Roller-coaster year for Auckland singer-songwriter

Media Release

From the Mental Health Foundation

30 September 2010

Seems I Might Be Human - debut album from Auckland singer-songwriter samRB launches today

Its been a roller-coaster year for Auckland singer-songwriter samRB.

12 months ago she received a NZ Mental Health Media Grant to support the production of her debut album.

Tonight this album - 'Seems I Might Be Human' will be launched at a private premiere with a back-up band of well-known local musicians, including Mike Chunn and Greg Clark.

This time last year, the album was just a dream and now its being released, Im just so very grateful to everyone who has supported the process says Sam, Special thanks goes to Andrew Buckton, who produced and engineered the album.

2010 has already seen one single 'Life Has Just Begun' performed as the anthem at the end of the NZ film 'The Insatiable Moon.' Producer Mike Riddell describes Sam as "quite simply, a brilliant musician - both a talented songwriter and gorgeous singer, she makes songs with depth and feeling and her album is one to look out for.

The album comprises 13 songs, with an unerring sense of melody and lyrics that are universally accessible. The lyrics are both poetic and narrative, telling stories and evoking feelings. Riddell describes it as stemming from a journey into the fragile dignity of humanity.

Mike Chunn, who was on the selection panel for the 2009 media grants, says Sams songwriting skills and the beautiful ambition that has propelled those songs to reality, makes for a story to be celebrated.

Against many odds Sam has crawled, knelt and reached until she now stands tall with a body of work - an album of wonderful, brave and honest songs - that show her to be a major talent.

A songwriter since she was at school, Sams unique sound grew from combining poetry with a few self-taught chords on a borrowed guitar. Over the years she has become a fully mature musician with a wide repertoire of original songs.

Judi Clements, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation - who administer the media grants - says the Foundation is pleased to be able to support Sam and proud to be associated with her project.

Music is powerful in so many ways, Ms Clements says, It reaches people in ways other media doesnt, it stimulates the senses and is thought provoking; sometimes its a spiritual experience. Sams album achieves all of this and more.

You can find samRB on:
Facebook - www.facebook.com/pages/samRB/113925001972645?v=wall
Twitter @samRBnz
www.myspace.com/seemsimightbehuman

The album will be released and distributed online October 1 by DRMNZ, available at iTunes and www.amplifier.co.nz. A limited number of copies of the album are also available on CD from samRB, email samrb@vodafone.co.nz for details.

'Seems I Might Be Human' was part-funded by a New Zealand Mental Health Media Grant and is proudly supported by Like Minds, Like Mine and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

Andrew Buckton at Studio 203 produced, engineered, mixed, mastered and played on the album. Gabriel Ormsby and Gareth Edwards also contributed to some of the recordings, and Tim Ingle designed and illustrated the album.

ENDS

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