Sammy Adams – Good Problems

By Jamie Steinberg

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) Always kind of difficult to answer that because I’m so open to new waves and deliveries that bend genres. My sound is most heavily influenced by rap, pop, dance music but also OG classic rock and a few other vibes bleed into the creative process as well. Experimenting with different instruments and deliveries ensures I’m not pigeonholing or boxing myself in. I guess if I had to label it anything I’d say feel-good, high-energy fusion records.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) I got way too many. [laughs] In regard to rap my biggest influences are Nas and Big L. As far as my new project goes, I’d say Travis Scott, Channel Tres, Blink and Metro Boomin had a profound impact on the new joints.

Q) You just released your new song “DNA.” Talk about the story behind it.

A) Man, I ‘ve been waiting a minute to put this one out. Steezefield (808 Mafia) sent the production, and it was clear that this had the potential to be a standout. The sample is infectious, so we wanted to mirror that in the hook, and I came up with the double helix hook, something I’ve always wanted to incorporate in a record. Hype it’s out!

Q) You are a part of social media. What kind of fan feedback have you already been receiving to it?

A) The feedback has been amazing. My fans been active all eleven years that I have been a professional artist, but social media is tricky these days (due to new developments in apps, algorithms), so I take everything with a grain of salt and try not to base success solely off impressions and numbers. My career started through word of mouth and grassroots touring so always a process and learning curve with socials.

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

A) It depends on the day to be honest. Some days flows and melodies just fly off the top and it’s relatively easy to come up with something solid. Other days are more challenging and I either have to shift my energy to a different genre/project or take a break and clear my mind. I don’t need music before I write, but it definitely helps piece writings together when I’m hype about penning and cutting a potential slapper.

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

A) As far as production goes, I’m very hands on and am always finding loops, producing new melodies and basslines to see what fits best.

Q) Your upcoming EP Good Problems drops in February. What can you tease are some themes you’ll be exploring on it?

A) There are a few different themes that are recurring in the record, but the overall message is about staying consistent despite having setbacks. Positive mental attitudes and good vibes. Sometimes it’s difficult to rid your kind of past traumatic experiences and hard lessons in the business, but you have to learn and grow from both your failures and successes to figure out how resilient you really are.

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

A) Boston always takes the cake in terms of live shows. The crowd is always dialed and die hard, extremely difficult to come close to hometown shows but NYC and the Midwest have put up some fights in the past ten years! Boston is where I was born and raised, so it’s always going to have a special place in my heart.

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

A) I’d love to work with Kevin Parker (Tame Impala), Tale of Us and Mura Masa. All of their production hits different and walks the tightrope for electric crossover appeal.

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

A) I been on a crazy Khruangbin wave. They’re so minimalistic but sonically the music just puts me on a wave. Metro Boomin’s new album is insane, man is an animal, and his rollout was unique and well executed. Also, been slapping that new dolph (RIP 😢) because that man was and will always be an inspiration for building a business out of nothing and doing numbers against all odds.

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

A) I owe y’all my life. There’s been so many highs and lows, and it feels amazing to be dropping new songs and elevating again. BBSG to the 🔝.

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