1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Teams podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:26,853 Speaker 1: from News Talks at by. 3 00:00:32,493 --> 00:00:43,213 Speaker 2: Love. That is Kiri muso Sam Cullen, just twenty five. 4 00:00:43,413 --> 00:00:45,853 Speaker 2: He has played the main stage with him and Vines 5 00:00:46,093 --> 00:00:48,493 Speaker 2: two of the country on some of our Coolest Stages. 6 00:00:48,493 --> 00:00:50,813 Speaker 2: He has been working quietly behind the scenes to produce 7 00:00:50,853 --> 00:00:55,453 Speaker 2: his debut album. Sam Cullen's debut album is called Sam Cullen. 8 00:00:55,813 --> 00:00:57,533 Speaker 2: It comes out very soon. He's here with us this 9 00:00:57,653 --> 00:00:59,293 Speaker 2: morning for a bit of a chat, a bit of 10 00:00:59,293 --> 00:01:01,773 Speaker 2: a cord itdle and a bit of a whiter as well. Kyodo, 11 00:01:01,853 --> 00:01:04,733 Speaker 2: good morning. Thanks, Oh, that's so good to see you, 12 00:01:04,973 --> 00:01:08,413 Speaker 2: and thank you for coming in person. Of course, so 13 00:01:08,413 --> 00:01:10,453 Speaker 2: so for any of our listeners for whom that was 14 00:01:10,493 --> 00:01:12,693 Speaker 2: the first Sam Cullen they've heard. I mean, first of all, 15 00:01:12,693 --> 00:01:14,493 Speaker 2: where have they been? But give us a little bit 16 00:01:14,533 --> 00:01:16,613 Speaker 2: of your story. You are from the Deep South. 17 00:01:16,693 --> 00:01:19,573 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm from a vi Cargo, born and bread and 18 00:01:19,773 --> 00:01:22,733 Speaker 3: starting in Wellington. I live in Aukland now. Have done 19 00:01:22,813 --> 00:01:24,613 Speaker 3: music my whole life. It's kind of all I know 20 00:01:24,653 --> 00:01:24,973 Speaker 3: how to do. 21 00:01:25,093 --> 00:01:25,933 Speaker 2: How did you get into it? 22 00:01:26,853 --> 00:01:28,573 Speaker 3: I picked up a guitar at like seven, Mom and 23 00:01:28,613 --> 00:01:31,093 Speaker 3: dad gave me a guitar for Christmas, and I'd had 24 00:01:31,093 --> 00:01:34,533 Speaker 3: a babysitter and a school teacher that played music and 25 00:01:34,613 --> 00:01:38,093 Speaker 3: class and stuff. Yeah, and that was your first instrument. Yep, 26 00:01:38,173 --> 00:01:40,173 Speaker 3: that was my first instrument, kind of my own instrument. 27 00:01:41,173 --> 00:01:42,853 Speaker 2: Well, but that's probably a good thing, right. So mom 28 00:01:42,893 --> 00:01:45,733 Speaker 2: and Dad like because they didn't do the violin route, 29 00:01:45,813 --> 00:01:48,373 Speaker 2: they mercifully avoided the recorder. 30 00:01:48,453 --> 00:01:49,413 Speaker 3: No, I did recorder. 31 00:01:49,453 --> 00:01:50,933 Speaker 2: Oh okay, okay, Yeah, I. 32 00:01:51,133 --> 00:01:54,413 Speaker 3: Thought Mum's through hell on Saturday mornings doing recorder. Aye. 33 00:01:54,773 --> 00:01:56,813 Speaker 2: Recorder is a useful way to learn to read music. 34 00:01:56,853 --> 00:01:58,333 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, but it's not useful for much. 35 00:01:59,853 --> 00:02:02,613 Speaker 2: It's useful for driving the rest of the household completely 36 00:02:02,613 --> 00:02:03,373 Speaker 2: out there exactly. 