Rugby player turned pop singer-songwriter, Sam Heselwood is a name to pay attention to.
Sam Heselwood’s music is warm and intimate, showcasing a refreshingly authentic sense of vulnerability. Influenced by the likes of Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi, Sam Heselwood’s music is nothing short of breathtaking. Heselwood captivates his listeners with honest and relatable lyrics and his powerful voice. Exploring themes of family, love, and mental health Heselwood has the unique ability to leave the listener with goosebumps.
The definition of a humble kiwi lad, Heselwood is trying to break down boundaries through his music. Fighting the stigma that ‘men don’t cry’, Sam Heselwood isn’t afraid to expose his inner feelings to help others.
Growing up in the small rural town of Darfield, music didn’t come first for Heselwood. Encouraged by his primary school teacher Chrissy Badger, Heselwood developed a love for music.“I would run away every lunchtime to play sport and she would come out onto the field and make sure I practised. Little did I know she would be the spark of something I probably never would have pursued if I’d never gone through her program.”
After taking time off music in high school to pursue Rugby, Heselwood picked up his guitar and penned his first song at age 19. Then at 21, he entered the Golden Guitar awards in Gore, in which he was a finalist for his song ‘High Off Love’. It wasn’t until he started writing his own songs that he fell in love with music completely. “I love writing because it’s a way to express what I’m thinking. I’m an overthinker and I get way too carried away in my thoughts” Sam says.
Sam went on to release his next single ‘Another One Too Young” in 2020 and a self-titled acoustic EP followed in 2021. He has since collaborated with DnB act CSM and appears on their album onesevenfour on a track called ‘Hold Me’.
With a slew of singles already released, support from SOLE Music Academy and an EP expected this year, the future looks bright for Sam Heselwood.