Following on from the release of his previous singles 'Do It All Again' and 'Addicted To You' earlier this year, London-based frontman Sam And Sounds now continues the support for his forthcoming new EP with his latest offering 'Cloud 9'.
Lifted from his upcoming debut EP, set to land this October, 'Cloud 9' is the energetic and upbeat indie-pop anthem we can all do with right now. Taking his cues from the likes of Two Door Cinema Club and Circa Waves, this fast and fun delight is filled with catchy guitar hooks and a notable summer vibe that will get even the most humble of listeners tapping their toes.
So with his new cut doing the rounds right now, we decided to sit down with him to find out more about his background and what first got him involved in the world of music.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I started learning piano when I was 5.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
Probably realising that one of my favourite things to do is to drive in the sunny weather with the windows down and blast summer indie music, so why not make my own!
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
I actually used to love a totally different style of music. I used to be into soul/hip hop type music. Artists like Anderson .Paak, Mac Miller and Childish Gambino would dominate my playlists, but now I’ve moved on to more indie pop (bands like Two Door Cinema Club, Coin and The 1975) - since I’m still 19, I think that counts as my teenager music taste.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
Absolutely. I actually performed a song called ‘Great Balls of Fire’ in front of my entire school when I was 17, with 1000+ people watching and that was when I realised I wanted to pursue music for my career.
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
My own music, and I’m not even lying! I listen mostly to my unreleased stuff and put on more of a performance in the shower than I think I ever have before, haha!
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
A few. My girlfriend is actually perfect for writing songs about. She’s super cool and free spirited and it fits my music style super well! ‘Cloud 9’ is also about someone who left a hate comment on a post on my Instagram and instead of being hurt and demotivated, I decided to be super happy and respond with kindness (and write a song about it!)
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
Yikes. To be honest I’m not that sure... I only released my first song during lockdown, and so haven’t been able to do any of my own shows yet, or anything like that. It was genuinely quite a surreal moment finally being able to type in my name on Spotify and Apple Music and find my own original music there! Also, I can’t forget that both of my first 2 singles reached the top 20 in the iTunes Pop Charts on their release days - that was pretty cool.
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
A few things! I’m a church boy and I love it, so there’s that for starters! Another one is hanging out with my girlfriend Em - at the moment we LOVE watching Modern Family on Netflix, although lockdown has meant that we have to do it on FaceTime for now! Also, I actually have a weirdly obsessive passion for growing fruit trees. I’ve got upwards of 10 lemon trees growing and 3 avocado trees growing too. Does that make me weird? Hope not…!
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
Hmmm... to be honest I have ZERO back up plan... if this all goes to pot, then I hope that mum and dad will let me keep on living at home!
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to stay productive through the coronavirus lockdown?
Lockdown for me has been CRAZY productive and I’ve got loads of songs ready to be released. I think it’s important to hone-in your skills at this time. Do lots of songwriting, even if the songs you write are terrible at first - they will get better if you stick at it. Learn an instrument (I’ve learned some rough ukulele skills, haha!) and connect with your social media followers - they are there to support you! The final piece of advice I’d give (and this is crucial for your wellbeing) is to listen to my music...!
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Sam And Sounds' new single 'Cloud 9' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.