Berlin-based singer-songwriter Sami Simon is back with his brilliant new single Carry You With Me, available now for streaming and download. We got the opportunity to catch up with Sami, to find out a little bit more about his creative approach to music, plans for the future and more.
Sami Simon's new single 'Carry You With Me' is out now
For those who may be new to your music, how best would you describe your sound?
I would say it sounds like a mix of Tallest Man on Earth and earlier Bon Iver. I love the classic folk elements and mix them with subtle synths or some tape machine sounds to expand the vibe of it.
What challenges have you faced in the music industry so far?
I once signed a deal that was cancelled only weeks after the settling. It is not a very nice feeling if something you have been working towards then unexpectedly just ends up in smoke.
How difficult would you say this career path is in terms of making a name for yourself?
It’s difficult to be recognised because there are countless talented artists out there. But still, the internet changed a lot and if your name is out there… you can and will get heard by people you would not reach otherwise. It’s tough, but not impossible.
How important is it for you to have creative control over the work you produce?
If you’d ask that my producer about me, he would probably start laughing at this point. I used to be very extra about this, but I will try to let go a little more.
Where do you draw influence and inspiration from for your work?
I can’t really tell, because it varies all the time. Of course I listen to other songwriters a lot and sometimes a phrase gets stuck in my head and I make a new song out of it. I also once slipped a little melody of Beethoven into one of my songs.
If you could collaborate with anybody going forward, who would you choose and why?
I’d like to work again with Niklas Kramer of Still Parade. He has a great approach and vision of how things can sound and I like his style. Leif Vollebekk for example would be another great artist to maybe go on tour with.
Tell us a random, funny fact about you that not many people know.
I once released one or two songs under a different artist name and because of name duplicates on the web, it got tagged as death core instead of folk or singer-songwriter.
Do you have definitive aims or goals for your career?
Making people have a good time and give them the feeling they can get something out of my music when they listen to it – that would be a definitive goal. And even better, if I could make a living from it.
Where do you hope to be by this time next year?
In a little more [of a] confident place maybe, and releasing new music!
What should we expect from you in the coming weeks and months?
There will be a beautiful music video within the next [few] weeks for Carry You With Me that friends of mine filmed when they were travelling through Alaska!