Browsing Tag

Acoustic Guitar

Interview with Finger-Style Guitarist Samaël: Exploring the Ancient Civilizations and Contemporary Acoustic Landscapes in ‘Cascadia’

In this interview, we sit down with finger-style guitarist Samaël to discuss his upcoming LP, Cascadia, set for release on September 5th. Samaël shares the mind-bending concept behind the album, which tells the tale of a lost ancient civilization and its lingering entity which lurks through the modern ages.

We also explore his unique creative process, the challenges of being a solo instrumentalist, and how he’s evolved as a musician since his debut album, Shadow. Samaël reflects on the balance between technical skill and emotional storytelling, offering insights into the future of his music career.

Samaël, welcome to A&R Factory! Thanks for sitting down with us to discuss your upcoming sophomore LP, CASCADIA, which is due for release on September 5th. What’s the concept of the LP, and what kind of sonic world does the album open up to listeners? 

The concept of the LP Cascadia is the storyline of an ancient civilization that we lost a long time ago. I’m not saying that’s a true story. I’m just saying that’s a story that inspired me a lot to write this album; the only remnants left of that civilization is an Entity that roams the earth to this day, trapping modern souls in his grip.

This is the storyline that you’ll be able to see in the music video trilogy; part one came out in July. Part two, The Mask, will come out on August 30. So, basically, this new album is a contemporary solo acoustic album which blends minimalism and metal into a fingerpick style.

Can you walk us through the creative process of composing the pieces?

Sure, so basically, I took a drastically different approach to the last album. I composed on software without the guitar in my hand because I felt at that time that my compositions were getting predictable and that I was starting to be stuck in a mould if you will and I didn’t feel like I had my sound yet.

So, I composed something that was purely off of my ears and I was not limited by what I could do or not do technically on the guitar and so that was a creatively rewarding process. However, the problem is that you have to learn the pieces and the more you get ambitious during the composition phase the harder it is to learn and perform them because they become so weird technically for the physical movements of how to play them if that makes sense

Does being a solo instrumentalist feel isolating at times? 

No, not at all, I played in a band for 10 years in Montreal before embarking fully on my finger-full project. There are positives and negatives of being in a band and being a solo musician but what I specifically love about being a solo artist is the independence, autonomy, and full control I have over the creative process. However, solo projects can often feel like a mountain of work that I have to scale alone, but apart from that, I like it, I like his approach.

What other challenges does being a solo artist present? 

I think for me the biggest challenge is what I just hinted at. It’s trying to manage the musical project as a label would as best you can. I compose the music, learn the pieces and practice them to perform live – it can be a lot! I also promote the shows, run marketing campaigns, manage my social media pages, and reach out to publications, so it’s difficult to make sure I don’t forget anything and I am giving myself the best chance possible.

You’ve got an incredibly intricate guitar style, how immense is the pressure to execute each composition flawlessly while playing live? 

Thank you. The pressure was at its highest when I started playing live solo shows. I have played in bands for years, but anyone who has played solo knows that playing in a band and playing by yourself is a whole different experience on stage and you feel you really feel naked. If you’re playing in a band and you make a small mistake on guitar often it does not show, it’s not obvious to the crowd because there are other instruments in the mix, but when I’m by myself, every little detail is heard and missed notes can’t be forgiven. That kind of pressure forces you to really up your game, but I have been doing this for several years at this point so I would say that I am reaching a point of confidence.

Who are your main influences as a guitarist and composer? 

I have a lot to name, but the first artist that pops to mind is Erik; I will be getting the chance to play a concert this summer with him and Antoine Fool as a trio. His music made a huge impact on me years ago; he taught me that sometimes there’s a visual dimension to the music.

As a composer, it’s easy to get carried away with technical aspects, and I speak from personal experience. When I was younger, I often found myself focusing too much on the visual or technical side of things, rather than the core reason we create music—the sound, the emotion, and the story it conveys. I remember hearing a piece for the first time and realising that the musician wasn’t trying to show off his technical prowess, even though he was incredibly skilled. Instead, he was focused on communicating a story with deep emotion through his guitar. That had a profound impact on me. It taught me that sometimes the simplest actions, like playing just two notes, can be more powerful than any technical display. The key is not letting your ego interfere with your creative process.

