Sam Wickens
Singer songwriter Sam Wickens takes on our Guestlist series and chats about the 10 songs that shaped him as an artist. The NI Music Prize nominee is releasing a stunning video for his new single 'Murky Waters' along with his new EP 'Watson' on the 5th.
22 (OVER S∞∞N) - Bon Iver
I have been a Bon Iver fan for years upon years. I pre-ordered the "22, A Million" album as soon as it was announced. I listened to it first on cassette tape and headphones. The first time I heard the opening line "It might be over soon" -it just struck deep. I immediately thought about my depression and it gave me hope that things will get better some time. I still listen to it and it has just as much of an effect.
Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks
I spent New years 2020 in hospital with a few different illnesses. I was bed bound for over a month, lost a lot of weight and had to learn how to eat again. In February, I forced myself to go out for a walk as I had got a bit more strength and the first song that Spotify randomly played was this - I had never heard it before!
I spent three hours walking with this song on repeat and just felt like "things are getting better". It will always give me a smile when this song is played!
The Only Thing - Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan was my closest friend when I was very badly depressed. His songs were like conversations to me and made me feel less alone. I listened to this song every single night and just felt like someone understood how I was feeling. You can hear how vulnerable he is with his singing, His lyrics are nothing but raw honesty about his life.
Afraid of Everyone - The National
The National, what a band! I could have had a list of my top 10 The National songs easy! This track is special to me as I've always been a bit of a recluse, scared of people. The lyric "I dont have the drugs to sort it out" always resonated with me. I had spent so many years being medicated by doctors, being addicted to different drugs and substances and none of them helped me, none of them sorted my problems no matter how much I wanted them too.
Changes - David Bowie
"Turn and face the strange" - I love that lyric. It always reminds me to allow myself to be myself no matter how strange I may be or sound within my music. When I was writing my song "Strange.24" It was about me telling people that through treatment, my ptsd had disappeared and I was feeling "strange". It was David Bowie that helped me to turn and face the strange, not to be scared of it but too embrace it and move forward!
Still Trying - Nathaniel Rateliff
I have a very soft spot for songs that are about someone realising that something is controlling their life, whether it be drugs or alcohol etc. I love how honest and almost "conversation like" this song is. Him just singing "this wound is gonna cancel me out" is a lightbulb moment when you know your behaviour is going to be the end of you.
Waiting for my real life to begin - Colin Hay
I've had so many chapters in my life where I felt like I was in the wrong place, especially through late teenage years. When I decided to get help for my drug and alcohol abuse and dependancy, I stumbled across this song and it made me excited for what was to come with sobriety. Colin Hay has a gift in being able to soothe worries about the future with his songs. Six sober years on and I am in that real life that Colin sang about.
Varúð - Sigur Rós
I have always been a huge fan of Sigur Rós. There is something about Icelandic music that is almost magical! I have had so much influence in my production style from this band with how creative they are, their use of different textures and sounds. Their music instantly makes me feel nostalgic and calm as if I was remembering some past life that turned out not too bad in the end!
Blindsided - Wilfie
Listening to Wilfie is like being told a life lesson from a wise man! I zone out of whatever I'm doing when I am listening to him and just listen, nothing else. Being able to hear the pain in his singing, hearing how honest his lyrics are like they were taken straight out of a conversation that stuck in his mind.
Gratitude - Big Red Machine
Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Aaron Dessner (The National) is simply the best combination you could ask for! I love Big Red Machine! From a production point it is so exciting the sounds and textures they have created are mind blowing! Drum machines mixed with live drums, vocoded vocals mixed with harmonies- it is such a blend of everything amazing!
Check out Sam's new music video and EP tomorrow.
Sam will also be playing his first live gig in over a year at the Workman’s Club, Dublin April 1st 2021. Tickets are €14 (+ €1 booking fee) and can be purchased here:
https://secure.tickets.ie/Booking/EventTickets/43365/sam-wickens-the-workmans-club-1-April-2021
