What is your name? SAM WAY
What is your genre of music?
The new single is all EPIC INDIE POP vibes
Give us a little bio about you. –
I grew up in Devon, played rugby, had a pet tarantula, loved playing the piano but disliked all lessons and my teacher in turn, began modelling when I was 16 – this was a surprise to me as much as anyone – and moved up to London when I was 21 to pursue this as a career. In London a lethal concoction of HEARTBREAK X ISOLATION X SPARE TIME led to me writing my first songs on the guitar, and from there on, all these crazy catalysts a and a lot of hard work have happened to lead me here – about to release by brand new single LAST PAGE into the world…and damnnnnnnn I am excited about it.
Are you a signed?
Nope
You are releasing new single ‘Last Page’ whats the stoy behind the track?
The song was born in a co-write jamm session between me and Billy Wright, lead singer of ‘Arcaves’ I had this primary chord structure and a few ideas and verses written out together we started exploring this image and idea of the LAST PAGE. (I think we were both having relationship woes won’t we Billy? ) 😉 That was almost 2 years ago. I took it into the studio, and now the recorded version of the song has gone become a bit of a monster. In a good way – I like monsters – and has grown into something I’m so proud of.
How long did it take to write?
4 hours wasn’t it Billy? – with Nandos In-between LOL
Your Debut EP will be out 2017, tell us more about it.
the single is out next week…
The EP is going to be called Archetype > The songs on there I feel, touch on recurrent, almost archetypal ideas, stories and feelings running through both my own life and maybe even our shared human experience.
Do you have any gigs coming up or maybe a tour of your own?
I have shows here in NYC, where I will be till the end of NOV, with a UK tour planned in the new year.
If so where will you be heading?
I would love to start the tour in Devon, and around Cornwall and then end it in Turkey – bizarrely I have a large fan base out there.
You was discovered by Eric Hall, how did that come about?
Literally sat in my local café in Bethnal Green, it’s one of Eric’s favourite haunts, we started chatting, and after a while I decided to open up to him about the songs I had just started to write – having no idea who he was – and it all just went from there.
Where is your dream venue to play in the uk?
GLASTO – PYRAMID STAGE !!!
where is your dream venue to play anywhere overseas?
I just saw Patti Smith play the Hollywood Bowl in LA. That would be a lovely venue to play.
Do you have any collaborations with any other artists in the planning?
I do indeed. But not sure if I can talk about it yet.
Would you consider collaborating with any other artist? if so how could the contact you?
I love, thrive off, collaboration and creating something together. I think it’s an important part of your development as an artist too. Well…….there are so many ways now….just pick one…e mail is best…instagram has become the most popular!
Do you play any instruments? Guitar – Piano
Who are your influences?
Mum + Dad. My musical taste literally went all over the place in my late teens, moving though UK hip hop and breaks to minimal glitchey Dubstep and then to orchestral soundscapes > so its hard to pin down. I think everything has played its part.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
1)Relationships 2) Experiences 3) and reading….
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
I know where I would like to be, I want to push explore and grow my musicality in every single interesting way, but so much will change in 5 years. I’m trying to move to the states next year, but wherever I will be – preferably on an island, jamming out some tunes on a beach with a coconut after coming off the world tour – I know I’ll be still writing songs.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
I still work as a fashion model which is another volatile and unstable career but can work really well with music as it gives me the free time to dedicate to my craft. Otherwise, I’m trying to manage a totally mental social life or watching Naruto Shippuden 😉
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Drive that bus.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
It’s all about discovery. I’ll go back to watching Patti Smith perform at the Hollywood bowl last week – there is someone who has dedicated their life to music because it is so fundamentally a part of who she is she probably couldn’t imagine doing anything else. But when she spoke on stage, she stood for something; she captured the crowd with her words and touched us all in a way that was so powerful. I felt like she’d discovered some part of herself and it was a privilege for her to share that with us. I think being an artist is about knowing what story you want to tell, knowing why you want to say what you’re saying, and in the process discover more about each other and ourselves.
You also Model and have done for some great names, what made you go in to Modelling?
Total accident 😉 I got scouted on a day trip up from Devon with my mum by a model scout from Models1.
What has been your best campaign you have ever done?
Shooting the TVC to DEISEL ‘Only the Brave’ was so EPIC !!!! There was this scene where I had to run towards all these cars and they had to reverse away from me, they kept on breaking down because they were these beautiful old classic cars. I was still pretty young at the time too, it was so cool and so surreal all at the same time.
You are also working with Fifth Element PR, how did that come about?
My Manager linked us up. I think they must have liked the new single 😉
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Life is Change
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
To Turn your phone off – mine went off when I was performing once – it was one of my favourite moments from tour! / Don’t panic if you break a string 😉 / A sense of composure / Awareness / Some secret stash of snacks you can munch on after the show, I cant eat before I perform and am ravenous after!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes I do. Instagram / Twitter and Facebook are all @iamsamway
Thanks for reading