Your debut album, Shadow, was released in 2018, how have you spent the years between your two LPs? 

Well, Cask took a lot longer to finish than I had anticipated so that definitely took a lot of time but since 2018 a lot has happened since then, when I finished my master’s in musicology in Montreal, I moved back to where I come from in New Brunswick and started working at a music school there; that was my first real experience in the job market after being a full-time student. I also took a lot of time to try to own certain skills that I felt were lacking like, for example, music recording, video editing, and other skills which are really important for a self-employed musician.

What else does the future have in store for Samaël? 

Well, I have several things in mind, I will see how things unfold but just to give you a little glimpse, there won’t be another solo finger-style album in the future. But as I mentioned earlier, I got carried away in the composition process, and when it came to time to learn those pieces it was clear that we needed to retreat to actually learn them because there’s so much going on in the music just for one person. Apart from that, I’d like to start another album with some other artists.

Stream the official video for Samaël’s latest single on YouTube.

Follow Samaël on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

Whispers Through Time: Samaël’s Acoustic Revelations in Ancient Whispers

Samaël, the seasoned Canadian guitarist and composer, has stirred the strings once again with his latest acoustic composition, Ancient Whispers, the debut single from his anticipated album, CASCADIA.

The accompanying music video is a mesmerising prelude to a visual trilogy, entrenched in narrative depth and an artistic flair that dares to push the sensory boundaries. The baroque beguile of the high-production video marries perfectly with the mystical lens Samaël forces the listener to peer through with his intuitive notes. Each progression is a masterclass in musical clarity as the notes are sustained with celestial quality. If a picture is worth a thousand words, Ancient Whispers is enough to rival epic sagas in the vein of Divine Comedy.

Educated at the prestigious Musicians Institute and further honed in the halls of Concordia and the University of Montreal, Samaël’s academic journey is as storied as his creative output. From his debut album Halcyon Night to his introspective work Shadow, he has evolved into a virtuoso of minimalistic yet affectingly cinematic soundscapes. His forthcoming album is set to unveil some of his finest work to date.

Stream the official music video for Ancient Whispers on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Explore the world on Iago Banet’s fretboard in his seminal composition, Iago’s Guitar

Iago Banet orchestrated the antithesis of While My Guitar Gently Weeps with the vivacious vibrance in ‘Iago’s Guitar’, taken from his critically acclaimed album, TRES. The musical piece is a journey through Banet’s extraordinary skill, creativity, and mind-bending rhythmic command which remains captivatingly authentic as a constant. Each strum and pluck of the acoustic guitar strings resonates with intention and artistry.

There’s a cheeky, spirited nature to Banet’s acoustic composition skills that subvert all expectations. Rather than solely melody-making, he’s weaving stories which allow you to travel around the world on his fretboard which explores a smorgasbord of cultural styles. Iago’s Guitar is just one of the testaments to Banet’s ability to blend gypsy jazz, blues, Americana, country, Dixieland, swing, pop, and folk into a harmonious and exhilarating experience.

Described by BBC Radio 3’s Sean Rafferty as “a master of the guitar” and as ‘nothing short of phenomenal’ by R’n’R Magazine, Banet’s talent is undeniable. His third album, TRES, has been a sensation, with multiple sell-out shows and sensational receptions across the UK. Iago Banet’s journey, from discovering a classical guitar as a teenager to becoming ‘The Galician King of Acoustic Guitar’, is not just a story of musical proficiency but also of passion and dedication. We can’t wait to see what accolades await him in his destined to be illustrious career.

Stream TRES in full via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The indie raconteur Zarko let it flow in his acoustic expedition to ‘River Town’

If you still revere Closing Time by Tom Waits as one of the best albums of all time, you’ll find the latest single, River Town, from the Serbian indie folk raconteur Zarko just as resolving in its acoustic rapture.

