Five things you may or may not already know about Sam Shinazzi
7 Jul 2011
Sam Shinazzi is a musician, whose sound generally lies within that magical genre we call guitar-pop.
I have been performing for about five years solo. I’ve released two albums including the new one ‘Stories You Wouldn’t Believe’ and a mini-album. I favour the singer-songwriter approach mainly because my voice tends to suit quieter stuff, even though the new album is quite rocking by my standards. I write songs that are slightly emotional and I think that’s the best way to deliver them.
He has recently returned from performing in the United States.
I played in America this year for the first time, a bunch of various shows in the New York, Washington, Long Beach and Los Angeles surrounds. In DC and LA people actually knew some of the songs. It’s kind of a universal thing, if you play well and people like you, then they’re going to buy your album. As simple as that sounds, I didn’t realise it truly worked that way until it happened to me.
He has a fascination with writing about specific characters and local settings.
I write about what I know…what I see; I think people can relate to that better. Even if they don’t know the girl I’m singing about, everyone can remember someone like that in their life.
His latest album is dedicated to the late Elliott Smith
He was an underdog; a scruffy guy who started out making noisy independent music in Heatmeiser, and then he just toned it all down and made some of the quietest music anyone could have heard at the time. They’re just really honest and meaningful songs. I like the fact that he was a multi-instrumentalist, a guy who played drums as well, and the fact that he could record an album on his own. He affected me more so in those ways rather than me just attempting to recreate his music.
He will be supporting the Mountain Goats at their Sydney show
I’ve been into John Danielle for some time through some close friends who are diehard fans. I like that, like me, his singing voice is not the most naturally beautiful thing you’ll ever hear. His music has a DIY, natural touch, kind of makes it more real. I think it will be a great show.
