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Just Passing Through: Sam Winch!
One of the most unique artists to spend a residency in Los Angeles is Chicago based songwriter Sam Winch. Winch is currently in the third week of his monthly long stint performing at The Fold at Tangier in Los Feliz. In addition to garnering rave reviews for his recent effort, Lullabadeer, Winch has been earning spins on Nic Harcourt's Morning Becomes Eclectic show. Winch sat down with TLAMS to speak a little about his music and new record. You can check him out on the web at www.samwinch.com and see him live as he performs every Sunday in August at Tangier.
TLAMS: Sam, tell us a little bit about you, the artist?
SAM: I was born unto Sister Moe in a bowling alley, lane 13, they cut my umbilical in the gutter. I was branded with a penny on my ass tail side up on my left cheek. This is unlucky. My Mama named me Johnny Penny. I was orphaned and adopted by a generous couple running a girls home for delinquent teens. My new parents moved to Wisconsin. I was lost for a week when I was nine; I was found in Baraboo, WI; under the big top…asleep in a circus wagon…gifted a ukelele by a clown…the clowns name was Javavit. He was Johnny Penny's father. He was a Lullabadeer.
TLAMS: The name of your album is Lullabadeer, a term you coined, tell us what this is?
SAM: I coined the term the Lullabadeer, but Lullabadeer have been around since prior to the beginning of time. Twelve Lullabadeer were appointed by GrandGod, GrandGod made a deal with God, because God wanted to start his own Universe, but GrandGod didn't think he was ready, so he appointed a council to look after God's creation. He named them the Lullabadeer…as the deal goes, GrandGod granted God the 13th appointment at God's will in God's time…God took the deal and GrandGod appointed the council of Lullabadeer and he appointed 13 instruments, all struck by lightning…of course the lightning wound glowed when a true Lullabadeer played the sacred instrument. You see, we run into a problem here…there are twelve appointed Lullabadeer and a 13th appointed instrument. So these twelve Lullabadeer passed lifetime after lifetime following the 13th instrument, testing and waiting to see the lightning bolt glow in recognition of the 13th appointed Lullabadeer. Thousands of years passed and then on lane 13, Johnny Penny was born. Thing is, he was born a twin; a twin to Fantastic Sam. Ultimately they meet, but I can't tell you that part of the story or you won't come to the movie.
TLAMS: Tell us a little about how you became involved with Down Pony Records?
SAM: Down Pony offered me a deal I couldn't refuse. In exchange for my clubfoot, Down Pony was to give me an ear. I needed an ear. In a fit of spasms I once thought I was Van Gogh and cut off my ear and sent it to myself because I thought I wasn't listening to myself, but I moved and the ear never did get back to me. So I traded my clubfoot for an ear. Down Pony facilitated that. It was a fair trade. There are some details that we're still working on like why does the ear fall off in the pool, is it the chlorine, what is it, is this thing supposed to come with a guarantee, you know, involved things like that.
TLAMS: I understand your background is in acting, how did you first start approaching music?
SAM: I never approached music. It approached me with a deal and a dare. Music said: "If you sacrifice your true love, I will make you eternal." So I did. But I kept an ace up my sleeve.
TLAMS: How has your music evolved since you began writing?
SAM: If regression is evolution, then maybe my music has evolved. In the beginning it was just voices and heartbeats. Now it's more.
TLAMS: Describe a little about your sound and your new record? They are all so unique, how did they come about?
SAM: They came about the time the Earth first trembled and spat lava into the dark sky; they came about when Cane was banished to live amongst the sons and daughters of Man; when there was a mysterious tribe of 12 musicians that played at the funerals of peasants. Otherwise, the new record and the sound all came about when RingMaster Roy waved his wand.
TLAMS: When you left Los Angeles were you an active member of the music scene, performing regularly? How did the scene in Wisconson compare when you went back? Was music a focus in your life?
SAM: I was playing in LA. Wisconsin is more competitive. People play music with all their pennies on the table.
TLAMS: Are there plans to tour through Los Angeles again after this residency?
SAM: Yes, if LA behaves.
Article by: TLAMS
Submitted: August, 2005
Photos: Artist's Website, Press Kit
Artist Website: www.samwinch.com
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