Sam Himself

Biography

Swiss-born New York-based artist Sam Himself enters the new decade with a stylistic departure from his earlier, more band-driven recordings. Touring and performing solo have inspired songs that function equally well with a full band onstage or when Sam’s all by himself. The result is "Slow Drugs," his new EP (5/29), which earned Sam the Swiss National Broadcasting Service's prestigious Best Talent Award in June 2020.

In the studio, the five-track EP reunited Josh Werner (bass - Iggy Pop; CocoRosie) and Parker Kindred (drums - Jeff Buckley; ANOHNI) under the direction of mixer and producer Daniel Schlett (Amen Dunes; The War On Drugs), Sam’s longtime creative collaborator, first listener and "Second Beatle."

In April 2020, Sam released the EP's lead single "Slow Drugs" (featuring vocals by Denitia), followed by his very own version of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing In the Dark." Sam first played the cover during a Swiss radio showcase in June 2019 when SRF3 host Judith Wernli asked him to perform a Springsteen song live on air; the recording was an instant success and the song became a staple of Sam's live set.

On May 29, 2020, the artist released his long-awaited new EP "Slow Drugs" together with single "Like a Friend" - to widespread acclaim: in addition to the Best Talent Award, several songs off "Slow Drugs" are currently on international radio airplay, featured on editorial playlists on Apple Music and Spotify, and the music videos for singles "Slow Drugs" and "Like a Friend" have garnered several hundred thousand views on Vevo to date.

In March 2020, Sam headed back to Europe to tour in support of his upcoming release, hitting the road with singer Anna Rossinelli. He hasn't been able to return to his chosen home in Brooklyn, NY since then due to the COVID-pandemic. But that hasn't stopped Sam from staying busy: as of September 2020, Sam is preparing the release of a new music video, the limited edition vinyl of his EP (9/18 via Taxi Gauche Records) and a brand new single due out in October, all while touring Switzerland with his band whose members include Benjamin Noti (Steff la Cheffe) and Georg Dillier (Anna Rossinelli).

Featured in Consequence of Sound, American Songwriter, 20 Minuten, Basellandschaftliche Zeitung, WOZ - Die Wochenzeitung, SRF Glanz & Gloria, Telebasel, Atwood Magazine, Culture Collide, Variance Magazine and many more.