Interviews
Interview | Questions & Answers With Zeb Samuels
“Lost In My Dreams” is the first single release taken from the highly anticipated debut album ‘Hope & Light’ from Deep Heads label boss, Zeb Samuels. Scroll down and discover all about this fresh talent.
1 — First of all, what made you fall in love with music?
I think one of the first memories I can recall, is hearing my brother play Phil Collins and really liking what I heard.
I must have been about 4. Then as an 80’s kid, Michael Jackson was the first artist I was fanatical about, at the age of about 6. I vividly remember getting ‘Bad’ on tape and playing it to death and trying to dance like him at any opportunity.
2 — How did you become a multi-instrumentalist? Do you have a favorite instrument?
I started playing the piano at about the age of 6 and then Trumpet when I was 9.
I then took up the drums when I was about 11 I think.
Then I gave it all up and started DJing when I became a teenager, but massively regret it now.
I then picked up the piano again in 2016 and would say this is my instrument of choice.
3 — Do you consider yourself an underground artist?
I don’t really think about it, to be honest. I consider myself as someone who makes what I feel and want and hope that it’s received as a unique listening experience.
I think some music I make is definitely for a small niche of people and maybe that would define it as underground, but I haven’t released that much music, so not sure where it sits.
4 — What’s your goal: artistic success or commercial success?
I just want to be able to write and create music that I feel happy with personally. I love the process of writing and creating and just hope that I can continue to do this as long as I live. To me, joy and happiness are within the process, not the reception. Although, of course, I want people to enjoy what I make, but this is secondary.
5 — Why is your debut album entitled ‘Hope & Light’?
I felt like the overall tone and message I wanted to communicate was of hope & staying positive in the face of adversity.
The writing has a lot of messages and content about my feelings of struggle and pain, but I try to write and focus on the resolution of these battles.
6 — Can you tell us more about the topics and subjects behind your new songs?
I guess the last question sort of answers this, but also touches on a lot of my relationships I have been through.
Some of the songs also just represent a thought process that doesn’t necessarily have a specific topic and just act as a canvas to lay down my thoughts and feelings.
7 — What made you want to work with Faded Tapes on your second single “First Written”?
I have known Joe for a while now, through Occult. He sent me some bits to listen to that we could potentially collaborate on.
I love his lo-fi approach to music and contacted him for some music, as I have always been drawn to his sound.
8 — Why did you opt for an animated music video?
I have always liked the idea of making myself into an animation of some sort and came across the illustrator/ director Rachel Seropian.
I fell in love with some of her work and thought it would be a perfect style for my music. The organic feel of her work really projects visually the way I want my music to be seen and was over the moon with the finished video.
9 — What was the main message you wanted to send to fans with “First Written”?
Stay positive.
10 — Finally, what can we expect from Zeb Samuels in 2020?
More music. 😉