Sam Eagle shares new single & announces new EP
Single release: out now
Label: Cooking Vinyl
More info: Sam Eagle’s Facebook Page
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2020 - BBC INTRODUCING ESSEX
RECENTLY SUPPORTED PASSENGER ON AMAZON UK LIVESTREAM
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RECENTLY FEATURED ON NPR, CLASH, MAHOGANY PLAYLISTS, BBC RADIO 1, 6 MUSIC AND RADIO X (EVENING PLAYLIST) + SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS SUCH AS “FRESH FINDS” & “FRESH FINDS: THE WAVE”
Today, 21-year old multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Sam Eagle has announced details of his much-anticipated new EP “She’s So Nice”, as well as new single ‘How Often’. The new release follows closely on the heels of his critically acclaimed EP ‘Something Out Of Nothing’, and is due out in April 2021 via Cooking Vinyl.
Following the release of his latest EP, Sam was recently announced as BBC Introducing Essex’s Artist Of the Year 2020, and this month he also supported label-mate Passenger for a livestream concert on Amazon UK’s Twitch channel (which was also simulcast on Passenger and Sam’s channels). Released in November 2020, ‘Something Out Of Nothing’ featured recent singles ‘Big King’, ‘Like This’, ‘Funkenheim’ and ‘Think Twice’ which have also seen Sam earn plaudits from the likes of BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, 6 Music, Radio X (evening playlist), CLASH, Mahogany, Berlin in Stereo and NPR, as well as being added to Spotify playlists such as “Fresh Finds” and “Fresh Finds: The Wave”. Alongside releasing the EP, Sam also finished the first series of his new podcast ‘SamCast’, in which he speaks to some of his favourite artists about their back stories, philosophies and creative approaches. The guests are diverse in genre and location but have a common feature in their attitude to creating music that is both unique and innovative. Recent guests have included the likes of Tom Robinson, Roman Rappak, Sam Duckworth and Yugen Blakrok, with the podcast reaching #6 in Apple’s music commentary podcast charts.
Where ‘Something Out Of Nothing’ marked a new chapter for Sam both personally and musically, the new single ‘How Often’ is an expansive statement of his intent to continue to experiment and sonically diversify. ‘How Often’ repeatedly deconstructs and reassembles itself into something entirely new. Built around a funk-driven bass and rhythm section, the track shifts into psych inflected art-rock territory with obtuse guitar lines and mellifluous synths, all whilst being carried by Sam’s leftfield soul-driven vocal hooks. The song concludes with an R&B breakdown before leading into a softer, more uplifting instrumental resolution. This all takes place in just over 3 mins and offers a perfect introduction to Sam’s ambitious next body of work.
Speaking about the single, Sam says, “This track was the first song I wrote after taking the decision to get back to writing for me. I wanted to write a track that was fun, colourful, weird in a cool way, rhythm-based, and structurally interesting. I thought it would be cool to write it in three sections, with the first section being more positive, energetic and colourful, then the middle section is more uncertain, strange, tight and dark; and then the final section being smoother, calmer, open and more focussed on the lyrics.
The concept behind the song is a musical journey, following someone who is pretty confident in what they’re doing, then losing their way, then reflecting on things and finding an answer to a problem at the end. If this song was to be linked to the overall concept of love, it would be about the love for music, or the love for whatever you do, and how it helps you. I guess it’s probably the story of the whole process of writing and recording these EPs in one song.”
‘She’s So Nice’ EP due out 16th April 2021 via Cooking Vinyl
– Pre-order HERE
Following on from his 2019 debut ‘Coping Mechanisms’, the last year has seen Sam Eagle earn plaudits from the likes of BBC Radio 1, 6 Music and Radio X, performing at festivals such as Latitude, SXSW and The Great Escape, as well as going out on a headline tour – including packed out dates at the Southbank Centre, Green Door Store and a sold-out 400 cap gig at Colchester Arts Centre.
The new EPs see Sam home in on a bigger and more focused sound whilst also channelling his lyrical content inwards. Drawing from the songwriting of decades before him, but with the modern production of the current crop, Sam cites an eclectic range of artists as influences such as JPEGmafia, Andre3000 and Kendrick Lamar as well as David Byrne and Radiohead. However, Sam doesn’t endeavour to replicate these artists musically but credits their inspiration in terms of approach and their attitude to experimentation and composition. The result is a collection of songs that are powerfully imaginative, honest, and most importantly impossible to pigeonhole.
Speaking on the new material, Sam says “The process for these songs has been about adapting and finding new ways to work and make music. I recorded the tracks at home. The entire mixing process was done remotely over the phone and internet. These challenges have made the songs what they are, just as challenges make us who we are as people.”
Getting to this point required a series of refinements, self-exploration, and acceptance. Sam describes a big part of the process of writing and recording the new EPs as involving him “completely losing” his way. Whilst the last year saw him gaining traction off the back of his debut release, it also involved many challenges and changes: a new relationship, travelling across Spain in a van and the Covid-19 lockdown, all of which subsequently led to him craving an opportunity to reconnect with why he makes music and who he is making it for. “It’s been a pretty intense journey. I’m doing stuff now that is much more honest to who I am...” says Sam, “I try to keep my music as pure an expression of myself as I possibly can. These songs are about love. For other people, family, for music (or whatever you do) and nature - the different types of love and what they bring. As a result, it changes and moves with me.”
‘She’s So Nice’ is a hugely exciting leap forward from Sam’s 2019 debut, not only in its musical development but more importantly in Sam’s own personal introspection and thematic and creative awareness. With his sights firmly realigned and hopes to play live again soon, this is the best possible time to get onboard.
