Ever wondered what it’s like to truly surrender? Leather-Sam, a Finnish bondage Master and play switch, pulls back the curtain. He shares his journey from childhood rope games to becoming a respected rigger, revealing the raw power, deep emotions, and ultimate liberation found when you’re beautifully tied up.
Online shopping got you tied up? Forget returns! Today, MasterMarc snags a chat with Leather-Sam, a phenomenal bondage Master and play switch from Finland. Get ready to unravel his passion for ropes, the intoxicating allure of control, and how he found his true self in the glorious world of kink!
Leather-Sam: I really enjoy bondage from many perspectives – from short, intense sessions to day-long plays. As a sub, the feeling of losing control is extremely liberating. As a rigger, I love the aesthetics of the ropes on a body and the sensual dynamics with my subs. Bondage also offers great opportunities to explore some deep emotions.
Of course, there’s the sexual, horny side too. I absolutely love those fantasies where the sub innocently steps into a trap and suddenly finds himself a tied-up object in some fierce prison or institution. On the other hand, for actual play, I often say that the area where fantasy and reality truly support each other is pretty narrow.
My interest in being tied up has followed me since childhood. We even played a lot of “tie and escape” games with my friends.
MasterMarc: Before we talk more about bondage, let’s go back to your first steps into the world of kink.
Leather-Sam: My earliest memory of getting tied up is from my very early childhood, at the beginning of the ’80s, when I was bound with a belt during cowboys and Indians play. The interest in being tied up has followed me ever since. We also did a lot of “tie and escape” games with my friends as kids, until at some age it started to feel “awkward” to ask them to tie you up. There really weren’t many role models or resources to explore this side of my identity back then. For a long time, I felt like I might be the only freak in the world who liked these kinds of things. During those times, I did a lot of self-bondage, alone and secretly. It’s quite a miracle nothing too dangerous happened during those plays.
MasterMarc: Oh yes, my Boy Scout times also played a part in my kink development! But when did you start living it in a sexual context?
Leather-Sam: It was a very long journey for me to come out as a fetish guy. I was almost 40 years old when I started to fully accept that this is such a strong part of my identity, something that has followed me my whole life. I realized I should truly be proudly myself.
I had been talking about fetishes with a close friend, and he suggested I should do some kind of art project to express and explore them. That was the kick that started my fetish social media presence on Instagram and Twitter. I never expected people to widely like the photos, but suddenly I realized there’s an amazing community out there that has truly helped me come out. The final step in that process was when I took part in the Mr. Fetish Finland 2020 contest. For that, I had to work through the idea that, if nominated, I would have to represent the community openly. Even though I wasn’t nominated, it was a great experience and a significant mental process for me.
Nowadays, I personally think that shame is something that is not only harmful but can also be very dangerous for people with fetishes.
Breaking the Chains of Shame: Why Hiding Hurts
MasterMarc: Why was it so hard to come out as a kinkster?
Leather-Sam: It was a lot to do with shame. Fetishes, like SM, were diagnosed as a mental disorder in Finland until 2011, and these interests have traditionally been seen as something shameful publicly. Still, quite often, non-fetish people don’t easily understand this lifestyle. But nowadays, I personally think that shame is something that is not only harmful, but can also be very dangerous for people with fetishes. Shame drives fetishists to explore unsafe things alone or arrange anonymous meetings with unknown people without telling anyone.
MasterMarc: Yes, shame and safety often don’t go together. And I think safety is very important, even more so if you’re restricted by ropes or other tools. You have experience as both a sub and a rigger. Can you tell us a little about your safety measures, both as a sub and as a top?
Leather-Sam: I’m very consent-oriented, especially when I tie up or dominate someone, so I have a lot of “endless” talks with the guys who end up in my ropes. I try to understand their experiences, limits, and wishes so that I have a holistic picture or map of the framework where we are playing.
When the play gets harder, I also use certain communication methods tailored to that specific type of play. For example, if my sub is tightly muzzled, I give him a way to express that something is wrong. Rope bondage has its own specific risk areas, which may not be obvious to most guys I tie up. So those risks need to be briefed to the sub well before play.
As a sub, I follow pretty much the same guidelines as a Dom. This basically means that if there’s no good communication from the guy who wants to dominate me, and if I don’t feel he’s capable of taking care of my safety and respecting my limits, then there will be no play. Generally, sitting for a cup of coffee tells a lot about people.
I’m also fortunate to be quite active in the fetish community, which offers advantages for talking with other fetish guys before entering someone’s “isolation box.” The circles are quite small, especially here in Finland, but also internationally. There’s always someone who has played with someone else.
MasterMarc: I’m quite sure your bondage skills have developed with time. Can you tell us a little about the goals of bondage you’ve done in the beginning and the bondage you’re doing now?
Leather-Sam: I’ve used ropes in bondage and in my hobbies like sailing and climbing for quite a long time, so I have some prior knowledge about ropes. But I started practicing more Japanese-style rope bondage, or shibari, a few years ago. I think that any bondage gear is a tool that you use to get into the kind of play you’re looking for. Ropes work very well for my personal likes, as I enjoy putting a lot of emphasis on the mental connection with my playmates. Besides developing a strong mental connection, I like to achieve bondage that is functional, aesthetic, and safe. Especially with ropes, my skills have developed much in the perspective of understanding anatomy and adjusting the tightness for different kinds of ties. I also think my eye has developed a bit for creating some aesthetics. But the more I tie, the more nuances I find that I want to learn.
Future Fantasies: Longer Holds and Prison Play
MasterMarc: Every kinkster has his fantasies and kink ideas he hasn’t still realized. Can you tell us about some of your fantasies you want to realize in the future?
Leather-Sam: So far, my longest bondage play has been 25 hours. Now I’m planning to have a 48-hour play, which should happen in the near future if things go as planned. I was talking with my friend about a few days’ prison camp play, which he has attended a few times. That is something I haven’t done yet, but I definitely would love to do someday as a prisoner, if I have an opportunity.
MasterMarc: What is the attraction of being a prisoner?
Leather-Sam: I believe that in a real-life prison, it would be pretty boring and frustrating, but in a kinky-minded prison play, it could be pretty much fun. As a sub, I appreciate a Dom who has the strength and determination to push me back to my sub-position again and again, which really emphasizes losing my control… and I wouldn’t feel bad about losing a rough wrestling match with overpowering guards.
What do you think, Kinkfinity fam? Have you experienced the liberating power of giving up control, or the thrill of mastering the ropes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
