What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? The best advice I ever got from another musician is that when you are on stage, it’s not your moment to play for them, it’s their moment to watch you perform. That statement alone is the reason I am an artist and not just a writer. It’s always in the back of my mind and allows me to leave everything out there on stage for people to enjoy or relate to.
For newer fans, how did your passion for music and career come about? My passion for music started when I was a kid - screaming along with the radio is my favorite past time. I am super thankful to have parents that didn't mind it! I started playing music to impress the ladies at my synagogue and it ended up being a great way to release my thoughts. Still looking for that nice Jewish girl, but I am happy I found music along the way!
How was the last year for you? What were your highlights? The last 12 months has been a whirlwind! I started to book my tour out of pure need to get the HECK out of town. My crippling anxiety came from even the thought of running into my recent ex-girlfriend and that turned out to be EXACTLY what I needed. I played over 70 shows in 23 different states and I saw hundreds of people that I have been missing, I met a TON of new people, and I got to spend time with family that I used to not see very often. My highlights were mostly the fact that it finally started to feel like I was doing something that had meaning to it.
At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people take away from your songs? I hope the message of my music is that every song you hear is my truth. I didn't necessarily write the song for everyone. I wrote it because that’s how I feel or how I felt in a certain moment. I hope that if people find that they can relate to the song that it helps them know they aren't alone. Ultimately, I just want people to feel love in my songs.
Who have been some of your biggest musical influences growing up and do the same artists currently continue to influence you now? Growing up I loved Elton John, James Brown, Jim Croce, Foreigner, AC/DC, Little River Band, Three Dog Night, and OBVIOUSLY Disney music. I think all of them play a small role in shaping how I write or how I chose my instrumentation. I love a mix of something to sing along to and songs that mean something and I think these artists do that; I hope I can too!
What is your favorite meal to cook? My current favorite meal to cook is ramen! There's a spot in Nashville called Otaku Ramen in the Gulch and I was eating there three times a week, so I decided to learn how to make what I order and have saved a ton of cash doing so! LOVE THAT STUFF.
What about the best food that is deep fried? Chicken. Chicken. And Chicken.
What's one place you've always dreamed of dining? I've always dreamed of eating a big ole bowl of pasta in Italy. Just a hot tub filled with handmade penne pasta to dive into. That’s the dream!
Most memorable meal while on tour? (Not a meal, but more of a snack) The way the I explore a new city is by grabbing a baguette from the best Google rated bakery in town and I walk around eating it. I continued such tradition last March in Philly with one of my best friends Dani (who lives there) and she was like "Can I take a picture with your baguette", my first reaction was this is SO dumb. But after seeing how hilarious her picture in front of the art museum was, I decided to take my own and that was the beginning of something wild. I started taking romantic pictures with my baguette in every city I toured in and even created an Instagram account for Baeguette (@_baeguette). It's been a fantastic experience to watch everyone react to my relation with bread flourish.
Finally, if you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be and why? One of my favorite people in Nashville, Bryan Frazier, has always joked that I would buy an ICEE truck when I have my first number one hit or I sign a record deal. So, if anyone knows the folks over at ICEE...HMU!
Website: http://samuelherbmusic.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samuelherbmusic/
Samuel Herb is a singer/songwriter originally from Jacksonville, FL. After placing second in American Songwriter Magazine’s Lyric Contest, Herb decided to make the move to Nashville in 2016 where he quickly fell in love with Americana music. After wrestling with the idea of becoming an artist as well as a writer he released his debut single, “Dirty.” which wound-up in the Top 10 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart. “Dirty.” has since been streamed nearly 40,000 on all platforms in over 50 different countries around the world. Herb’s love of storytelling brings audiences into his mind, while his in your face sound shows off his personality. His love of country music, combined with the sounds of Motown and even Disney music are apparent when listening to his stories.
In October of 2018, Herb released his second single, “Someone Else’s Dream” which again debuted in the Top 10 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart and quickly grew to a crowd favorite for live shows. It was after writing that song with his producer, Mark Caldwell, that Herb quit his job to pursue music full time.
In Spring of 2019, Herb’s self-titled, debut EP was released featuring 6-songs, all of which are completely different in story and sound. The EP also made it to #10 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart when it debuted.
Since making the move to artist in 2018, Samuel has shared the stage with Rodney Atkins, Jamie Lin Wilson, Son Little, Pokey LaFarge, Amythyst Kiah, Hush Kids, Tyler Hilton, Erin Rae, Shawn James and so many more. In such a short time, Herb has played in over 19 states, tallying up hundreds of shows in the past two years.
For more information, visit www.samuelherbmusic.com and connect with Samuel on Facebook and Instagram.
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