Interview with Sam Russo.

So we haven't posted an interview since September last year and I thought it was about time we did another. I managed to get hold of Sam Russo over the internet on his birthday a couple of weeks back, and he agreed to answer some questions. If you don't know - Sam is an acoustic musician from Haverhill, who I personally think is the best thing to happen to music in a long long time. 

First of all Happy Birthday, where are you now?

Thanks man, another year. I'm sitting in my Mum's spare room, it's 10pm and I'm in front of a big window that faces a row of pines. This house used to be my Grandma's so I grew up with these trees, we're the same age. They're just taller. I'm drinking Jack Daniels and listening to a mixed tape - Blue Oyster Cult's on right now. Don't Fear the Reaper. You said it boys.

Another year older, where have you been for the last year?

That's a big question. I have been in Haverhill mostly, working hard, trying to fix what's broke. I've moved around quite a bit, I've seen lots of different walls. I've had alot of unfinished business in town that I'm working towards wrapping up so I can leave. 

Let's talk favourites..

Favourite song to play live?

Right now it's Back of a Bible by Patterson Hood and the Screwtopians. I've been doing the rounds with that one, my girl's sick of it. He's one of my favourite songwriters ever so it's fun to pretend to be him for 4 minutes. Out of my own songs I'm enjoying playing Cold Feet just because it's new and I like escaping into the story. But it's pretty hard to sing so it's pretty love/hate!

Favourite band to watch play on the same bill as you?

Caves, Bangers, and Apologies I have None. Watching Lou get into her vocals and the way she moves over her guitar. She's amazing to watch. If I had to pick a word for it I'd say - joyous. Apologies are one of my favourite bands to watch live full stop. I love how much they enjoy what they're doing with their lives and just seeing Josh and Dans faces when everyone's singing along...it's like when everyone jumps out at a surprise party. Seeing Bangers is a full blown night out on the town with all the trimmings in 25 minutes. If you're lucky and Roo makes it that far.

Out of all the show you've played, which ones have been your favourites?

More recently Homestead Fest, Manchfester, The Windmill with Chuck Ragan and DS Wilsher's birthday show in Cambridge. Famous times. If you were there you know why. If not, bummer.

Your songs are obviously deeply personal, does this make it even harder to get them out in the open. Are there some songs that people will never hear?

It's funny, a girl said to me at a show in London last month 'wow it must have been really hard to sing that song about divorce in front of all these people' and it was the first time I'd even thought about it like that. It's not hard to sing and play any of my songs live, it's how I wash myself clean. If I could talk about my problems with people, if I had perfect relationships, perfect friends and a perfect family, I wouldn't be a songwriter. I'd work at Marchants, drive a Range Rover and have kids.
The only thing I find hard is doubt. I always worry that people don't want to hear me singing about the things my songs deal with because they are so personal, but the other half of me thinks that probably the only reason anyone's watching me is because they relate and they WANT to feel what I'm saying, whether it's hard for them or not.

I've written about 8 songs noone ever heard but me, and maybe 3 that only close friends heard. They're my secrets. Burried behind the chicken coop with Holly and Bella.

I think the last time you toured was The School Trip Tour of February 2010, what's stopped you from touring since?

Touring is when I am happiest. Hands down that's the truth. I've played alot of weekenders and what we used to call 2-date-tours. The weekenders are demanding. Straight from work on a friday, 3 shows, no sleep, riding busses all day and back for work on Monday morning still sane is knd of a challenge. I haven't played a longer set of shows because I don't have alot of new material and it's my worst nightmare to bore people. Plus I've had my doubts about things. Whether the juice is worth the squeeze.

A lot of people want to see an album come out, when can they be put out of their misery?

When I record it. Summer. Roll on summer.

What are the best/worst things about writing/playing/touring solo?

The best thing is when people like what you're doing. When people get what you're trying to do. I will never pretend that I don't need that. I doubt what I do alot and when people enjoy it it justifies it in an instant. Plus it's pure freedom. I feel free when I leave town with my guitar, it always feels like a clean getaway. Like I've won before I've even made a bet. I get a buzz from leaving work, leaving your responsibilities, leaving all your worries and just playing music with friends.
The worst is that it's not as fun as playing in a band. If you're travelling solo it can be really lonely, but when you're with a bunch of people it soon gets exciting again. I also really dig trying new things with my set like improvising lyrics, telling stories, playing duets, all that stuff, and you can't really do that in a band as spontaneously. Well, I've never been able to anyway. Overall though I really am one of lifes passengers and I love to sit in the front seat of a transit van drinking coffee and navigating. That's the best time for me. The ride.

There was talk of a 4-way split 7" with Chuck Ragan, Helen Chambers and Jimmy Islip coming out, is this still in the works?

That ball's in Mr Ragan's court, I'm obviously very excited about it and I'm going to record my songs soon but he's a very busy guy. 

Since you started making music, what have been some standout moments for you?

My standout moments are always just finishing a song or a show and feeling like I've done a good job. If I put down my pen or step away from the mike and feel like I've got it all out and made it sound how I want it to, I'm happy. That's actually a tough question because when I think about stand out moments it's always times offstage that come to mind. Like seeing Giles Bidder steal a heart, or hearing a new El Morgan tune live somewhere I've never been, seeing James Hull sing White River Junction, they're the moments I write in my diary. 

Have you ever thought about making the transition to becoming a full band?

Always do. I've got a band called Snowline that's never practised. I've given alot of thought to it lately, I get sick of just being Sam Russo and I just want to be a background guy, playing bass and vibing out at the back of the stage with a drink. Less pressure, more room to breathe and just put on a show. I think ideally I'd want to play in a rock band with really talented lead guitar players so I can really enjoy what's being played. Either that or a band like Zeke.

What's the overall ambition of Sam Russo, musically speaking?

All I want to do is write and play. I have no ambition to live off of music because that is insane. I just want to get through this rut and write some good songs, tour and kill it.

Some other people have asked these questions:

What is it with you and telephone boxes?

 You walk there, you pay, you say your part, you listen, you leave. You meet on time. Hospitals man, seems like the only place I can make a call these days. 

When are you going to play Southampton again?

I have no idea. It's so far and I'm going broke saving for a car. 

And Matt from Calvinball asks why are you so cool?

Because I'm on borrowed time brother.

Who'd win in a streetfight, MC iPod or Kieran Kelly. Hand to hand, no weapons involved?

You could kill MC Ipod with words alone.  

What does you average songwriting process consist of?

I usually sit down with an idea, just a phrase or an image I've been frantically trying not to forget all day, and I start playing guitar and singing with it until something clicks then I write and play until it starts to take shape. Lately it hasn't been working. I've written 3 songs in the last month that just lack that spark. What happens alot, and what I really like, is when a song totally changes direction on me. Like if it shifts perspective or totally changes it's story, I just stop, say wow and it's suddenly a whole new tune. I feel like everything is changing. Like I'm peeking round a corner. 

- SR

Sam was pretty smashed when he emailed me this on his birthday. He came back to me the next day saying:

"Hey Man,

Harsh light of day right?

All I want to add is that I've been writing a lot of short stories and I'm going to write a novel. That's taking up a lot of my time these days.

Just want to round it up by passing on my thanks for all the support people have given me. And a picture of me wrestling a flaming bear. 

We say what we say man, there's no changing what's said. I've always believed that."