Introducing: Sam Scherdel

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Introducing Sam Scherdel

Alt singer-songwriter from Sheffield, going places…

YOUR NAME: Sam Scherdel
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING MUSIC? Since I was around 12/13, so it’s been some time…

ANY PAST BANDS OR COLLABORATIONS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
I hadn’t really launched or played music professionally or passionately until a career change and pendulum swung in 2022. I was made redundant in a job I somehow once thought would give me long-term fulfilment but did a massive U-turn, which has pretty much changed my life completely.

GIVE US 3 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD TRACK DOWN, LISTEN AND DISCOVER YOUR MUSIC?
I think ‘If We Danced,’ the lead single off the new EP, is a good statement of the direction it’s heading. ‘Breathe’ is one we love to play live, and probably ‘Balloon,’ which was a stand-alone single in 2023.

WHERE DO YOU SOUND BEST – FESTIVAL, CLUB, BEDROOM – OR SOMEWHERE ELSE?
Where we’re taking the project, the bigger the venue, the better. We’ve been fortunate enough to support some huge touring acts, including Two Door Cinema Club and Ocean Colour Scene, and these big venues not only take the sound well, but the engineers tend to know what they’re doing also, which is a massive help.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CD?
My first ever CD I bought was all the way back in 1997 as a very young kid and was Be Here Now by Oasis, which I still think is massively underrated. I think I got one of the Now 37 on cassette the same day, one with the gold cover, I believe.

SO, WHEN IT ALL GOES RIGHT AND YOU’VE GOT A BOTTOMLESS PIT OF MONEY AND LONG QUEUE OF HANGERS-ON, WHAT WILL BE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INDULGENCE?
Oh man, I’ve wanted a Yamaha CP70 Piano for a while; it’s more about the indulgence of having other people carry it. Definitely would love to be able to afford the luxury of a large enough room to house a grand piano. I’m not a massive gear nerd like some of the band are, but I’m a sucker for a piano. I do like vintage semi-hollow guitars. I actually had a replica of one made by a company in Beverley who have kindly supplied us with some stuff for our upcoming tour. It’s based on a Gibson 355 TDSV and looks stunning.

SO, WHEN IT ALL GOES WRONG AND YOU’RE LEFT BITTER AND TWISTED AND CURSING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, WHAT DO YOU FALL BACK ON?
I just think perseverance and resetting your goals is massively important. I know I need to be creating to feel alive and happy. It’s fortunate a lot of people seem to be enjoying what I put out, but I’m safe in the knowledge I’d get fulfilment either way. We do this to play to crowds, though, so I’d be lying massively if I said I don’t care if people are there and enjoying it. I also fall back on red wine…

WHAT ARE YOUR MUSICAL GUILTY PLEASURES?
I’m extremely old school with music. I listen to a lot more 60s–80s stuff than I do more modern stuff. Are Abba a guilty pleasure? I reckon that’s just undeniably decent writing. I’m a massive Billy Joel fan and love his work, even the proper naff stuff like River of Dreams. Great music.

Introducing Sam Scherdel

WHO ARE YORKSHIRE’S FINEST IN CULTURE, SPORT AND MUSIC?
Richard Hawley is an absolute don of craftsmanship and a songwriter’s songwriter—it’s just pure beauty, so he gets music. I get asked the sport question all the time, and through family, I fell into following Man Utd at a young age, so I’m nullified from Yorkshire in that question and probably cursed. Jarvis Cocker gets the culture award—just an all-round exceptionally innovative and charismatic figure.

NAME YOUR SUPERGROUP – WHO’S PLAYING WHAT, WHO’S ON VOCALS AND WHO’S YOUR BEZ?
I’ve been asked before, and it alters every time… But on today’s outlook:
Freddie – Vocals
Billy Joel – Piano (he’s better than Elton John, and I’ve studied that meticulously, so it’s a fact)
Marcus King – Guitar (I saw him live recently, and he gives the old guard a run for their money)
McCartney – Bass (his creativity was exceptional, and his lines just walked in melody. Plus, he’s a musical Swiss army knife)
Drummer – I have no idea. They cause me headaches. The one I have now, Gaz, is great, but I’m scarred with drummers. I’ll just get a machine in.
And Bez can be Bez.

GO SEE THIS FILM: Shawshank Redemption.
GO READ THIS BOOK: Dear Boy: Keith Moon.
GREAT LOST BAND/ARTIST: David Bowie.
WOULDN’T BE CAUGHT DEAD SUPPORTING: Those ABBA holograms, which I’m sure they’re not bothered by.
LONDON, L.A OR LEEDS?: London – Love-hate relationship. I love it from outside looking in.

AND FINALLY… AS YOU LEAVE THE STAGE, WHAT ARE YOUR PARTING WORDS?
The last word of the set is ‘Away,’ which gets screamed, and then it’s off for a smoke and bevvy ASAP…

Sam Scherdel’s EP ‘Meet Me On The Moon’ is out on 7th February 2025. Check it on Spotify

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