Samantha Heard

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.SAMANTHA HEARD
"A Head Full Of Songs"
There still exist the artists whose starting point is the creativity of the song and the passion of the performance as opposed to the insatiable need to be famous. Out of this small pack comes 22 yr old Sam Heard who has poured 8 years of songwriting into the 12 entirely self-written songs which comprise her debut album “Headsketches”.
Having played piano from a very young age, Sam discovered writing songs was a release whilst growing up in London.
“The whole process of writing songs became something I did whenever I had strong thoughts or feelings because it felt good to do”.
The watershed moment was having to make a decision over whether to take up the invitation to front a major label manufactured girl-group or continue to develop as a singer-songwriter.
“I just realised how important it is for me to sing and perform the songs I have created. I had to be honest to myself even though it’s often a lonelier and harder road”.
Turning her back on the easy route, Sam picked up the guitar, left school and travelled around the world, picking up inspiration from conversations and relationships, people and places. Returning to London with a head full of songs Sam started performing regularly as a solo artist, alternating between playing her piano and guitar, refusing to listen to those who tried to make her conform her style and songs to fit any one genre.
This honest approach paid off when Sam was discovered performing at Dingwalls in London by Robin Millar, one of Britain’s most successful ever record producers with 150 gold, silver and platinum discs and 44 No 1's to his credit (including Sade, Everything But The Girl and Fine Young Cannibals).
“Robin had a clear idea to put a band around me and show me the potential of my songs rather than limit and restrict what I was doing”.
Unusually for a traditionally greedy industry, Robin brought on board the production services of John Reynolds whose credits include musical partnerships and collaborations with a diverse, multi-cultural and inspiring spectrum of world-class artists (including Sinead O’Connor, Indigo Girls and Natacha Atlas). Sam’s patience had paid off and she was now surrounded by 2 producers who had between them recorded 2 of the most successful and iconic female artists in the last 25 years.
The combination of Sam, Robin and John has resulted in the arousing debut album “Headsketches”, an album which shows both the strong and confident woman in songs such as “Down & Out” and “Airport Song”, the gentle and feminine artist in “Love Is All We Have” and “Friend Like You”, as well as finding space for the Zeppelin inspired “Jealousy” and the poignant tribute to one of Sam’s inspirations Sandy Denny (“Sandy”). Now it’s time to go travelling again, this time with a debut album and a new band.
If you liked the music and want to come and see a show, please send your name and email address to:
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