37 00:02:03,573 --> 00:02:03,813 Speaker 3: Yeah. 38 00:02:03,853 --> 00:02:05,813 Speaker 2: So talk to us a little bit about the process 39 00:02:06,173 --> 00:02:08,733 Speaker 2: for this album. You've released a couple of EPs, but 40 00:02:09,333 --> 00:02:12,093 Speaker 2: you've been working on this process for a we are. 41 00:02:12,493 --> 00:02:14,613 Speaker 3: Yeah, Like some of the songs on the album are 42 00:02:15,093 --> 00:02:17,533 Speaker 3: probably five or six years old. It's kind of been 43 00:02:18,333 --> 00:02:20,773 Speaker 3: less of I'm gonna sit down and write an album, 44 00:02:20,853 --> 00:02:23,093 Speaker 3: but the last five years of my life. These are 45 00:02:23,133 --> 00:02:26,693 Speaker 3: like the best songs that I've written and aren't released yet. Nice. 46 00:02:27,293 --> 00:02:28,973 Speaker 3: So it's kind of the themes sort of like coming 47 00:02:29,013 --> 00:02:32,653 Speaker 3: of age at injuring adulthood and all that sort of stuff. 48 00:02:33,053 --> 00:02:35,093 Speaker 3: So I'm pretty proud of it. I'm excited to have 49 00:02:35,093 --> 00:02:35,413 Speaker 3: it out. 50 00:02:35,493 --> 00:02:35,733 Speaker 4: Yeah. 51 00:02:35,813 --> 00:02:38,573 Speaker 2: Nice, you're a rock Quest kde I am. 52 00:02:38,813 --> 00:02:42,173 Speaker 3: Yeah. Twenty eighteen was the first time I'd ever been 53 00:02:42,213 --> 00:02:44,093 Speaker 3: in Oakland for the national final request. 54 00:02:44,173 --> 00:02:44,333 Speaker 1: Yeah. 55 00:02:44,453 --> 00:02:47,213 Speaker 3: Yeah, how was that? It was good? It was really good. 56 00:02:48,013 --> 00:02:50,253 Speaker 3: I'd done a rock Quest for like five years leading 57 00:02:50,333 --> 00:02:52,053 Speaker 3: up to that, so it was in my last year 58 00:02:52,053 --> 00:02:54,813 Speaker 3: of high school. Nice to finally get to the to 59 00:02:54,853 --> 00:02:55,613 Speaker 3: that point. 60 00:02:56,013 --> 00:03:00,333 Speaker 2: How reflecting on what that kind of process is like 61 00:03:00,413 --> 00:03:02,293 Speaker 2: and the fact that you can go in every year, 62 00:03:02,373 --> 00:03:04,973 Speaker 2: you can get notes on your performances and the kind 63 00:03:05,013 --> 00:03:10,253 Speaker 2: of music you're writing. But how valuable as Rockquest is 64 00:03:10,253 --> 00:03:12,973 Speaker 2: an institution in your in your view, like. 65 00:03:12,893 --> 00:03:16,853 Speaker 3: Totally, I don't think I would have had as much 66 00:03:16,933 --> 00:03:20,573 Speaker 3: passion for making my own music, yeah as I did 67 00:03:20,613 --> 00:03:23,053 Speaker 3: at that age, because it, like you know, it obviously 68 00:03:23,093 --> 00:03:26,653 Speaker 3: gives you a goal to work towards. But also saying 69 00:03:26,653 --> 00:03:29,133 Speaker 3: that your peers do the same thing in your region 70 00:03:29,213 --> 00:03:32,813 Speaker 3: or your area is quite inspiring as well. Yeah, so 71 00:03:32,853 --> 00:03:36,133 Speaker 3: we're soper lucky to have them, Like, it's fantastic. 72 00:03:35,693 --> 00:03:38,973 Speaker 2: And this is not a slant on invocado at all. 73 00:03:39,213 --> 00:03:41,333 Speaker 2: We've been speaking off here, and you know that I 74 00:03:41,373 --> 00:03:44,733 Speaker 2: have a real fondness for the deeps out. But I 75 00:03:44,773 --> 00:03:46,413 Speaker 2: mean that the truth is, when you're growing up in 76 00:03:46,453 --> 00:03:50,213 Speaker 2: a medium sized city, I can imagine that the opportunities 77 00:03:50,253 --> 00:03:52,093 Speaker 2: to go and play, to be exposed to different forms 78 00:03:52,133 --> 00:03:55,493 Speaker 2: of music and other musical communities can be a bit limited. 