Samuel Jack is clearly an artist to keep a close eye on. Not long after deciding on a career in music, he landed a gig at Glastonbury. All this before any material was even recorded. A year later, he is ready to get his career into the next gear and we absolutely love his soul drive on lead single ‘Let It All Out’. We decided it was high time to catch up by the man who is on a well-balanced midpoint between Sam Smith and Hozier...

MG: Hi Samuel. For those that know nothing about you, tell us three interesting facts…

SJ: Other than music I've only ever had one other profession: I was a chef for nine years and had my first job in a kitchen at 13. I can sing the South African national anthem in Zulu. I'm a movie geek.

MG: We hear that your first gig was at Glastonbury. How did that come about?

SJ: I was playing a little gig in a pop up restaurant, fortunately one of the stage programmers was in the audience and offered me a slot at Glasto straight after my set. Only two weeks before! There was a mad dash to finish some of my songs that I wanted in the set. Looking back, that was an important two weeks for me.

MG: Given the fact that you had such a high profile first gig, how have those afterwards lived up to Glasto?

SJ: Glasto is incomparable really. Not just for its size but just the vibe there. It's a special festival and on my doorstep. I've had equally as brilliant, but very different, gigs on other stages. Glasto is a one in a million type affair.

MG: What is the Samuel Jack live experience?

SJ: I guess my job is to entertain and captivate in a nutshell. I like to take the audience on a journey with me. Ups, downs, and those comfy middle places. I want to tell my stories. I like to think of the Samuel Jack experience as being an energetic, raw and importantly, honest performance - with me and my friends.

MG: We spotted a co-headline show with Beth Rowley on your schedule. How did that come about?

SJ: Our eyes met across a crowded room...kiddin'! I met Beth at one of my shows and our paths have crossed a couple of times since. Recently we were on the same bill at Innocent Festival. I've always been a fan of hers and I can't wait for our first show together! 

MG: Any plans for a collaboration?

SJ: Well, we've been in the studio together recently, so you'll have to come along and find out for yourselves!

MG: Beth Rowley aside, are there any artists you dream or performing or collaborating with?

SJ: I'd love to get in a room with Foy Vance, who is just an incredible storyteller and generally just pretty amazing. Also Jessie Ware, I love her voice, I'd love to duet with her. I'd have to check my diary but I could probably make time for Adele too.

MG: Now to your music - tell us about the track ‘Let It All Out’…

SJ: ‘Let It All Out’ is about release. It's about making mistakes, moving past them, being together, loving each other and having a good ol' sing song.

MG: Was there a particular situation you had to let out of your system?

SJ: If I'm honest, no there wasn't. The song came about from a conversation I was having with a friend about getting things off your chest. About being honest and about being you. 

MG: It’s lifted from the 'Live From My Caravan' EP. What can we expect from the it? 

SJ: I'm so excited to get my first music out there! Expect smiles, swagger and tears..

MG: Who would you say were the key influences sonically?

SJ: I love all roots based music, blues licks, gospel choirs, thumping bass lines. I was raised on soul, Motown and blues and have grown up listening to iconic writers like Lennon and McCartney, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor and loads, loads more.

MG: Can you tell us a little about your creative process?

SJ: It either starts with a bunch of words or phrases and I'll sit down at the piano with them, or more recently I've been playing the piano in 'vibe'. I'll have a sing over that vibe, then go from there. But I've written songs in lots of other ways too.

MG: Lastly, tell us the best or worst piece of feedback you have ever received.

SJ: I think the worst so far was someone telling me 'I've got weird Joe Cocker hands' - the thing is, I quite like Joe Cocker and so having similar hands is cool with me!

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Samuel's first EP, 'Live From My Caravan', is available now. Buy it on iTunes or give it a spin on Spotify. To keep up with future releases and live shows, check out his website.