Sam MacPherson

The most relatable stories compel us to hang on to every word. Sam MacPherson infuses each lyric and melody with tangible detail. Through a nuanced approach and unclouded lens, the New Jersey-born and Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist will delve into the quietest moments of a tense goodbye or pan across the trepidation of a torrid, yet doomed relationship in his songs. This unfiltered honesty has quietly affirmed him as a notable artist on the ascent with tens of millions of streams and views and a dedicated following of fans. His vision only crystallizes on his major label debut EP with Elektra Records, Powerlines (out Friday, April 14), and much more to come. “I write from inside of the moment,” he observes. “I put myself back into those memories and think about what I was feeling. I try to bend and push the form of pop music as far as I can with visceral and visual storytelling. I want you to feel like youʼre inside of my songs with me.” Hailing from Red Bank, Sam absorbed the no-nonsense New Jersey spirit from his surroundings, while his songwriter father gave him a love for music. He spun records by the likes of The Beatles and Rolling Stones, while his mom introduced him to Motown icons a la Sam Cook and Stevie Wonder. Of course, the spirit of Jerseyʼs own Bruce Springsteen crept into his subconscious as well. How could it not? “I grew up 20 minutes from Asbury Park where Bruce is king,” he smiles. “Overall, Iʼm definitely inspired by Jersey. Thereʼs a certain grittiness to it. Everyone is always on the go—whether itʼs 11am or 1am. Iʼve taken this attitude and tried to apply it to everything in my life. The people back home are great, despite what New Yorkers will tell you,” he laughs. While attending college, he discovered his own path as an artist while also training as a division 1 soccer player. Approaching music with the same grit and dedication he applied to athletics, he poured all of his energy and free time into a $50 Yamaha acoustic guitar from his dad in between tinkering with the pianos in the schoolʼs music room. Inspired by Frank Ocean, he taught himself how to play guitar, produce, write songs, and record on his own. “Up until then, I was soundtracking my own feelings with music as a consumer,” he reveals. “When I went to college, I had a lot on my plate. I was figuring out who I was as a person. The surplus of all of those feelings was filtered into my songwriting.” Upon graduating from Sacred Heart University, he continued to create as an independent artist. Picking up and leaving the East Coast, he settled in Los Angeles in 2020. Following early uploads such as “No Bad Memories,” he gained traction with the alluring, heartbreaking single “Routine” in 2021. Beyond landing on coveted playlists, it generated 6M+ streams and garnered praise among music blogs. He also served up the Songs for Sam EP highlighted by “Last Minute,” which lit up TikTok and surpassed 10M streams. He carried this momentum into 2022 with singles like “Crash Course” and “Rookie.” Simultaneously, he emerged as a sought-after collaborator behind-the-scenes for Stephen Sanchez, Jonah Kagen, Garrett Nash, and more. He notably co-wrote “Heartbreak Hall of Fame” for Quinn Lewis and “You” for VINCINT. Moreover, he shared stages with Chelsea Cutler and Elektra labelmate Jake Scott.