It’s not a secret to anyone who has ever read this blog that I am a huge fan and advocate for the instruments that The Loar crafts. I play both an archtop and a small body acoustic as my primary guitars and shout their high praises to most anyone who will listen to me. A year or two back I recalled Joshua Black Wilkins mentioning a young kid who was out there “doing it” and really writing great songs. I decided to check him ou
t and was introduced to Sammy Brue. It was so interesting to watch such a young kid pickin’ out songs about trains and Woody Gutherie. I was floored and a bit jealous at the same time, wishing this had been me at 11 or 12, but impressed nonetheless. I’ve kept tabs on Sam as he has grown as a songwriter and performer, developing his own voice, as his voice deepens and strengthens and constantly in awe of how his fingerstyle and Travis picking technique matures.
This kid is the future of folk music and gives me faith that the traditions of American Roots music are alive and well and will thrive in future generations. I caught up with Sammy to answer a few questions about how his love for music came about, those wonderful guitars, and the family of songwriters that he has developed as his young career has begun to develop…
(Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins)
1) So for our Northeast readers who may not be as familiar with your work, who are you and what do you do?
SB: I’m a 13 year old troubadour from Portland OR living in Ogden UT. I’ve been playing and writing for about 3 years now. Trying to get this Americana/Folk thing to catch on with a new generation!
2) I would imagine that you often get the “wow, I can’t believe you are as young as you are and have such an appreciation for songwriting”. How did you get into songwriting from the crafting standpoint ala Woody, Hank, Dylan and others at such a young age?
SB: From a really young age it’s all I’ve listened to. Every time I got in my dad’s car or he was doing anything around the house that kind of music was always playing. There was way more music going on than TV. We never had cable till this year. It was just familiar to me when I started playing and writing.
3) What is your songwriting process like? I have a tendency to walk around with scraps of paper in my pocket with scribbles of choruses and ideas all the time. Do you sit down and consciously write a song, or are you always floating ideas around in your head?
SB: I always have ideas of songs in my head. I just try and build off of it as the days go by. I get a lot from just listening and paying attention to what’s going on around me. East Nashville was what I got from listening to Joe Fletcher talk about a break up he was going through. Sometimes I find something on my guitar or banjo and the words seem to flow. I don’t think there’s one way that I do it. It comes from all over and all around.
4) So, The Loar? I myself am an enthusiast of the instruments and play an LH-200 and an LH-309. How did you first hear about them and their guitars? How did the relationship you have built with them come about?
SB: One of the most influential artists in my life is Justin Townes Earle. There’s so much about him that inspired me when I started performing. A few years back I saw an interview with him in a magazine that Joshua Black Wilkins shot the pictures for. He had this black LO-16 with a white pick guard on it. It just looked like a piece of Justin in the picture! At that time I still had a kids acoustic cause I was so small. I asked my dad for one but he couldn’t find one at any stores yet. My dad just called them up and emailed them about getting one. They decided to send out a LO-216 because it was smaller and I was still pretty small. I loved it! That same guitar is the one I have everyone sign as I open for them or meet-up with them. The Loar started keep an eye on me and started giving me some deals. Next I got the LO-216 in black for a backup cause I was playing more shows. Both of them have LR Baggs M-80’s in them. Now that I am a official artist for The Loar, they sent out a LO-16 with a Baggs M1 in it. I play that on stage mostly.
5) Speaking of The Loar, we share a lot of the same friends that play those instruments. You recently visited Nashville and hung out with a bunch of them for Americana Fest, yeah? It seems there is a great community around songwriters who play their guitars. Do you have a tight knit community in your own town (either at open mics, or just in general musically?). How have you found that community, or The Loar community to be? Does it help you as a musician to have these folks to lean on and bounce ideas off of or go to for advice?
SB: The Loar family is everything to me. Musically I get what they do and they get me. Joe Fletcher has supported me from the beginning he always encouraged me. I met Joshua Black Wilkins through Joe and social media he . Those two are always available to me and my dad for any questions if its music or business. Justin Townes Earle has been super encouraging too. He wants me to keep getting better and better and pushes me to do it. The music scene here in Ogden has been real supportive too. I player my first open mic at Mojos when I was 10 and still go back when I have new songs I want to try out. Some of the older players have helped a lot. Shane Osguthorpe is a great song writer and keeps me going. I learned travis picking and clawhammer banjo from Mike Iverson here in town. Theres a small group of people here that get what I’m doing.
6) What is a record that you think every songwriter really needs to dig into and take away from?
SB: The one album that I love and listen to for inspiration is JTE’s YUMA. Those songs get me motivated. So real. I also think you should listen to how John Moreland writes. You can listen to so many songwriters who are great from way back too. Love Leadbelly, Woody, and the originals like that. One album is impossible.
7) So, any chance of a Northeast Tour in Sammy Brue’s future? We would love to see you up in Boston!
SB: There is a chance that I will make it out to Newport next summer. If that happens I’m going to try and spend a week or so in the area. Fingers crossed!
8) Anything else that you want to plug?
SB: I’m recording my first full length album in December with Joshua James. It should be out by my 14th birthday on April 5th.
Be sure to check out Sammy’s music, videos, and just catch up about him in general online at http://www.sammybrue.com/