Sam Cullen Marks A Huge Year With His Accomplished Debut Album
Invercargill-raised troubadour Sam Cullen is rounding off a massive year with the release of his self-titled debut album – 10 tracks infused with the rising star’s unique and refreshing style of rock ‘n’ roll-meets-pop. He’s also about to kick off a six-date NZ tour to mark the album’s release.
Listen to the album HERE / Get tickets to the tour HERE
Crafted over six years, and in cities across the country, the ‘coming of age’ album takes the listener on a journey from youth to adulthood.
“There is a sense of hope and longing that lives throughout this record because it reflects that transition. All of the ups and downs, insecurities, fun, sadness, and nostalgia that comes with growing up lives in these songs. As does my love for 80’s music, rock n roll, and driving Americana. I’m proud to wear my influences on my sleeve with the body of work as I feel as though I’ve been able to pay homage while creating my own world.”
Sam adds: “The album was written in so many places – my first year university hall, one of my Wellington flats, my old Ponsonby flat, my friend Chris’ studio apartment in Central Auckland.”
The album contains the already released singles Home To You, a collaboration with Brody Leigh; Don’t Leave Me Alone; That Somebody’s You, which charted for five weeks on the Aotearoa Hot Singles chart, and new single Better Than Anything.
Listen to Better Than Anything HERE
“Better Than Anything is the album’s sole ballad. I took a lot of inspiration from 80’s music when making this one. Big reverbs, and sparkly guitars. I wanted it to feel like that in-between moment of slowly being pulled back to the Earth as we awake,” says Sam.
The song holds a special place in Sam’s heart. “I wrote it in my university hall room in first year – the same year that I met my partner. It’s an unapologetic love song about coming home to that one person that saves you from all the noise. At this time in my life there was a lot going on, new people, partying, getting to know myself better and this song reflects the grounding that I was able to find with my partner.”
Another of Sam’s favourite songs on the album is The Clubrooms. I had tried to write this song for a number of years and one day it just all came out in a stream of consciousness. It’s an auto-biographical snapshot of playing gigs in rugby clubrooms growing up as a teenager in Invercargill. Rugby is such a cornerstone of the culture at home and my family has been part of it for generations. Growing up I quickly traded the rugby field for soundtracking the parties post-match with four hour covers gigs – some of the most seminal nights of my life and career.”
Sam co-produced and mixed nine of the tracks on the record with Chris Scott, with Benjamin Mack producing the song Do You Know The Feeling? Chris Chetland from Kog Studios mastered the album.
It’s been a huge year for Sam, with chart and radio success, as well as a support slot for Keli Holiday (Peking Duk) and a performance at Going Global – a music industry conference and showcase featuring some of the most exciting new names in Aotearoa music.
He is also hitting the road on his debut album tour, starting in Arrowtown on November 21 and finishing up in Christchurch on January 30.
Sam Cullen – Debut album tour:
November 21 – Slow Cuts, Arrowtown
November 22 – Gadoochi Brewery, Invercargill
December 13 – Various venues – Three Gigs! One Night!, Auckland
December 20 – Palace Tavern, Mount Maunganui
January 30 – Space Academy, Christchurch
More TBA
