Sam Louis – 8 Ball

By starrymag | December 1, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) My sound is starting to become more of me with each album. It’s always had this duality to it. Maybe it comes from the fact that I write most of my music in Toronto from experiences that I’ve had either at home or in Los Angeles. These two cities inspire me in different ways – Toronto brings out the more live rocky edge of my performance while LA brings a new future shine and glow to my sound and melodies.

I’d definitely say that I coast along the genre lines of pop, while washing in influences of “lofi R&B” and “bedroom pop.” Over the past few years, I don’t think I’ve ever been this close at zeroing in on my sound. I’ve spent the last year writing and working with various local producers and songwriters, experimenting and refining my melodic process, subtracting elements that were holding me back and trying out new methods in lyrical and harmonic composition. These multiple collaborations inspired me to get more vulnerable and targeted with my writing, allowing for a richer and more mature collection of music.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Criss crossing 90’s boy band hooks/vocal production with dark lofi synths and 808s is my MO. I’m trying to balance this strung out sonic that echoes Canadian artist The Weeknd while infusing the live energy and performance intensity of Michael Jackson. I’m a live music guy; I love going out to shows and seeing bands play, the energy, the excitement of the crowd, brings out a new aura of artistry. Bands like The 1975, Tame Impala and Red Hot Chili Peppers heavily influence this side of my performance. The goal of the new music is to try and mesh this energy with the classiness and melodic prowess of great pop stars like MJ or Justin Timberlake.

I want my music to be more than an experience, but medicine for those who need it. Music that evokes feelings of euphoria while still comforting the lows of frustration and worthlessness. I’m at a point in my career where it feels like it’s do or die. Myself, as well as most of society, are living in a constant state of fight or flight. This mentality and duality makes up the core concept for my next album – a theme that aligns with not only the current global situation but one that demonstrates my true emotional spectrum. I want my new music to be cleverly crafted and addictively designed while still having rich context and meaning behind my message and lyrics.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Shiny.”

A) “Shiny” is about finding someone who gives you this new glossy layer of confidence, someone who shows you the best version of yourself. “Shiny” is about the positive side effects of a good/healthy relationship. It sings about finding your light, that person that wakes you up and levels you up. Where my first single “This Love” echoed about loss, “Shiny” is about feeling found / brand new.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think especially right now people need some music that makes you feel good about yourself and forget what’s going on around you!

I want people to feel good and I think people need that positive reinforced escapism right now. The goal of “Shiny” is to help the listener get swept off in a dream like daze. The track is not just about being in love but loving yourself, a message that I think is forgotten sometimes in music. This feeling of subconscious bliss coupled with power that can spark new confidence. The song should leave you glowing from start to finish as it continuously reminds us just how golden we are.

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) This little video/canva for “Shiny” was something that myself and my sister Angelica Migliazza recorded back in my hometown Thunder Bay. Originally a bigger produced video was planned, but the pandemic forced us to rethink that. The clips showcase a more relaxed and positive outlook. It also shows me smiling and laughing, something that I haven’t gotten to do in most of my past super serious music videos. [laughs] “Shiny” is about feeling supported and it’s also a love letter to all my friends and family who continue to believe in me and my music. That reinforces the setting of the short video, my hometown, it will always represent that feeling of comfort and support.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) The song writing process is one of my favorite parts of music creation. I love designing and shaping a song’s direction. For me, I usually like to begin with music and harmony before lyrics. I like to write to a backtrack or create a harmonic structure that will initiate the key of the song. I also tend to write melody up where I think of a top line first and design a song around that. One of the key unique traits of mine though is writing with a title first in mind. I’m the type of writer who works better with a title or unified idea. The title of a song allows me to extrapolate and brainstorm the direction from that point. If I have the overall theme of the track or subject I want to write out, the mood and vibe begins to fall in place instantly and the core theme of the song always stays intact within all elements (melody, harmony, form and lyrics).

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I like to fully be involved in the production side of my music. That’s the other fun part, sound design is so cool and something that has only become truly possible in the past twenty-five years. For my earlier albums I would usually create/write the core chords and melodies, record a rough demo of the form on piano and send it to my producers. We would then move on to production sessions where I would provide references of the vibe and textures that would fit the track best and work with them on designing it. For this recent album I’ve been designing songs around loops or rough backtrack ideas. I do love this form of writing, as it lets the rhythm secure more of a place in each track. Writing like this also allows me to collaborate more with my producers and build the track together. As opposed to usually designing the track around my melodies, the backtrack now inspires them.

Q) What do you do to shake off a long day in the studio?

A) After a heavy and successful studio day, I usually want to chill, rest my voice and mind. I try to turn off completely, going for a night run or cooking helps. You can usually find me in my natural habitat playing video games and having a beer or a joint in my man cave.

Q) What are some themes you explore on your upcoming album 8 Ball?