79 00:03:55,613 --> 00:03:59,213 Speaker 3: Yeah, totally. I was pretty lucky though, and that I 80 00:03:59,253 --> 00:04:01,893 Speaker 3: started playing in rugby clubs in pubs when I was 81 00:04:01,973 --> 00:04:04,453 Speaker 3: quite young, and you can't really you can get away 82 00:04:04,493 --> 00:04:07,293 Speaker 3: with that in regional New Zealand, but perhaps not so 83 00:04:07,453 --> 00:04:10,293 Speaker 3: much in the Vegas city. So well, I mean, like 84 00:04:10,373 --> 00:04:12,053 Speaker 3: I was the first time I played in a pub, 85 00:04:12,093 --> 00:04:17,973 Speaker 3: I was like fifteen. Yeah yeah, but so long as 86 00:04:17,973 --> 00:04:22,373 Speaker 3: you went drinking, No, no, absolutely not. But so that 87 00:04:22,453 --> 00:04:24,333 Speaker 3: and that and that respect like it was really good. 88 00:04:25,093 --> 00:04:29,773 Speaker 3: But you're totally right, and you kind of got a. 89 00:04:29,133 --> 00:04:31,933 Speaker 2: But so you're saying that the kind of benefit from 90 00:04:31,933 --> 00:04:37,333 Speaker 2: being in that community is that you can have live 91 00:04:37,373 --> 00:04:40,813 Speaker 2: opportunities before exactly perform live that you might not otherwise 92 00:04:40,853 --> 00:04:41,253 Speaker 2: have a few. 93 00:04:41,573 --> 00:04:42,693 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, exactly. 94 00:04:43,173 --> 00:04:45,933 Speaker 2: You have been performing live quite a bit over the 95 00:04:46,013 --> 00:04:47,733 Speaker 2: last few years as well, did you usually play with 96 00:04:47,773 --> 00:04:48,813 Speaker 2: a band, right. 97 00:04:48,733 --> 00:04:50,893 Speaker 3: I do, Yeah, I do, yeah, I got there's four 98 00:04:50,973 --> 00:04:51,933 Speaker 3: or five of us, depending. 99 00:04:51,733 --> 00:04:56,973 Speaker 2: On So how has that factored into the album a lot. 100 00:04:56,893 --> 00:05:00,013 Speaker 3: Because it's I've got a band selene on for their 101 00:05:00,093 --> 00:05:03,053 Speaker 3: own instruments, you know, like I can't play the drums 102 00:05:03,093 --> 00:05:04,933 Speaker 3: at all, so like my drama, I get my druma 103 00:05:04,973 --> 00:05:07,973 Speaker 3: to play the drums on the records, and then like 104 00:05:08,333 --> 00:05:11,653 Speaker 3: I kind of writing the songs a little bit and 105 00:05:11,733 --> 00:05:13,373 Speaker 3: thinking about the live show a bit more now that 106 00:05:13,413 --> 00:05:16,733 Speaker 3: there's a band as well, which has been fun. How 107 00:05:16,773 --> 00:05:20,093 Speaker 3: so well, I guess when you're putting a live set 108 00:05:20,093 --> 00:05:22,173 Speaker 3: together you want to kind of ebbs and flows. But 109 00:05:23,213 --> 00:05:26,613 Speaker 3: some of the songs have like longer outros where alive 110 00:05:26,693 --> 00:05:29,373 Speaker 3: it really works super well because you can let the 111 00:05:29,413 --> 00:05:32,173 Speaker 3: guitar solo have a take as long as you are 112 00:05:32,213 --> 00:05:35,013 Speaker 3: exactly yeaheah, yeah yeah. And some of the songs you're 113 00:05:35,013 --> 00:05:36,733 Speaker 3: writing them and it's like this is going to work 114 00:05:36,893 --> 00:05:37,533 Speaker 3: really good live. 115 00:05:37,653 --> 00:05:41,453 Speaker 2: You know you're right, But but are the disciplines different, 116 00:05:41,653 --> 00:05:43,333 Speaker 2: Like do you think of them as distinct things? 