British singer-songwriter Samuel Jack has devoted his life to music and hasn’t left any room for a plan B. Spending several years of his childhood in Johannesburg opened his eyes to a multitude of different musical styles which greatly influenced him, his love for early soul music alongside pop being the catalyst to inspire him to follow this path. The new record set to be released on June 16th is a journey exploring universal experiences from a personal perspective and weaves through his perseverance to conquer self-doubts, relationships that faded before others blossomed, and the passing of his father. Set to sonics merging singer-songwriter reflection, pop, and soulful nuances – with a little bit of blues and hip-hop thrown in for good measure – it’s sure to engage with fans on many levels.
Writing from the heart is all Samuel knows and wants to do, using music as a form of therapy, he says how it’s helped him start some serious conversations in the past. Relatable and honest, his songwriting often depicts very personal and meaningful situations while his rugged, soulful vocals and emotive lyricism set him aside from the rest.
The new single, ‘Borderline’, joins ‘Sun Goes Down’ and ‘Those Days’ in showing what we can expect from the new album. The track speaks of how all it takes is one decision to change your whole life. Starting off with just piano and his voice, the song builds into a big catchy chorus with lush vocals radiating such feelings.
Previous release ‘Feels Like Summer’ from ‘Empty Pockets Crowded Heart’ is arguably Samuel Jack’s biggest hit to date. The track was released in 2019 and found itself becoming America’s most-used song for Instagram Reels some two years later. The track has garnered over 50 million streams to date, something he was not expecting.
House Of Solo spoke to Samuel Jack on his upbringing, using music as therapy, and what’s next for the London-born musician.
Hi Samuel, a debut full-length album is a most exciting time for any artist and you are currently gearing up to release yours. The second taste of what we can expect came in the form of your new single and opening track on the record, ‘Borderline’. Can you please talk us through the process of writing that song in particular and what it means to you?
‘Borderline’ was such fun to write, it started with my friend Chris Young in his studio in Kent – pretty sure it was over a glass of whiskey actually – we were talking about the notion of ‘sliding doors’ and how one decision can alter and shape your whole life. Borderline is about that and about the desire to go back – right to the edge with someone and make a different choice.
The upcoming album ‘The Gold & The Glory’ is set to be released on June 16th. You mentioned that each and every song on your previous releases [‘Empty Pockets Crowded Heart’ volumes 1, 2, and 3] were extremely special and personally to you in different ways. Does this new record follow suit and do you feel nervous to release such deep-feeling tracks?
It absolutely follows suit. I only know one way to write music, straight up and from the heart. In some ways I feel more nervous than ever releasing this into the wild – I’ve never done a full-length record before and this has been quite the journey.
Please talk us through some of the themes you explore within it?
What I love about this album is its variety, not only sonically, but emotionally too… songs about love; being in it, having it, losing it – songs about loss, joy, self-acceptance, perseverance, and nostalgia. So much has happened to me over the last couple of years, and all the feels are jam-packed into this record.
Are there any tracks on the album which you are more nervous for fans to heard or, similarly, are there tracks which have an even deeper meaning to you than others?
Every song on the record means something to me, but I’d say ‘Chat Dad’ is a heavy hitter on the heartstrings – it’s about my late father, who I wish was around to hear it.
For anyone who has not come across your music, how would you best describe it and how would you ‘sell’ yourself?
I’m not the most natural of salesman, but if you like big storytelling and big vocals – I’ve got you covered. Sounds like BB King and Justin Timberlake’s second cousin had an affair with Mike Skinner – the lovechild of whom became heavily influenced by soul, country and gospel. Or something like that anyway.
We have to talk a little about the track that propelled your career to new heights.
No idea what you’re talking about…
’Feels Like Summer’ went viral on Instagram becoming the most popular song for Instagram Reels in America two years after its release. Amalgamating over 50 million streams to date, I imagine it came as somewhat of a surprise to be so popular on the app but since then, have you found yourself writing songs tailoring and imagining how well they could potentially sit on apps like Instagram and TikTok?
Ohh that one!
Proper question! Goes without saying I’m forever grateful for ‘Feels Like Summer’ but the truth is, I’ve really grown as an artist since then. My writing has developed, and If I’m totally honest I don’t think that song was necessarily ‘me’ – it was just a fun little jam that I wrote one afternoon. Don’t get me wrong I’d love every song I write to do the same thing but I certainly don’t ‘reach’ for songs that I ‘think’ would do well online – sadly I think the art of songwriting is getting a little lost, or certainly shifting. The way we consume music these days via apps like TikTok or Instagram Reels has made major labels almost industrialise songwriting in some ways -10 writers on a song/hook designed for TikTok – there are even writers now doing what is called ‘TikTok pop’. Maybe I’m being old-fashioned but that’s just not the thing for me, I just hope to write my best song possible, songs that I love and enjoy to focus on the art of it – and hope the audience will listen.
Until then, follow me on TikTok for more new music!
Your first ‘proper’ performance was at Glastonbury festival – What a baptism of fire! – since then, what has been your most favourite performance to date? Do you have any particular festivals or venues you wish to conquer one day soon?
Glasto was madness! I’d love to do a run of all the big festivals for sure – any and all. Barn On The Farm is up there for me. My fave gig since Glasto was probably either a headline show at O’Meara in London (height of summer after lockdown – it went off!) or a really special intimate show I played in my hometown church.
You spent your childhood in Johannesburg surrounded by soul and blues music alongside falling in love with tribal and community singing. How do you think your upbringing impacted the way you create music and who have been some of your most influential musical inspirations?
Those few years in South Africa definitely made an impact on me musically – listening to Ladysmith Black Mombasa used to put the hairs up on the back of my neck, and Paul Simons Graceland pretty much soundtracked my time out there. I was young at the time, but Jo’burg definitely marked the start of my musical journey – on returning to England I got into hip hop, rock, and pop all whilst loving the country, blues, and gospel that would play at home.
Your tracks often depict very personal, meaningful situations and themes. Describing your childhood as being spent “All over the place”, both geographically and emotionally. Do you find yourself using songwriting as a sort of therapy, a way to get those emotions out and give them a voice…
100% – There have been times over the last couple of years when music has quite literally started very important conversations for me, and really helped me mend bridges. Yes, songwriting has been my constant, it’s been right by my side for as long as I can remember and it’s not going anywhere. People leave but songs don’t, and to me, that is the most wonderful thing.
Finally, after your upcoming album release, what is next for Samuel Jack?
Strong chance I’ll become a TikTok sensation but other than that, I look forward to more live shows and more writing – if I won the lottery I’d be doing the same thing as I did today in Stoke Newington, writing songs.