A) 8 Ball is a concept that I’ve been building for a couple years now, but only until this pandemic, this moment, has it felt right to release it. The idea for the next record started to shape itself over time. After playing a game of pool with friends back home around Christmas, I was down to my last shot and there was only that lil black 8 ball left staring at me. That one object emanating so much power and such a manic difference in outcomes. On one side that ball resembled victory and celebration and on the other complete loss and regret. Sink it too early and the games over or take too long to sink it and miss out. This one object having so much weight to it, a moment of make or break, life or death, really echoed out to me. I couldn’t help but compare my music career and point in life to the situation. This past year I’ve felt like I’ve been juggling this line, creating songs that speak about points of no return, full highs and complete lows and how dramatic each side can be. 8 Ball resembles that flip side, that flux of view point, almost mimicking the idea of yin and yang in a way. All my new music is shaped around this concept and by doing so it feels like I’m finally creating a niche sound, hoping to help solidify my place within the future of the music industry.

Q) What songs on the album hold a special place in your heart and why?

A) This album is loaded with songs that are truly an extension of me. When I was writing this record, a lot of the music and lyrics that were washing up were truths that I needed to hear or fears that I had and needed to face. This is the most connected I’ve ever felt to a body of music that I’ve written. That’s why almost all the songs on the record individually mean something different to me. Two songs in particular “Don’t Wanna be Saved” and “Forget About The World” are opposite type anthems.

“DWBS” is about unapologetically loving yourself, accepting that you are the way you are and no one needs to save you or change you. One of my favorite lines from the chorus rings out “I’m just a wreck, it’s beautiful, if we don’t go down it’s a miracle” comparing my life and career to a ship that’s trying not to sink.

“FATW” is a hopeful and sympathetic rock/trap rager about losing yourself in the moment. Pulling from my high school emo roots, it’s a tune that needs to be screamed in a crowd full of people!

Q) What were some challenges that you faced while recording?

A) This year brought on some of the biggest production/recording hurdles as I couldn’t meet up with most of my producers and musicians in person. Instead, I had to learn how to do it all myself, in my bedroom. [laughs] If the pandemic has given me anything it’s the new ability to confidently record and engineer my own vocal sessions. All vocals on this new album will probably be recorded in my room. [laughs] I’ve been working with my producers on remote recording sessions as well, recording through Zoom, going into protools and avoiding all latency issues is always a fun time, but we’re making it work and it’s going to make us stronger artists and musicians in the long run.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) Ah man, this is tough especially because of the current live show situation. I have so many venues that have made imprints on my soul here in the city of Toronto. My favorite venue to perform at was The Hideout, such an eclectic atmosphere and collection of people always showing up to shows there. The staff constantly put the artist first, so supportive and respectful. They appreciated all types of music, not to mention that sound was never an issue there. The Rivoli is another place I have a soft spot for. The location is perfect being right in the heart of the Queen west strip and the promotion and professionalism is unparalleled there. Both of these venues took me in and really made me feel like home when I performed there. Some of my favorite joints outside of Toronto are Black Pirates Pub in Thunder Bay and The Study off of Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) There are so many dream artists that I’d love to work/write with, but I think it would be cool to connect with Bulow on a track or Sabrina Claudio. I love Bulow’s fresh dark pop vibe and Sabrina’s lofi approach. Locally, I think it would be cool to link up with my bad ass buds The Command Sisters and Monowhales. I think I’d have a wild time collaborating with either one.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) Probably one of the hardest questions you’ve asked me simply because I love so much different music! [laughs] Currently been jamming a lot to local Toronto guys Valley. They’ve been my recent weekend soundtrack. [laughs] I love their production and songwriting. It’s so original yet familiar which is a combination that I strive for with all my music. I also just went back and revisited some 2015 gems Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” and Tame Impala’s “Currents.” Both have been in recurring rotation since they came out. These two albums shaped a lot of my summer of that year and continue to regulate my mood when I need them. [laughs]

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Social media is a blessing and a curse. I think most can agree on the positive and negatives of it all. But now more than ever it’s a way to get your voice heard across the globe, building that online community is crucial. Using these platforms to promote not only new music but art and other friend’s art is great for the growth of the online creative community. I hope we all get smarter at using social media though, myself included, by controlling it more than it controls us. Together we can unite our online communities, hopefully, evolving into a more common digital collective!

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Everything I release, all the music I create and collaborate on, is designed with you guys in mind. I always try to put my audience first before myself in my music creation. I’m always wondering what’s the next track that will make someone’s day, what’s the song that will help someone through a hard time and is this a record that can speak to more than one type of mentality and emotion.

I’m trying to make music that’s bigger than me, inspired by the world around me. I’m trying to build a channel that fans and people around the world can tune into when they’re looking for an answer or a release. I think with this next record, more than ever, people will be able to connect to my music on a deeper level. Everyone is fighting so hard right now and there’s a lot more emotions that need to be battled. I want my new music to be there for people. Make them feel good when they need and allow them to work through the pain if they need to too! To all the listeners out there, I see you. Thanks for continuing to inspire and support everything I create.