Following on from his incredibly well received debut single 'Cold Toast' in 2022, Sam Olyott has already made quite the positive impact on the music scene, after making a name for himself busking on the streets in Liverpool. His music puts story-telling and stark emotions at the forefront of his songs, with current single 'Never Be You' being no exception. The single tells the story about the end of a relationship, with the realisation that it is time to move on. An acoustic guitar and a piano accompany the raw emotion in his voice. 'Never Be You' was co-written with Mark Vallance, who was penned tracks for artists including Tom Walker and Lost Frequencies), who co-produced it with Teddy Gristle. Big things inevitably lie in store for him, and we can't wait to follow his journey!
Here at The Lowdown, we had the opportunity to speak with Sam Olyott to talk about his new single, who his musical influences are, his plans for 2023 and more. Keep reading to check out what he had to say!
You released your single, 'Never Be You' at the end of last year. What has it been like for you to have new music released?
"I'm so happy 'Never Be You' is out! Having new music out in the world is so exciting. I'm just starting to release songs, so every release feels really special."
Was there an element of pressure with this release, following on from the success of your preceding releases?
"I think the pressure is always on being a new artist, but this is just part of the process. I believe in the songs I have, so all I can do is let people hear them."
Did the single take a long time to come together, right from the initial writing stages?
"'Never Be You' was written back in 2020 during lockdown, but we weren't able to record it until the middle of last year, which actually turned out to be quite an interesting way of doing things."
You have been compared to artists such as Sam Fender and Paolo Nutini. How does it feel to be compared to such phenomenal artists within the music scene?
"It's such a compliment to be compared to such artists, who are really talented people!"
Can you tell us the meaning behind the single?
"'Never Be You' is me accepting I have to let someone go whilst also feeling like I'll never find anyone as good as them."
You recently played shows in Liverpool and London. What was it like being able to get out and perform your music live?
"Playing shows is my favourite thing to do, so it was amazing! I feel so blessed to be able to play my own songs live."
Your song-writing is of a very personal nature. Is it important for you to draw on past experiences when it comes to song-writing?
"I think my best song-writing only happens if I'm being honest. I don't think I'd want to do things any other way."
Who would you say are your musical influences? Do you feel that such artists have a direct impact on the music that you subsequently write, record and release?
"Some of my musical influences include Donovan Woods, Bon Iver and Passenger. These influences become quite clear when listening to my current music and the songs to come."
Going back to your roots, how did you first get into music?
"I'm from a very musical family, so I've always sang and played guitar, but things started properly back in 2015 when my Dad took me busking for the first time. I was fourteen. From that moment on, I fell in love with playing live and writing songs. It changed my life."
What does 2023 have in store for you that you can tell us about?
"2023 is going to be a really exciting year I think. I have plenty of songs coming that I think will really relate to people, so I'm happy!"
Finally, do you have a message for all those who support you?
"Thank you so much to everyone who's been supporting me - I appreciate you! There is lots more to come!"
Sam Olyott's current single 'Never Be You' is out now and is available to purchase and stream through all major music purchasing and streaming outlets.
By Rachel Dempster