Love, friendship and inner revolution are the keys to a happy existence for one Huddersfield musician.
It’s a message that Samh hopes to share with people far and wide when Migration Patterns, the latest EP of his eponymous experimental rock band, hits the shelves in March.
The Manchester-born and now Huddersfield resident, whose full name is Sam Hodgson, said: “I wanted the EP to be an opportunity to get listeners to look within themselves.
“I think that by doing that and focusing on more naturalist needs and wants we can find a lot of answers to our contemporary situations that will make us feel happier and in more control.
“We are encouraged to drive towards getting a job, buying the latest gadgets and jumping through all these hoops but I think more of us could find happiness if we look back to our ancestors to find the core, less material facets that really do make us happy.
“I think that if you have things like love, friendship and the potential of escapism you can find a lot of happiness.
“At the moment I think that some people are quite worried about the large amount of control that politicians and corporations try to have over our lives.
“Migration Patterns references the need for us to stick together and search for this happiness – I’d describe it as an inner revolution.”
The band and the ethos they follow was born out of Samh’s solo, acoustic work.
“I try to see the two formations as both separate but as one at the same time.
“The lyrics carry the same meanings but my solo stuff is more gentle.”
So far he has released six records, which take influences from disparate groups such as Radiohead, Tool, Fairport Convention, Efterklang and Malian singer, Ali Farka Touré.
“They’ve helped me create records that start in one genre, such as acoustic folk and slowly main build up throughout the album to electronica – Spinners’ Wheel is a good example; in parts it’s what I’d call folktronica.
“They all help me become more experimental and explore the possibilities of what you can do with music.
“Going to West Africa opened my eyes even more.
“To put it simply, the music just comes from the earth and it takes and holds you.
“A lot of it at once seems effortless and impossible”.
One of Sam’s other passions is the popular open mic at Bar 1:22, which he has been running every Tuesday for two years.
“It’s one of my biggest loves in Huddersfield.
“I used to go on my own when I had just moved to Huddersfield and it was really welcoming.
“It’s a really important event for me because it gives everyone the opportunity to be heard and express themselves.
“Too much is put into the hands of people who are played on the radio and what I hear there is truly inspiring and beautiful.”
Sam is now raring to get back on the road.
He will next play acoustically on Thursday, February 12, as an acoustic duo at Coffee Evolution, before gracing stages with the full Samh rock band to spread his good word and bring new hope to audiences at the start of a new year.
