Samuel Jack brings a fresh and distinct sound through his passionate, storytelling lyrics and velvet vocals, resulting in a completely compelling delivery.
Growing up in Johannesburg, London with his film director Father, Jack spent much of his time soaking in the vibrant tones of Blues, Motown, soul and roots music, which to this date play a big role in his songwriting.
Combining the music of his childhood, with his new love for hip hop and pop, the soulful artist has established his own unique style which has been piquing the interest of listeners across the globe.
You just released a new album Empty Pockets, Crowded Heart Vol.1. Tell us more about the inspiration behind the five-track release.
In short, I decided to release the album in three volumes for a couple of reasons. One; each and every single song on this record is massively important to me and I wanted them to be able to stand alone and give my listeners a chance to really dig into them. Secondly, how music consumption has changed over the years, releasing the album in three volumes allows to keep up with the constant demand for New Music and intersperse with videos, live performances, etc… something to satisfy the appetite.
The album is inspired by my journey this far. The love, the loss, the heartbreak, and adventure. I’ve learned so much about myself writing this record and it’s helped me move past and conquer some things I couldn’t foresee overcoming before.
You’ve spoken very openly about your experiences with mental health and how music for you acts as a form of therapy. Do you have any advice for others who may be struggling, especially during this current pandemic?
For me, overcoming or even just managing my own mental problems was very very difficult – but I got there in the end through professional help, and most important , learning that it’s OK to open up and talk about it.
My advice would be to try and accept that you have these problems, stay calm, talk lots and remember that you’re not alone. I can imagine that being especially hard to do, even more so right now with our global Covid-19 situation. So I’d say go easy on yourself, take a breath, and try to remember the beautiful things. They’re out there. I promise.
Do you have a favorite track on the album and if so, why?
Genuinely, I love all these songs. There are some that are so close to my heart they’re hard to sing sometimes, ‘Real Love’ and ‘Closer’ particularly. There’s ones that make me feel alive like ‘Gonna Be Alright’…. and then there’s so many more to come.
How many other volumes will there be and when can we expect to hear them?
Two more volumes! Empty Pockets Crowded Heart Vol.2 will be out in June and Vol.3 out in September.
If you could collaborate with anyone dead or alive, who would it be and why?
BB king. I just love the idea of ripping vocals over him shredding a blues jam – then sitting down for a whiskey after to celebrate.
What does 2020 hold for Samuel Jack?
Well, as soon as I physically can and it’s safe to, I’ll hopefully be out on the road and touring the new album. I’m longing to playing this live. I have an incredible band all ready to go… so, that’s the goal right now, fingers crossed.
Samuel Jack has landed multiple TV placements on adverts and shows such as Levi’s most recent campaign,Shameless and Nashville, as well as garnering acclaim from significant outlets including the likes of Clash, American Songwriter, Earmilk, Music Week, Live Nation’s Ones To Watch and the BBC. “Gonna Be Alright” was added to Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist.
You can follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can check out Samuel Jack’s website for his upcoming tour schedule.