117 00:05:43,453 --> 00:05:45,853 Speaker 3: Yep, totally. Some of the songs I poll apart a 118 00:05:45,853 --> 00:05:49,973 Speaker 3: bit more than they are and as their recorded versions. Yeah, 119 00:05:50,093 --> 00:05:52,733 Speaker 3: you might extend them all short and different bits, blend 120 00:05:52,813 --> 00:05:55,093 Speaker 3: a couple of songs together, so you're not stuffing and 121 00:05:55,133 --> 00:05:56,773 Speaker 3: being like here's the next song. 122 00:05:57,013 --> 00:06:00,293 Speaker 2: Yeah right, yeah, yeah, you see that. It's been written 123 00:06:00,293 --> 00:06:02,413 Speaker 2: over five years. It's been a bit of a coming age, 124 00:06:02,653 --> 00:06:05,853 Speaker 2: coming of age kind of period. Early twenties is kind 125 00:06:05,853 --> 00:06:07,813 Speaker 2: of a kind of a golden time. But so do 126 00:06:07,853 --> 00:06:10,253 Speaker 2: you see a kind of three through the through the songs. 127 00:06:10,173 --> 00:06:14,613 Speaker 3: Yeah, totally. I studied in Wellington after I left schol 128 00:06:14,613 --> 00:06:16,013 Speaker 3: as well for three years, so a lot of the 129 00:06:16,053 --> 00:06:19,453 Speaker 3: songs came from that period of my life where I 130 00:06:19,493 --> 00:06:22,373 Speaker 3: met a lot of my best friends and met my partner. Yeah, 131 00:06:22,533 --> 00:06:26,093 Speaker 3: things like that. So there's a lot of UNI days 132 00:06:26,093 --> 00:06:26,653 Speaker 3: in this album. 133 00:06:26,813 --> 00:06:29,533 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, yeah, but in a good way. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 134 00:06:29,533 --> 00:06:31,973 Speaker 2: Well they reckon. It's the music you listen to when 135 00:06:32,013 --> 00:06:33,653 Speaker 2: you're like twenty two, that you'll listen to for the 136 00:06:33,693 --> 00:06:34,293 Speaker 2: rest of your life. 137 00:06:34,333 --> 00:06:37,093 Speaker 3: So that's kind of what I'm feeling now, to be honest. Yeah. 138 00:06:37,213 --> 00:06:41,213 Speaker 2: Yeah, you've just played Going Global too, right, Yes, So 139 00:06:41,213 --> 00:06:42,013 Speaker 2: what is it? 140 00:06:42,013 --> 00:06:46,293 Speaker 3: It's a showcase run by the Music Commission and Independent 141 00:06:46,333 --> 00:06:51,213 Speaker 3: Music New Zealand where they invite like international music industry 142 00:06:51,333 --> 00:06:55,173 Speaker 3: over to do panel talks for two days, and they 143 00:06:55,173 --> 00:06:58,093 Speaker 3: put on two nights of gigs at Wami Bar. I'm 144 00:06:58,213 --> 00:07:02,173 Speaker 3: getting a happy road. Great and yeah we're like enough 145 00:07:02,173 --> 00:07:05,813 Speaker 3: to perform and go along to the showcases. Nice. 146 00:07:06,453 --> 00:07:08,533 Speaker 2: The idea is that you kind of you learn a 147 00:07:08,533 --> 00:07:10,773 Speaker 2: bit from the professionals coming in from overseas, but you 148 00:07:10,853 --> 00:07:13,613 Speaker 2: also hopefully have an opportunity to say your goods a 149 00:07:13,613 --> 00:07:14,213 Speaker 2: bit totally. 