Singer-songwriter Sam Hutchinson has been performing under various guises since the turn of the century and started writing songs at about the same time. Now 21-years-old and based in Nottingham, England, the release of Put Your Head on the Pillow marks the first time the performer has committed his own songs to record with a full band arrangement. The results are clearly a marked improvement on everything that has come before and show a great potential in the song writing capabilities and craftsmanship of the musician.
This latest release is the first in over two years after the well received Dont Want to Talk, which was released in June 2004. The five-track EP was noted for its highlighting of the vocal ability of Sam. However, it also highlighted the requirement for more time to be spent on songs in the studio and for a fuller sound to be reached in the final recording. It was clear that a full band was required to provide a higher platform for the songs to be realised.
The band, alongside Sam on guitar and vocals, features Pete Fletcher on lead guitar and keyboard and Jorge Lerda on drums. Both are members of The Escapologists, who are also based in Nottingham. The flexibility afforded by having two extra members breathes life into the tracks. Two of the four titles have featured on previous releases as simple acoustic arrangements Dreaming of You (Sound Painting, 2003, as Unalone) and Brave Face (Dont Want To Talk, 2004). Hearing these songs alongside their original counterparts really underlines the warmth the fuller sound gives to the tracks. This notable difference has also been verified by listeners of the final mastered release - all agree that this is the strongest set put out by the singer-songwriter by far.
A pre-release mini tour was completed recently, notably stopping off at Bestival on the Isle of Wight. More tour dates are planned over the coming months alongside the usual spontaneous open mic performances in and around his home town. A free download of another new song from the recent sessions will be released in the winter, followed by further recording sessions in the springtime.
