Here Come The Sugababes
The Sugababes are back with their new album Catfights And Spotlights. Same Same...
Play It Again Sam!
Sam Sparro is the Aussie born music star who is exploding onto the world pop scene. He’s got a brilliant new self-titled album, a playful artsy look and a brazenly honest approach to his personal life. He’s talented, politically aware and yes, he’s openly gay. He casually chats to Same Same’s Travis De Jonk.
“I think you’re more likely to get the juicy stuff from a chat like this,” Sam says, as he greets me with a refreshingly warm and friendly demeanour. He’s dressed in a multicoloured patterned jumper that looks like a hip version of the Aussie bulky knit label Coogi, a Presets t-shirt – yes, he’s a huge fan – and his trademark nerdy glasses. He’s clearly playing a role; Sam Sparro the quirky music artist. It’s a bit like Superman assuming the identity of Clark Kent to conceal his true awesomeness.
By the time our interview starts, the lights and cameras are all off and he’s much more relaxed and himself. I can finally see the real man behind the distinctive persona. Where does that look come from?
“My boyfriend is the one you should really ask,” Sparro jokes, “he’s my stylist you know! He’s an artist [a painter] and I’m very visual. We both love clothes and playing around with style. We have similar tastes and gravitate towards pattern and geometry, and clothing with an ethnocentric feel. But at the end of the day it’s light and fun. Clearly I don’t like to take anything too seriously.”
Everytime Sam mentions his boyfriend his face lights up. This is clearly a relationship that’s very healthy… and working.
“Yeah, he’s not just my boyfriend,” says Sparro, “he’s my partner in crime.”
Sam Sparro had his big break in the UK with Island Records, but now calls LA home. His explanation?
“The UK is awesome but it’s very distracting and busy for me to live in and write. Australia will always feel like home too, but naturally when I’m here I feel like I’m more on holiday,” Sparro says. “Where we live in LA has just the right combination. We live around a lot of creative friends too. That helps. Plus my sound has a bit more of US vibe too.”
I had been fortunate enough to see this amazing rising star live at his first Australian gig. The previous night Sparro played a sold-out Melbourne gig to huge success. He’s a brilliant performer with outstanding live vocals. The room, packed full of eager punters, agreed. But how was it for him?
“I can’t tell you how jet lagged I was! My goodness! I’d literally gotten off the plane, my timezones were all out of whack and I’d sprained my neck,” he explains, “But damn! The energy [of the Melbourne audience] was fantastic. What a welcome! It just totally recharged me.”
He admits to being a bit nervous about how he was going to be received in Australia until the end of his first gig. If he was as exhausted as he says, you certainly couldn’t tell by watching. He didn’t stop until the whole room was jumping.
One of the features of the Melbourne concert were a couple of Black Box covers that Sparro did. Another cover that he performed for a profile show on the BBC was the recent Estelle hit American Boy.
You can watch this subversive interpretation of the song below:
Were there any plans to release the covers?
‘Well, I’m happy to say that American Boy will be released as a B-side to my next single, 21st Century Life … or at least it will be in the UK,” says Sparro. “But the Black Box stuff and the like was just a bit of good cheeky fun. There are songs I’ve always fantasised about doing on stage. It’s my chance to play a bit.”
However it’s not all about fun and games. Sam Sparro does have a serious side and it comes through in his album, which is rather political for a pop offering. Is politics that important to his music?
“I really didn’t deliberately set out to make any political statements in my music,” he explains, “but as an artist, you write about things that mean something to you, and that’s what I’ve done. We live in really tumultuous times, and it’s impossible not to let things get to you, no matter who you are or how much you have or what you worship.”
Sam believes that it’s important that when it comes to his public persona, it’s important that he is himself. “That in itself is political. And I don’t just mean being gay, but I’m honest as I can be. I say what I think at the time. My big mouth gets me into trouble so much! It has all my life,” he laughs.
We joke about recent comments he has made about Madonna that got blown out internationally. There were rumours about him touring with the superstar, that were quickly quashed after the comments became public. Then there was the recent incident where Sam jokingly pinched the bum of UK political pop queen MIA.
“She is amazing and someone I really admire. I really love her and want to work with her,” he says of the incident. “But I think my childish prank pissed her off. I don’t blame her at all.”
I asked Sam about which of his contemporaries he would most like to collaborate with. It didn’t take him too long to answer.
“Beth Ditto from The Gossip! Man I fucking love her! And MIA . I love her political vibe!”
Recently Sparro met Pharrell Williams, one half of The Neptunes and a producer on Madonna’s new album. Sam was clearly in awe, and pleasantly surprised to find that Pharrell is a fan of his music.
“Pharrell is bloody amazing. I love his music and it would be amazing to work with him. And he’s a definitely a bit a sexy guy too, I don’t mind admitting.”
And what does he think of the Aussie music scene?
“Wow, dance is really huge here isn’t it? It’s definitely exciting and has its own great flavour. It’s really grown in the past five years since I’ve been away. I used to be in a band for a few years here [in Sydney, Australia] but back then they just really didn’t get me. They wanted to make Jack Johnson [style music]. I knew I had to go overseas if I was going to do my thing.”
We talk about mutual favourites including Sneaky Sound System, and how it took ages (and a hot fronting singer) before they got recognised.
“I’m really looking forward to Sydney and the rest of my Aussie gigs!” he said, “It’s great to be here! Bring it on!”
Sam Sparro plays his second and final Australian gig in Sydney tonight, Wednesday 16 July. If you’ve got a ticket, you’re in for a treat!
Check out the photos from Sam’s gig last night at Oxford Art Factory by clicking here.
All About
Your Thoughts
Hey there, you need to be logged in to get involved with SameSame, click here to login if you're already a member, or here if you need to become a new member.
DanM82
said ages ago