150 00:07:14,333 --> 00:07:17,573 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's kind of it is like a kind of sure. 151 00:07:19,133 --> 00:07:19,693 Speaker 2: In a good way. 152 00:07:19,773 --> 00:07:19,973 Speaker 1: Yeah. 153 00:07:20,213 --> 00:07:22,693 Speaker 2: Once the album is released November seven, you guys a 154 00:07:22,693 --> 00:07:23,573 Speaker 2: going to be touring. Yep. 155 00:07:23,733 --> 00:07:26,733 Speaker 3: Yeah, we turn the country which would be fun. There's 156 00:07:26,773 --> 00:07:29,733 Speaker 3: six six dates so far, up and down from right 157 00:07:29,773 --> 00:07:33,613 Speaker 3: from Avicago all the way to Auckland. Yeah. Excited to 158 00:07:33,653 --> 00:07:34,853 Speaker 3: get back on the road. 159 00:07:35,053 --> 00:07:36,733 Speaker 2: Ah, so good. All right, Well you're going to perform 160 00:07:36,773 --> 00:07:38,613 Speaker 2: for us this morning, so I will let you get 161 00:07:38,653 --> 00:07:45,093 Speaker 2: yourself sorted. Sam has brought his guitar and fantastic. We 162 00:07:45,213 --> 00:07:46,613 Speaker 2: heard a bit of a sound check, so I will 163 00:07:46,653 --> 00:07:47,373 Speaker 2: let you introduce it. 164 00:07:47,453 --> 00:07:47,693 Speaker 4: Sam. 165 00:07:47,773 --> 00:07:50,173 Speaker 2: This is Sam Cullen and thank you so much. 166 00:07:50,293 --> 00:07:52,973 Speaker 3: Thanks, Jack, appreciate it, Thanks for your time. Let's called 167 00:07:52,973 --> 00:08:01,813 Speaker 3: that somebody's you cheers. We love songs on the qus 168 00:08:02,573 --> 00:08:08,533 Speaker 3: when you're scared true, the true says he needs somebody. 169 00:08:08,653 --> 00:08:14,173 Speaker 3: Maybe that somebody is you. But I was standing on 170 00:08:14,213 --> 00:08:17,413 Speaker 3: the sideline. Yeah, I'm just the water boy and maybe 171 00:08:17,493 --> 00:08:21,893 Speaker 3: trying to buy time it suspectator sport. Even if I could, 172 00:08:22,013 --> 00:08:25,453 Speaker 3: I know that I would not try to change it, 173 00:08:25,733 --> 00:08:30,333 Speaker 3: saying my own word, standing me throw it all the 174 00:08:30,333 --> 00:08:35,093 Speaker 3: way and have another drink here, take another day, seeing 175 00:08:35,213 --> 00:08:38,053 Speaker 3: your eyes on my fears beyond. 176 00:08:37,653 --> 00:08:39,173 Speaker 2: This rampart and more. 177 00:08:40,573 --> 00:08:44,533 Speaker 4: But it's hard to believe when it's cold outside, hard 178 00:08:44,573 --> 00:08:48,773 Speaker 4: to believe it to get excited. Colt it go, but 179 00:08:49,053 --> 00:08:54,253 Speaker 4: I want it. Wears me out, It'll wear you out, 180 00:08:55,133 --> 00:08:59,733 Speaker 4: But don't stop fighting all him old a Friday. I 181 00:09:00,133 --> 00:09:06,253 Speaker 4: get you down an anger, finding your passion, baby, that's 182 00:09:06,733 --> 00:09:12,293 Speaker 4: just finding yourself. And love songs who make cute of its. 183 00:09:13,133 --> 00:09:17,613 Speaker 4: When you're scared of the truth, The truth says you 184 00:09:17,773 --> 00:09:24,653 Speaker 4: want somebody, Maybe that somebody has you. Can I find 185 00:09:24,693 --> 00:09:29,093 Speaker 4: a language swallowing my pride