By: Paul K. Barnes
Sam Welch is like many songwriters because he shares his thoughts and experiences through his music. However, the types of thoughts he shares are what make him stand out from the rest. On his song “The Republic,” he discusses transcendence and national identity. Born from a particularly dark time in his life, Sam uses the song to challenge people to think of their own futures as individuals and individuals living in the United States.
For Sam this song is simply a small part of the larger narrative of the album. Throughout the whole project, Sam discusses themes of death and transcendence along with ideas about psychology and philosophy through a lens of personal identity. He also discusses more universally uplifting topics like how important it is to stay optimistic.
“The album has two intersecting circles. One is transcendence and the other is emotional dysregulation and some of the songs have both of them.”
Through various ideas and concepts, he paints a picture that challenges the listeners to reflect on what he brings up and examine themselves from within. Multiple songs have concepts that connect something in our physical world to more spiritual concepts and thought processes.
“The album was generated around the idea of spiritual continuation, the idea of healing in the next world, betterness, resolution and keeping the faith in things moving along.”
When listening to the song “The Republic,” the concept comes shining through on the production side too. Over a myriad of eerie keys and other sounds, Sam uses vocals that line up with these sounds to create an escalating atmosphere of almost dystopian uncertainty. Sam produces his music from computer software and a keyboard which gives him access to a multitude of various sounds, allowing him to create music that sounds like it has multiple instruments through one instrument. Sam also shared this album has more of a pop/alternative sound which contrasts his more rock centric work from previous projects.
“I do a good job of building it from the ground up, I don’t like using musical templates or structure. I like to build everything one instrument at a time. It’s a great library to have at my disposal.”
For Sam, crafting visuals to go along with his music is another key factor to help enhance people’s experience when listening to what he has created. During live performances, he often has visual aids projected behind him that match the tone and atmosphere of the music in the performance. In fact, performing on stage is one of Sam’s favorite parts about making music in general. He says being at his age he wants to be able to enjoy going out and doing things while he still can.
“I definitely think performing is great. You can reach out to an audience of people and get good feedback and come home thinking, ‘That was really good.’ And, there’s the gratification that comes from being able to put my ideas about psychiatric dysfunction and struggling into concrete artistic material.”
Sam encourages people interested in his music to visit his website to hear and see more of it. With music videos, articles, radio interviews and over 10 albums on there, there’s something of interest for everyone on it. He also appreciates feedback and encourages people to leave some for him on that platform which is linked below.
Website – https://www.samwelchmusic.com/
Published by: Nelly Chavez
