Sam Varga – Light Me Up

By starrymag | April 21, 2020

By: Courtney Groom

 

 

 

Q) Congratulations on the release of your debut EP Light Me Up. What was the inspiration behind the whole EP?

 

A) This started about a year and half ago – me and Will Stone (the producer) decided to make an EP. It was mostly an exercise for me to find “my sound.” We didn’t know if it would ever be released. By the time it was finished, the entire track listing had changed and we had actually made an album. And, I think ironically the undercurrent of the album would be someone finding their voice.

 

Q) Your first single is “Mayday.” What inspired the song?

 

A) “Mayday” is me owning my depression. Putting it into a major key. And being really f***ing loud about it.

 

Q) What made you want to have “Mayday” as the first single?

 

A) “Mayday” was originally going to be the title for the EP, but we knew we wanted to release it first as its own single, simply because we thought it was the loudest/tightest song on the project. I mean…it’s bad ass.

 

Q) How did you decide the name of Light Me Up for the EP?

 

A) “Light me up” is the crescendo lyric on my favorite song “When She Falls.” That song is sonic chunk of me…It’s the realest thing I’ve created, so it seemed appropriate the title be derived from that song. It’s my favorite track off the album.

 

Q) What were any challenges you faced when writing and recording Light Me Up?

 

A) Geography. We started this album in Nashville and then Will moved to LA. I flew out there and we had less than a week to track everything and we knocked it out like it was nothing. One of the best times of my life. Lots of Jameson and lots of Bloody Mary’s. Then, we had to fly some stuff cross country and it took one final session in Nash to wrap up.

 

Q) “A Better Word” isn’t on the album as a studio version. What was the reasoning behind releasing this song raw?

 

A) In writing rooms, every song starts as a work tape. It’s the first recording of the song right after its been written. We knew we wanted “A Better Word” on the project, but were unsure how to tackle it. We decided to just let the song speak for itself in the rawest form. We set up two mics and did it live right before I left for the airport to go back to Nashville. It also shakes the album up a bit ending on a note like that.

 

Q) The tracks on your EP sound very personal to you. As a songwriter was this something you always wanted to showcase through your music and why?

 

A) I hadn’t planned on doing “that artist thing.” I consider myself a writer. But these were songs that found me and I didn’t think anyone else could sing. So, I wanted to put them out into the world and see it they bumped into anyone who related.

 

Q) What do you want listeners to take away from when listening to Light Me Up?

 

A) Dig deep but keep it light. Feel everything and be able to shrug it off. Don’t take yourself so seriously, but know your worth.

 

Q) You got to host an EP release show in your hometown of Nashville. What did that mean to you?

 

A) It means the world to me. In the midst of the COVID outbreak and the tornadoes, we had a great turnout and were able to raise six hundred dollars for a family in need in Nashville who lost their house in the tornado.

 

Q) Who are some artists that you would love to collaborate with and why?

 

A) Bre Kennedy. She’s probably my favorite artist right now and I’ve been chasing something lyrically I think she’s really tapped into. The girls on the scene right now are killing it. I like writing with women more than my guy writers…A women’s wit just cuts a little deeper. Basically, they’re meaner.

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of your music?

 

A) Play it really really f***ing loud. And play it until you’re sick of it. God Bless. Wash your hands. Eat your beets. And thanks so much!