every time we manifest, I 186 00:09:29,213 --> 00:09:34,133 Speaker 4: recon I'm a live too much bid in this sandy Stelia, 187 00:09:34,373 --> 00:09:38,533 Speaker 4: I think I'll eave the country. Well, you can have 188 00:09:38,693 --> 00:09:43,013 Speaker 4: it your way. This happens every time down in the heartland. Yeah, 189 00:09:43,093 --> 00:09:46,693 Speaker 4: the boys are doing fine. Every night out and next 190 00:09:46,893 --> 00:09:52,093 Speaker 4: morning spent on the fence. Yes, it's hard to believe 191 00:09:52,253 --> 00:09:57,773 Speaker 4: when it's cold outside, hard to believe to get excited. 192 00:09:58,053 --> 00:10:03,333 Speaker 4: Collected covid of the It wears me out. It'll wear 193 00:10:03,813 --> 00:10:09,853 Speaker 4: you well, but don't stop. I'll fighting him. Order the Friday. 194 00:10:10,053 --> 00:10:16,253 Speaker 4: I get you down in the anger, finding your passion, baby, 195 00:10:16,453 --> 00:10:22,053 Speaker 4: that's just finding yourself and love songs who make cuteed 196 00:10:22,413 --> 00:10:27,293 Speaker 4: it when you're scared of the truth, and the truth 197 00:10:27,413 --> 00:10:34,173 Speaker 4: says you want somebody, baby, that songbody has you. M 198 00:10:34,373 --> 00:10:43,413 Speaker 4: no glofo the fire. I need something old. Blame me 199 00:10:43,493 --> 00:11:02,013 Speaker 4: his song I like, and I like Oh love and 200 00:11:02,133 --> 00:11:05,293 Speaker 4: losing my face. I've and blooded in the fight, and 201 00:11:05,373 --> 00:11:08,453 Speaker 4: I want to find home at the end of the night, 202 00:11:08,933 --> 00:11:13,053 Speaker 4: to see this out, to forget my desire. It's so 203 00:11:13,373 --> 00:11:16,773 Speaker 4: stupid when the so much time and claim me a 204 00:11:16,893 --> 00:11:21,653 Speaker 4: love song, claim me that song. Baby, go easy, turn 205 00:11:21,813 --> 00:11:22,493 Speaker 4: this around. 206 00:11:22,933 --> 00:11:25,493 Speaker 3: It's in my heart tonight. I got a hold on 207 00:11:25,653 --> 00:11:26,293 Speaker 3: this tongue. 208 00:11:27,213 --> 00:11:33,333 Speaker 4: Let's wear it out. Don't stop fighting them. Go let 209 00:11:33,413 --> 00:11:38,493 Speaker 4: a Friday. I get you down in the anger, finding 210 00:11:38,653 --> 00:11:45,093 Speaker 4: your passion, baby, that's just finding yourself and love songs 211 00:11:45,133 --> 00:11:50,853 Speaker 4: and make undards when you're scared of the truth, and 212 00:11:51,053 --> 00:11:57,013 Speaker 4: the truth is you want somebody me that Songbody has you. 213 00:12:12,733 --> 00:12:16,773 Speaker 2: Ah, so good. Thank you so much, Sam, congratulations. That 214 00:12:16,893 --> 00:12:19,453 Speaker 2: was amazing. Yeah, thank you, thank you. We really really 215 00:12:19,573 --> 00:12:24,053 Speaker 2: appreciate that, Sam Cullen. His debut album, Sam Cullen Self Titled, 216 00:12:24,253 --> 00:12:26,613 Speaker 2: is out on November seven. We'll hear all the details 217 00:12:26,693 --> 00:12:27,373 Speaker 2: on News Talks. 218 00:12:27,413 --> 00:12:31,333 Speaker 1: He'd be website for more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame. 219 00:12:31,533 --> 00:12:34,693 Speaker 1: Listen live to news Talks he'd be from nine am Saturday, 220 00:12:34,973 --> 00:12:36,973 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.