Sooner rather than later, Samm Henshaw will be credited as a leading light in the UK music scene. The multifaceted singer-songwriter hailing from South London is a beacon of talent, consistently pushing the boundaries of soul music, tapping into various forms of artistry, and making waves both locally and internationally. His new project, For Someone Somewhere Who Isn’t Us, marks another milestone in a career characterised by growth and creativity.
Since his 2022 debut album Untidy Soul, Henshaw has been working on new music in LA, planning his upcoming Asia tour, and taking time off to travel and relax for the first time in his career. He has also made the transition into other creative fields, notably, his contribution to the Hustle movie soundtrack and his appearance at London’s Ahluwalia and Labrum shows during Fashion Week. Henshaw has proven he can effortlessly navigate various artistic worlds whilst showcasing his interests beyond music, by authentically intertwining his passions for music, fashion and film. His latest offering, For Someone, Somewhere, Who Isn’t Us, is a culmination of Samm’s artistic vision to bring people together through the translation of relatable life experiences in the form of lyrics and melodies.
While the project stands out for its rich, moving vocals and soulful production choices, tracks like “Troubled Ones” demonstrate his ability to convey personal emotions and life experiences, in a manner that is widely relatable and entices listeners to engage with the project. On “Fade”, featuring KIRBY, the singers create a harmonious moment of self reflection on an unspecified topic. This ambiguity allows the listener to relate their own experiences to the upbeat track and yearning lyrics. With lead single “Under God” Henshaw takes personalisation a step further, inducing the feeling that we’re listening in on a heated conversation between the singer and his subject, over a smooth, catchy beat. This project is a testament to Henshaw’s unique artistry. It’s not an EP but rather a mini-album; taking the listener on a journey through the ups and downs of artistic creation, underscored by his unmistakable voice and vision. This mini-album was born out of Henshaw learning to be resilient and consistent through periods of creative struggles, a sentiment he feels is important to share with music fans and other creatives.
Its release is accompanied by a short film, which allows listeners to delve deeper into the inspiration behind the music through a refreshing medium. The short film, directed and co-created by Samm and Timi Akindele-Ajani with contributions from acclaimed actor David Gyasi, designer Sumaralaika and musician Kwaku Asante amongst others, provides a visual narrative that helps viewers grasp the underlying messages of resilience and perseverance. Through symbolism and imagery, the film adds layers of interpretation, allowing fans to uncover deeper meanings behind Henshaw’s creative journey. This visual storytelling not only makes the album’s themes more accessible but also engages viewers on an emotional level, demonstrating the all-round creativity of Samm and his team.
For those who have followed his career, For Someone Somewhere Who Isn’t Us is a must-listen, promising both familiarity and progression in equal measure, otherwise it is a compelling entry point into the artist’s evolving musical discography.
We sat down with Samm to discuss the personal experiences and creative breakthroughs that shaped his new mini-album.
Listen to For Someone Somewhere Who Isn’t Us…
Watch Samm’s accompanying short film…
Read the interview…
I’ve been reading that you’ve become more comfortable with expressing yourself and showcasing your most authentic sound, what’s contributed to this, is it time, experience, or life lessons perhaps?
All of the above. You meet certain people who change your perspective on things, have conversations that change your perspective on things, time obviously is great for everything, there’s so many lessons you can learn with time.
How different is your time in the US to at home in the UK, and how has that contributed to your progression as an artist?
It’s a double-edged sword for me, I have a weird relationship with LA (I work there a lot) and it’s a really lonely place. I go there to work essentially, the best stuff I make out there is with the people I’m comfortable with out there. There’s a familiarity to it.
Is it easier to focus away from home?
10,000%, on this trip that I took recently everything that I’ve been doing over there has been more efficient, I think I was just more focused. It’s different for me now being independent, it gives me that push to come back with something to show for my time there.
You recently took time off for the first time since starting your journey in the industry. Did you pick up or revisit any hobbies, and would any of these crossover into your work?
A lot of the time I was just watching films and I got into visual art, lots of cinema dates and holidays, I’d never really taken time for myself and it was really educational getting to visit places I’d never seen. There is something visually I’ve now been working on outside of music…
The premise of the visuals that accompany the new project is that an artist creates a guideline book on how to become a successful artist, loses it, other artists find it, and contribute their own ideas in the notepad, until it finally finds its way back to the original artist. If you created this book in real life, who would you want to find it and contribute their ideas?
Good question! I don’t think it would be anyone famous, that was the whole point of the story really, it could and probably should be anyone. The project in general is inspired by other peoples’ stories, so I think it would be people like my dad, my cousins, because so many people have had different experiences, so it could be anyone who has a story to tell or has had an experience in life that people can relate to.
Whose guidebook would you want to read for inspiration? Would it again be the people around you or are there any artists who have inspired you?
A mixture. There’s definitely artists who are incredible – I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall when they were working, just to see how they heard or felt something and translated it, because essentially that’s what we’re [artists] all doing, we’re just translating things in a way that is accessible for other people. But people like Prince, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin – you hear the voice but you don’t get to know the creative process and all of the work they put into what we hear. Quentin Tarantino would also be great.
