If you don't know Sammy Rae & The Friends, please drop what you're doing right now and check them out. Their genre-bending music and heartwarming and gut-wrenching lyrics are unforgettable, and Sammy's vocal range, alone, is enough to stop anyone in their tracks.
A few weeks ago, I had the absolute honor to cover the band's first (!!!) Los Angeles show. I went into the show with high expectations, and, somehow, those expectations were exceeded. The electric energy of the crowd was palpable, and the unadulterated joy that the band felt while performing was contagious. As the West Coast leg of their tour wrapped up, I was able to do an email interview with Sammy. We chatted about the pandemic, song inspirations, and not being able to see a life in which music isn't a constant. Check it out below!
1. How has the pandemic affected your creative process?
Naturally, it’s difficult to be a large, highly collaborative band when we can’t be together. The songs still start with me, and sometimes me, Will on guitar and Kellon on sax, because we’re housemates. In making the ‘LTAP’ ep, we did a lot of sharing voice memos and figuring things out in the studio rather than multiple pre-recording session rehearsals.
2. What did you miss the most about touring during quarantine?
The first and second row. A whole took of people being supportive and eager to share space is very exciting, but it’s really special to make eye contact and have close encounters with the folks up front. I know they waited outside for a long time and I appreciate it a lot. It’s fun to feel like every night we get a big room full of people, and like…50 new friends we can really connect with.
3. What’s your favorite song to perform live? Why?
I love ‘The Box’. It’s a more melodic and laid-back tune which gives me a chance to breathe and stand still and really deliver lyrical content. It also features a big group sing along and the audience always blows us away.
4. You have such a unique vocal style & your song production is absolutely killer. How were you able to find your sound, especially with such a large band?
The secret is in the sauce, I guess! What’s special about this project is that we are seven musicians from seven different worlds and studies of music. It’s extremely liberating to make music in such a collaborative way with so many uniquely talented individuals. My vocal performance isn’t inspired by my appreciation for one genre; I love jazz music, I love folk music, and I love rock and roll. And I love finding a way to make it make sense on top of the bed of music each of my six bandmates bring. Over time, we’ve found ways to work together as a group without hindering ourselves as individuals.
5. What is your mindset when you go into writing and recording music? What is your mindset going into performing?
Going into making music, the mindset is ‘how can we be as authentically ourselves as possible?’ Every new recording is an opportunity for us to further introduce ourselves to new and existing audience members. Going into performing, the mindset is ‘how can we give our audience the best night possible? And how can we vary what they know from the record for the live setting in order to make it more interesting for them?’
6. Who are your biggest musical inspirations?
Vocally, my big three is probably Ella Fitzgerald, Bruce Springsteen, and Paul McCartney. Arrangement wise, it sounds dumb, but my biggest inspiration is my band. I’m not just imagining ‘a groove’ anymore, I’m imagining the groove or beat that C-Bass can play better than anyone. Some songs call for a sax solo in Max’s style, and some for Kellon’s, so I’m writing for them. Not just for any sax player, drummer, or bassist.
7 . If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Wishing I was making music. I tried to be an elementary school teacher for a second and tried to get my degree in education. I wish I could, but I just couldn’t. I’d probably be a great teacher. But not a happy one. The only thing that makes me happy enough to do forever is making music.
8. Have you found that traveling and touring has inspired some new songs? How does traveling inspire your sound?
Of course. Having so many different places to see and experience is filling me with all new kinds of words, sights, smells, emotions. There’s only so much I can write about my experience and surroundings when it’s always my home in Brooklyn. On tour we take in new environments and learn about each other in new ways. We feel the weight of our responsibility to ourselves and our audience more deeply and emotionally every time we go out on the road.
9. What have some of your personal favorite stops on tour been? Any places you look forward to visiting every tour?
We love western Massachusetts! There seems to be a large college-aged crowd there, and a large queer crowd who really love our shows. When we’re not in New York, Northampton and Boston have always felt like second homes. And of course, we love a hometown show in Brooklyn. It’s been a thrill getting to experience the landscapes, vibes and audiences on the West Coast during our most recent January run as well! California was a dream come true, South to North.
While their West Coast run might be over, you can still catch Sammy Rae & The Friends on their East Coast leg of the Follow Me Like The Moon tour. Grab your tickets here; I promise you won't regret it.
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