CHITWN Music Solo Artist Sam Talks About Inspiration And His Collaboration With K. Shin [EXCLUSIVE]

CHITWN Music solo artist Sam is riding high.

His third single album "Wake Up" pulled in over 3 million views times in China. The singer-songwriter has been an almost constant presence on Korean TV shows, appearing on "Voice of Korea," "Arirang Pops" and OnStyle's "Super Company Top 10," in just the past two months.

Earlier this week, Sam spoke to KpopStarz about his upcoming tour and his collaboration with the rapper K. Shin on the song "Wake Up," in an exclusive interview.

"Wake Up" recently cracked the top 15 on OnAir MBC's Radio chart. Sam explained the back story to the song.

"'Wake Up' is a song, I wrote on a trip back to Chicago a few years ago," he said.

"It's about a break up that I was going through during that time. It was a tough time and one night I was having trouble falling asleep. I had woken up and it was around four in the morning, so I started messing around in my studio. I made the original for this track during that time. Since then, it went through a few different arrangements before it was finalized into the song that you guys are hearing today."

But it was when the vocalist brought K. Shin in to add a rap, that the overall sound of "Wake Up" came together

"With the help of K. Shin, I was able to perfect the song," Sam said. "We got to build a stronger relationship through this collaboration. There are many different relationships that I have with people but from an artist-to-artist standpoint, the best way to really build relationships is through collaborations."

"We both worked hard and I really appreciate all the time and effort he spent on the completion of the song," he added.

When it comes to influences, Sam doesn't limit the progression of his music to the artists he listens to.

"I believe it's not about who influences me more than what influences me," he said. "I am influenced by the stories of the lives around me. I work with a great team and they influence me day in and day out with their dedication to CHITWN Music...a very important part of life, in my opinion, is surrounding yourself around people that you can really connect with. Our team succeeds together, fails together, and goes through all the consequences of our actions together. This bond really inspires and influences me a great deal."

The singer is also inspired to work with other musicians.

"I would like to collaborate with artists like JYP and rappers like Jessie and Dynamic Duo," he said.

"When I first came to Korea, JYP was one artist that I truly looked up to. I wanted to follow in his footsteps and how he transitioned from an artist into creating his own label while maintaining his vision was something I really wanted to do in the future. Jessie because she is so hot these days and just watching her popularity grow and people finally recognizing her talent as a musician is great." 

"I would really like to collaborate with Dynamic Duo," Sam added. They are one of the first generation hip hop artists in Korea and they do a great job creating good music to maintain the level of respect that they worked so hard to earn," Sam concluded.

Sam checks out his fellow artists before he invites them to lay down tracks.

"Before any collaboration, I meet with them and try to create a bond that will help us to create the best music," Sam said.

"Regardless of talent, I feel like the best music collaborations work out when both artists feel really comfortable expressing themselves around each other. A collaboration is really a mix of two or more different artist's colors. Only when the color of all the artists that are part of the collaboration show, will the music be top quality. I believe in this so before any musical work takes place, I really try to build a relationship with the artist that I'm working together with to create that atmosphere of comfort."

As a songwriter, Sam sets a leisurely regimen for his output, but that has nothing to do with a lapsed discipline.

"I am a very inspiration driven person," Sam said.

"From experience, I know that setting a time to work does not work well with me. Many of my songs are very spur of the moment. As all people do, I feel a variety of emotions throughout the day or through different times of my life. These moments really just light a lightbulb in my head and I get to work regardless of the time of day or what I'm doing. There were even times when I'm in the middle of a meal and an idea pops up in my head and I run to my computer to get these ideas rolling. The inspirations for my songs really come from all different areas of my life."

The singer enjoys the control over his schedule that he enjoys as a boss of CHITWN Music.

"One of the greatest things about having your own label is that you are able to produce your music without any other influences," the artist proclaimed.

"This is the first time in my music career in Korea where I have a full say in the type and genre of the music that I want to create. When it comes to the release, marketing, and distribution of my music, our team at CHITWN music handles it together. However, behind the studio doors, where the music is actually made, is my area, where I have the freedom to create the music I want. I feel so lucky and blessed that I have the opportunity to do this."

"I have 100% of the say in the production of my music," he added.

He also reflected on the awkward nature of appearing on television.

"I prefer concert stages to TV stages because I feel that I am offered more freedom on a concert stage," Sam said.

"When I'm on a concert stage I feel like I can really go all out into the song. However, on TV stages, I have to worry about all the cameras and everything so there's a bit more on my mind than just killing the song. I prefer singing live as well. The adrenaline and the feeling that you get before a live concert stage, is just amazing and it really is what I live for as a singer."

But Sam still finds time to keep up with latest Hallyu happenings.

"Being in the industry, I like to be very up to date and aware of the artists around me," Sam said.

Watch Sam's newest music video for "Wish I Never Had" RIGHT HERE

Tags
chitwn
solo artist
chitown solo artist sam
Join the Discussion

Latest Photo Gallery

Real Time Analytics