• Exclusive interview with Sam Burchfield: From American Idol to American Dream

    Americana Lady Posted On October 30, 2015
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    I love multi-faceted, versatile artists, and Sam Burchfield definitely fits the bill.  His influences range from funk and soul to folk.  He’s no stranger to huge audiences, having chosen to walk away from the American Idol frenzy in order to continue pushing his own original music.  This Atlanta-born southern boy can croon with the best of them and effortlessly jump into any genre he pleases. Take a gander at his latest single, ironically titled “Spring” (released this fall), and read on to dive deeper into this fiercely talented emerging artist.

    Americana Lady:   I’m loving your new single, “Spring”.  Was releasing it in the fall a deliberate juxtaposition? 
    Sam Burchfield:  Thanks! It was definitely something I was aware people would notice. I think we were really excited to get the song out there, and the idea of just holding on to it for 6 months so it could coincide with the season just wasn’t appealing. Also just wanted to give the southern hemisphere some love, ya know?

    AL:  What’s your songwriting process like?
    SB:  I started playing guitar before I started singing, so normally that is where I begin with writing. I’ll sort of vibe out on guitar and ‘free style’ sing as I sift through melody ideas. Eventually something sticks and I start to build off of it. Sometimes that happens in 15 minutes and I’ve got a whole song, sometimes it’s years later when inspiriation finally hits. I’m always taking notes on my phone, notebooks, voice memos with ideas or just observations of the world around me so I can remember things I come up with on the go. I remember the melody of Spring was one I came up with in the shower.
    AL:  Your music has been described as “an acoustic soul with a folk and funk twist.” Who are you biggest musical influences?
    SB: My inspirations really come from the far reaches of funk and folk I’d say. Some songs have a little bit more groove and soul, and some are more folk song-writer based. On the soul side, it’s Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Emily King, Bernhoft; and on the folk side Ray LaMontagne, Amos Lee, Van Morrison and the like. It was very musically diverse for me growing up because my Mom listened to 70s dance groups like Earth Wind & Fire and MJ, and my Dad listened to classic rock and country only…. One older sister was obsessed with Dylan and the other was into Sufjan Stevens and Pink Floyd. My guitar teacher really pushed Steve Vai and Joe Satriani on me. There was always different music being put in front of me.
    AL:  With all the touring you’ve done, what’s your favorite city to perform in?
    SB:  My favorite city I’ve been to on tour is Boston. My favorite city to perform in is Atlanta (where we are based out of). Me and the guys I get to play with are so involved in the music scene here that when we have a hometown show we end up having a lot of musician friends come out too. The community is so supportive in Atlanta that everyone ends up sitting-in on each others songs and just having a good ol time. When we get to genuinely have fun and be excited and spontaneous it makes the whole night more fun for the audience too. I love the scene here!
    AL:  What can your fans look forward to from Sam Burchfield in 2016?
    SB:  I’m so exited for 2016! More new music definitely. We have another single that will be out this winter, and then an EP in early 2016 to follow. Thanks for the interview!
    Want to know more?  samburchfield.com



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