A Q&A with Sam Olyott
Pop-focused singer-songwriter from Liverpool…
What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
‘On Your Own’ is my most vulnerable song to date. It’s the finale to a situation that had been controlling my life for the longest time. This song feels like the perfect ending to that story.
What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
‘On Your Own’ was a difficult one to get right. We actually ended up going back to the demo after trying a few different productions as my vocal performance on the day we wrote the song had something really special about it. It’s such a special song to me so we had to make sure we got it right!
Who produced the release – what did they bring to it?
Mark Vallance and Teddy Gristle produced ‘On Your Own’. Teddy played the keys which are such a focal point in the track. Such a great piano performance.
What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
I want the listener to connect with me and my music every time they listen.
How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
With my music, it normally starts with me writing by myself and coming up with an idea. Once I’ve formed some sort of a song, I’ll take it to the studio and work on it with my writers and producers.
What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
I’d say right now, Donovan Woods. He’s influenced me massively with his conversational lyrics and emotive songs. Lots of my songs are very similar to his style.
What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
I would love to tour America, it’s always been a dream of mine! I don’t really have a standout venue but if I had to pick one it would be the o2 Academy in Liverpool. I think its like 1200 capacity so it’s next years aim haha.
If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
I would pick ‘On Your Own’ for readers to listen to as I think it best displays my style and ability but also shows me at my most vulnerable. Hopefully they like it 🙂
What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
I want to leave songs behind that people still sing 100 years from now.
Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Hope you enjoyed the show!
For more info visit: instagram.com/samolyott
