Good morning everyone and welcome to another Music Monday. Today I’m featuring the lovely Samuel Alexander and his beautiful new song First Light. As well as this I was also lucky enough to get Sam to answer some questions about his music!
First Light is a truly beautiful, relaxing piece of music that gives me chills every time I listen to it. The wonderful piano playing and bird song combine to make a relaxing piece of music that was much needed during half term. Sam’s music is starting to get some notice and he was recently featured on the radio in Australia which is amazing.
If you would like to follow Sam on social media you can do so by clicking on one of the links below.
First Light:
Sam’s music are mainly classical piano pieces though he is working on his first guitar track. He has had no process training and likes to just work things out by ear. Below is his new song First Light as well as his recent radio interview.
You can listen to more of Sam’s music by clicking on of the links below.
Interview:
What first got you into music?
I’ve always enjoyed the way that music can transport you to another place, another world. I wanted to be able to do that, so started learning piano from my grandmother in my early years. I learnt for a while but didn’t keep at it as I grew older, stopping before secondary school.
Who inspired you to make music?
I never anticipated to be creating music myself. I would mess around with ideas, but didn’t think much of them until my mid 20s when I really needed music as a creative outlet for the personal things I was walking through.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
My music can be quite relaxing, transporting the listener to another place, however it can also be very cathartic. Much of my music was written while processing my own pain, and I try to show how hope can still exist through those parts of my music.
What is your creative process like?
Most of my music has been written by me connecting with my current emotion through the notes that are played. I will sit at the piano and close my eyes or look away. I play a single note at a time until I find that it resonates with my current state. Once that has been found, there is always a second note that accompanies it. After finding those two core notes, I find that building a piece around them starts to flow naturally.
I have also made a few pieces by specifically setting myself a challenge. It may be to try a new bass pattern, or create music out of a prompt or series of numbers. These challenges can be some of my favourite pieces as I remember where they all started.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Ludovico Einaudi. He is an incredible composer with a very similar style. I feel like he could make string arrangements that would more than accompany my pieces, they would enhance them immensely!
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
Again, Ludovico Einaudi. Mostly because once I’m finished with my set, I can sit back and enjoy his performance! Haha
What is one message you would give to your fans?
It’s never too late to learn or create, and play what you connect with. Music is so powerful and has the ability to heal. Don’t let anyone elses ability or opinion make you feel like your personal connection is meaningless or worthless. Especially yourself. Don’t play music to be good at music; play for yourself.
What is the most useless talent you have?
Oh, gee, I have too many things I can do that are useless! Haha
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
Until a month ago I would have said no, however I may or may not have been caught belting ‘Royal, Brave and True’ recently. I though I was home alone!
I will never not sing Disney songs loud and proud.
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
Well, music isn’t really a career for me at the moment. It is a hobby that I would love to pursue further, but in the meantime I have spent the past 10 years working on camps for kids, teaching them outdoor recreation.
Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues?
I have never performed in a public venue, however I do livestream my music from my living room to Twitch, so I guess my living room.
Do you have any upcoming shows?
No official shows, however I may be playing live during a break at an upcoming video game event in Melbourne.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
In many ways, but I think exposure is the biggest way. People can be discovered quickly and grow a fanbase extremely fast through the internet, however this has also flooded the music industry. Recent developments with livestreaming platforms have definitely been a positive though.
What is your favourite song to perform?
On piano, probably ‘Resolve to Resolve’ by Samuel Alexander (me).
For guitar and singing, I’d say ‘Oceans Between Us’ by The Getaway Plan.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
Ludovico Einaudi, Hans Zimmer and many other composers.
What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
I was suspended from school after passing notes during class. I won’t disclose what was written/drawn on said notes.
What is the best advice you have been given?
‘Whether you believe you can, or you can’t – you’re right.’ – Henry Ford
Now, Henry didn’t tell me this himself, but it speaks bounds about how much what we say and believe impacts the outcome. I’m still working on believing I can.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
I would make it easier to navigate which organisations will bring in real exposure to you music and which won’t. Since releasing music a year ago, I have seen hundreds of advertisements telling me how to promote my music, however many of these organisations don’t bring real views or exposure, they just bring in numbers through the use of not accounts and other dodgy tactics.
What’s next for you?
Continue aspiring to grow through my online streams on Twitch whilst producing more music for my community to listen to.
Hopefully one day I will create the right connections to see my music become more than a hobby.
Thanks so much for answering my questions Sam, good luck with First Light!
Music Monday:
You can now listen to First Light and all previously featured Music Monday artists on a special playlist on Spotify.
Over The Rainbow Blog 
What a beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing, Joanna.
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