ controller, got excited… and didn’t touch it for six months.
It intimidated me. Everything about it screamed “this isn’t for you.” I kept telling myself I wasn’t ready. But bit by bit, I started learning the tech. I’d mix two songs. Then five. Eventually, I found myself playing small community events. I wasn’t polished, but I was present—and that mattered more.
Word spread. Western Canada’s dance community is tight-knit. People began asking me to play. I said yes, even when I was nervous. Especially then. That’s when DJ SAvvy came to life—not just as a name, but as a new embodiment of my voice and courage.
The moment I posted my first mix online, things shifted. An organizer from Paris reached out. That one set led to my first European booking, and with it, the feeling that this dream was real.
The fear didn’t go away—it just stopped deciding for me
Every step into something new has tested my confidence. Music production was next. I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be a producer, but I kept hearing the same advice: if you want people to recognize your name, they need to hear your sound in sets everywhere.
I started small. One track. Then another. Writing lyrics. Recording vocals—something I hadn’t done since I was younger. In April, I released my second EP. It’s still wild to say that out loud.
But what stayed with me most weren’t the streams or feedback. It was the messages from other women. Some had always dreamed of DJing but felt it wasn’t for them. Others were photographers, writers, artists—women with vision, but waiting on courage. They told me that watching my journey helped them believe in theirs.
That’s why I created SAvvy Speaks.
This brand is my soul in business form
It started with speaking. Doing things like podcast interviews. Telling my story. Sharing how I’d moved through fear, performance pressure, reinvention, and the male-dominated spaces I’d had to navigate in real estate and music.
But SAvvy Speaks quickly became more than just words on a stage.
I wanted to build a universe. Something that could hold not just my music, but my message. A place where people could come to be reminded of their voice and their power. So now, I’m building:
- A group coaching program—for women who are ready to start or reinvent their path with confidence
- A podcast—because I love honest, deep conversations that wake people up
- A growing music label that reflects everything DJ Savvy stands for: passion, power, and presence
The throughline? Empowerment through authenticity. Always.
Joy is not the reward—it’s the reason
I spent too long thinking I’d be happy when I hit a milestone. That next job. That perfect track. That breakthrough moment. Samantha SAvvy was getting tired of chasing and in this podcast episode it becomes very clear when that takes place in my story.
What I’ve learned? If joy isn’t part of your process, it won’t magically show up at the finish line.
I DJ because I feel most alive when the music flows through me. When I watch the energy in a room shift and sync. When I create a moment for someone else to feel free, or full, or seen.
That joy is what fuels everything else. And the more I honor it, the more aligned everything becomes.
Authenticity is everything—and it isn’t always easy
Being “real” isn’t just a branding angle. It’s the way I keep myself grounded. I check in constantly: am I acting in alignment? Am I doing what I say I’ll do? Am I living like the version of me I’m becoming?
This isn’t about pretending to have it all together. It’s about being vulnerable enough to admit when I don’t—and sharing from there anyway. I’ve learned that social media can reward the polished and punish the honest, but I don’t care. I didn’t build Samantha SAvvy to chase algorithms. I built this to be of service.
Real connection starts when you stop performing and start showing up. Fully. Flawed. Fierce. That’s what makes people lean in. That’s what gives others permission to do the same.
If you’re stuck, this is what I know for sure
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need to wait until you’re fearless.
All you need is a whisper—something inside you that says “this matters.” Follow that. Take one step. Let it be messy.
Because every dream I’ve chased—every room I’ve walked into feeling underqualified—has taught me the same thing:
Everything you want is waiting on the other side of the fear you’ve been trying to ignore.
You’re not here to play small. You’re not here to keep waiting.
And if you need support? You don’t have to do it alone.
Contact me — I’d love to help you build the confidence, clarity, and courage you need to live the life you were actually meant for.
