Interview and photos // Dylan Starczak
Samuelson’s debut record On My Way! let’s his presence be known in the Australian music scene. Speaking on life and all its forms, his voice flows over refreshing instrumentals.
Clocking in at just under thirty minutes, Samuelson says, “the album is a reflection of how I was feeling at the time. About identity. Who I am”.
Released under Adelaide label Kargo (which Samuelson is the Creative Director of), On My Way! features a range of Adelaide locals, including ethanrip, Mijieli, erasvey, and KISU, with mixing and mastering duties being taken on by Kirby. Samuelson says, “to work with him was a crazy experience. He’s a GOAT. He’s a mastermind, and he’s one of the best engineers in the city. It’s dope to be able to say I worked on it with him”.
Where’d the idea for the album title come from?
was just texting people “omw,” every single day and my phone would always autocorrect to “On my way!” and I’d get really annoyed, but then I was like, what should I call the album? And I was like, well, I’ll just call it On My Way!
It resembles the fact that I’m on my way, within my career, and as an artist, like I’m up and coming and I’m on my way, because it’s my first album. I always had to be somewhere – not stagnant – just always stretched out and overwhelmed. It ties in like that.
You’re studying at the Elder Conservatorium of Music at Adelaide University. What made you decide to go to university, and how’s that been for you?
Through my uni course I’ve learnt a lot about the industry, and about song making. It gives me more of the facts and guidance on how to actually guide the industry and how to be an artist.
I think in high school and especially in Australia, everybody’s just like “uni uni uni. If you don’t go to uni you won’t get a job,” which isn’t true, but I decided to go to uni because I needed that.
I love going to uni and I love playing music with people. Everyday I’m surrounded by like-minded people. Obviously making rap music is very different.
Having to go to uni where I’m making songs that aren’t rap, I’m pushed to make songs that I would never normally do. Working with people I wouldn’t think I’d work with, and on songs and genres I would’ve never thought I’d work on. It’s good for me as an artist, as a musician. I’m very grateful for that.
When did you start making music?
I’ve been making music and releasing music since I was 12. So, a lot of people know me from the shit I used to do when I was 15, and I haven’t released anything in over two years, up until these singles from the album.
It’s good to kind of assert my place back into the Adelaide music scene, and show people what I’ve been working on, show people why I’ve taken a break, because I feel like that’s why I did take a break. I wanted to figure out how to do shit on my own, and perfect my sound, and just be better at making music.
When did you write the album?
I was 18. I’d just finished high school, and at that point in my life all I was really doing was making music, partying, clubbing and just having fun.
I was like, if I was gonna make a rap album, what would I do? So that’s exactly what it was. It’s exactly what my album sounds like. I guess it’s just me. There’s tracks in there, which I made specifically for the club, tracks I made with the purpose of tapping into an emotion with people, to smoke, to chill to. It’s just a reflection of myself.
Have you made any changes to the record since you wrote it?
I’ve changed a couple things, but not too much. I’ve changed a few bars, things that I’ve listened to over time and been like, ah, I could probably say that a bit better. Some of the things two years older, I didn’t think were necessary, but I didn’t change too much.
Why the delay in release?
I really was in no rush, I was just sitting on it. To me, I just wanted to release it as it was. Just polished up.
Do you have any favourite tracks?
The outro is one of my favourite tracks. It’s probably one of the realest songs I’ve ever made. That song is more or less about when you become attached to a person. Like in the line, “how can I be myself if I’m not near you?”
You’re known for treating your collaborators with your cooking skills while you’re making music. What is it about cooking that you enjoy?
I just love listening to some music, shutting your mind off, and just sitting down cooking something for an hour and then eating. Being able to share that with other people as well. It’s a good thing to break up your day, something that you can do to take your mind off.
I just love cheffing it up. It’s just another way to create, it’s a relaxing thing. I grew up with my dad cooking meals, cooking meals with my mum – it was a way to bond with my parents, and that was just always in my household.
I feed the team. Whenever we’re making music, or whenever anybody sleeps at my house, they wake up to a nice meal. It’s just good to be able to cook something and share it with the people that you love.
Life can be so boring and mundane, just do the same shit everyday, more or less. I just try to appreciate and be grateful for little things, and that makes me a lot more optimistic and happier.
Samuelson’s debut record On My Way! Is out now on all streaming platforms.
