SAMMM. “Stronger Now” Single Review
By Alayna Fong
‘Stronger Now’ by Brisbane artist SAMMM. (Samuel Geddes) has all the sounds of indie, rock, and punk, and is jampacked with brutally honest emotion. It has sounds similar to the Smith Street Band showcasing those strong Aussie vocals we all know and love. The single marks the first release from SAMMM. since the release of his second EP ‘Fresh Sheet Feeling’ in 2020.
‘Stronger Now’ is just the latest instalment of the SAMMM. project that started five years ago, and Samuel said the track was originally meant to be off his 2018 EP collection ‘Mandarin Season’. “It was one of those songs that never quite felt complete, so I didn’t touch it or think about it for two years and then it started rolling again,” he said. “I think it’s a continuation of those themes from the first EP [because] compared to ‘Fresh Sheet Feeling’ it is more in your face and brutally honest.”
As a listener there is nothing you can do to avoid this honesty. The lyrics like “wasted youth” and “too young to die” are sobering and scream without any inhibition, “this is how and what I’m feeling!” These lyrics are not only sobering for the listener but are important in Samuel’s personal journey too. Samuel shared with me the deep place these lyrics come from touching on his recovery from addiction and discovering there is more than one youth.
“Five years ago, I had to quit my job and go to a detox facility because I had developed this addiction that was really ruining my life and the ‘wasted youth’ line definitely refers to [this moment] and the moment I stopped playing music. It flicks back to ‘what was I doing?” “[But] a good five years later, I realise that wasn’t the only youth and I do have things to live for.” SAMMM. is a project that not only lets Samuel create music but create music he can listen back to and feel exactly the same as he was in that moment. “Whenever I felt at risk of going back to that dark place, I would listen to the group of songs again. It was to deter me from making decisions without much thought [and] to remind me too that I had progressed.”
‘Stronger Now’ is for everyone who may relate in some way. Whether it be similar situation, feeling that similar insanity, or at a loss of what to do. “Its really for anybody that feels there is something they can work on to be a little bit stronger.” Samuel said this song has been a big part of him for so long that he is excited for it to finally reach everyone’s ears.
The excitement of this release doesn’t just stop here though. The captivating music video showcasing all the grit and emotion through the ever-changing camera angles, lighting, and unmissable facial expressions dropped earlier this week on June 2!
Be sure to check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mFkaBjm5rU
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PH: 13 11 14
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PH: 1800 55 1800
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PH: 1300 78 99 78
