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“Sam’s songs are solid.” - NZ ON AIR “Acoustic pop magic.” - Doc Landry
Emerging onto the scene with a golden voice and an intimate pop sensibility, rugby player turned singer-songwriter Sam Heselwood is ready to turn heads.
Sam Heselwood gives us a taste of his upcoming project Bloodline with the emotive new single ‘18’. Vulnerable and intimate, ‘18’ gives us an introspective view of Heselwood’s carefree youthful days ‘full of big dreams’ and no money.
The uplifting catchy chorus immediately transports you back to your younger days without life's pressures. It’s the perfect light relief from the reflexive verses filled with the stresses that come with growing up. '18' is the perfect nostalgic kickback jam. On '18', Heselwood paints a picture of the blissful ignorance youth can bring.
Speaking on the track Heselwood explains, “I came up with the chorus first when I started thinking about when I was younger and a bit reckless. Life just gets a bit full these days and it makes me appreciate how much of a walk in the park it was back then,” says Heselwood.
The now 24-year-old recorded the single with producers Will McGillivray (nomad and now GoodWill) and Josh Logan at LOHO Studios. “It was pretty eye-opening. Being in a room with such talented people collaborating and watching them work….especially when they would get excited over little ideas and the song itself was pretty humbling,” says Heselwood.
Influenced by the likes of Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi, Sam Heselwood’s single and upcoming project is nothing short of breathtaking. 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.
“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.
With the support from SOLE Music Academy and an EP expected this year, the future looks bright for Sam Heselwood.
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Sam Heselwood’s music is warm and intimate, showcasing a refreshingly authentic sense of vulnerability. 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.
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 practiced. 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.