According to singer/songwriter, Sam Shinazzi, his new album, On a Highway Somewhere, “is about the cycle of life and everything in-between. There are a number of songs written from another’s perspective – probably the most on an album for me – but that doesn’t mean I am not in those songs in some way, feeling similar things or that these songs are not some of the most personal that I have ever written.
They were mostly written in my little studio, when we were finishing up playing shows for the last album. There was a lot of sadness around, particularly with a few friends and near impossible health battles they were facing. Whilst that is addressed on the album, it would have been too heavy and in a strange way, easy, to make every song be completely dominated by these circumstances. I wanted to allow some light in every now and then and am glad I was able to.”
On a Highway Somewhere was produced by former Daisygrinders and Big Heavy Stuff member, Adam Young. Sam explains the connection: “I first met Adam Young in 2010. The first thing he said to me was, ‘you’re a Springsteen guy’, and we have been inseparable ever since. For the past seven years or so he has asked if he could produce an album of mine. I always knew he would, it just had to be the right place and right circumstance. With this batch of songs, it felt like the time was now.”
Along with members of Shinazzi’s live band, Young assembled a group of accomplished local musos to bring a fresh perspective to the material. The result is a sound that is unexpected but still unmistakably Sam Shinazzi at his best.
So, what is the sound? Well, as usual, Sam provides plenty of clues along the way, referencing Husker Du, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Kelly and even the Ramones throughout the album. There’s also a cover of Lucinda William’s Blue that speaks volumes.