BY DANIELLE HOLIAN
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM VALDEZ
Sam Valdez is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, who’s music is driven on the fusion of shoegaze and vintage Americana indie folk. She grew up on the edge of the Nevada desert in Las Vegas, crediting the place as a major influence on her artistry. She performed in numerous bands before finding her sound as a solo artist. Being a classically trained violinist, her musical maturity is shown in her music adding technicalities that bring her to the forefront of her genre. Unclear Magazine caught up with Sam Valdez to discuss her musical background, new single “Toothache”, and more below.
When did you decide music was something you wanted to pursue, career-wise?
Sam: “I became really serious about it once I felt like I had learned enough chords to start writing. It started feeling like a career pretty recently.”
And you’re a classically trained violinist, how did this influence your writing and composing music?
S: “Classical music is pretty grand and dynamic by nature and the violin is such a melodic instrument. I feel like those melodies and song structures are ingrained in me and have helped form the way that I approach songwriting.“
Who or what are your musical influences?
S: “I listen to a lot of 90's music like Mazzy Star and Cocteau Twins. I've lately been getting into more alt pop as well.”
You released your latest single “Toothache” on April 3rd, how was the experience making this track?
S: “I wrote Toothache pretty fast. It was one of those songs that just came together in an hour or two. This song is extra special to me so I became pretty particular in the recording process, but I worked on it with some great people who made it feel easy.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM VALDEZ
Since becoming a solo artist, how has it been finding your signature sound?
S: “It has definitely taken a lot of experimenting. I still feel there are many things that I want to continue to change, but it’s part of the process. I think it’s important to never be too settled or fully satisfied in what I do so that I can keep developing and evolving.”
What do you want the listeners to take away from your music?
S: “I just want people to feel comforted or feel a relation to my music that helps them.”
And how has your music evolved since you began?
S: “When I began writing, I would try to avoid saying what I really wanted to say by using metaphors. Now I try to be blunt by writing more honestly.”
Do you have any stand-out moments in your musical career, thus far?
S: '“Touring has definitely been the best part of music for me so far so I really can't wait to get back to it.”
And finally, what does 2020 hold in-store, thus far, for you?
S: “2020 has already been such an unpredictable and surreal year so it’s hard to say. I will be putting out the rest of my record and touring again soon hopefully!”