SAM

“Samuel” is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter and session musician. He studied songwriting and composition at college. He received vocal training as part of the program, but the training provided was mainly focused on Western classical technique. His professor restricted him to only singing Western classical music or art songs, and was very strict and controlling. Now that he has graduated, he wants to create and perform the music he actually likes, which is folk-pop, pop/rock, and prog rock, but he has a time breaking out of old habits that were learned in college. He struggles with perfectionism, fear of failure, and an inability to experiment with unfinished sounds and novel styles.

For example, in the song “Fix It to Break It” (Clinton Kane), he struggles with leaning into the belt as well as letting go into the flip:

START: 0:45

I've been pulling you close, but pushing me further
I've been holdin' it back that I see you're different
Sick of me reminding you
To love me like you say you do
And I've been hurting myself to keep you from leaving
I've been wondering whether we'll last the season
Wish we could've made this work
But now I know that I need more
I need more, oh
I need more
I need more