The instrumentals may be minimal, but that didn’t get in the way of the up-and-coming singer-songwriter when he put his masterful mind to painting a panoramic picture of barflies in a town which used to conjure brighter emotions. I’m sure we can all relate to the alienating sense of dejection that ebbs away at our ability to feel anything but numb. With River Town on the airwaves, the sensation feels infinitely less lonely.

On the basis of River Town alone, Zarko should be celebrating the same success as Amigo the Devil with his delectable brand of folk blues. For your own sake, pay the hit song a visit.

River Town was officially released on September 2nd; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mark Ben Wilson is searching on the other side in his compassionately warm folk-pop single, Horizons

Some tracks allow you to fall in love with a three-minute experience; others allow you to develop a deep kinship with the artist through their inviting warmth. After listening to Mark Ben Wilson’s single, Horizons, it is safe to say that he puts his listeners in the latter camp with the evocative resonance in his guitar work that is only matched by the compassionate honey that drips from his vocal lines.

His humble yet highly assured approach to passionately pure acoustic folk-pop is intoxicating from the first melodic breath; as Horizons continues to unravel, you’re taken along for the emotive ride as he searches for meaning on the other side of the kind of storm that leaves you alone holding up an umbrella. It’s a stunning vignette that will easily enamour any fans of Ben Howard, John Butler and Fink.

Horizons will release along with Wilson’s LP, Roots & Wings on September 22nd. Stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Charlie Diamond is the last of the die-hard romantic dreamers in his latest serenade, The Star Studded Girl and the Sunset Kid

The Star Studded Girl and The Sunset Kid by Charlie Diamond

Armed with his harmonica, acoustic guitar and poetically romantic sensibility, the Connecticut folk singer-songwriter, Charlie Diamond, orchestrated the ultimate outpour of affection in his latest single, The Star Studded Girl and the Sunset Kid.

Released on September 5th, The Star Studded Girl and the Sunset Kid carries Bob Dylan-style overtones, with outlier dreamer candour as the affirmation of his artistic autonomy. With the almost spoken word versing of the lyrics, which takes you to breathtaking landscapes and even more arresting attests of passion, it’s the ultimate aural escapism for die-hard romantics.

The Star Studded Girl and the Sunset Kid is now available to stream and purchase on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alex Young has released his lovesick acoustic indie-rock ballad, Might Just Catch Your Eye.

Out into the Light by Alex Young

Singer-songwriter Alex Young is here to remind us that romance isn’t dead with his emotionally iron-wrought acoustic indie-rock ballad, Might Just Catch Your Eye.

The Barnsley-based solo artist’s affectionately ambient single captures lovesick agony while keeping the minimalist yet resounding instrumental melodies ring free of the disquiet conflict. If Glen Hansard leaves you floored with his contemporary spin on folk songwriting, you might want to sit down before hitting play on Might Just Catch Your Eye.

Might Just Catch Your Eye is now available to stream and purchase on Bandcamp along with Young’s debut album Out Into the Light.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The declaration of the new life: Darnell Miller leads the way on what’s possible on ‘Forget What U Heard’

Darnell Miller sends the world a soulful message to declare that he has moved on to better things via the lyric video for ‘Forget What U Heard‘.

Darnell Miller is a multi-skilled arts educator, indie-soul singer-songwriter, producer and presenter, who is on a life-long mission to to be truly happy inside the deepest part of his heart with a fresh start.

He sings with such a positive outlook and his voice is soulful and meaningful during each word. His tone is strong, confident and exciting to hear while he performs with a peace inside him. He is ready to get away from the fake posers and into a world of happiness.

This is the story of a man who is content inside and he can’t explain why but it seems like he has moved somewhere new, to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and to be in a quiet place. At the end of the day, this is a man who just wants a peaceful life and to play his guitar.

Forget What U Heard‘ cuts away from the games and is a statement to all the gossipers who are clearly bored with their lives. He has walked away from all of the small talk in his town and wants a simple life.

Darnell Miller is fine example of how you can keep things simple if you want to and be who you choose to be. No one else has that choice; only you.

Hear this track on full volume via YouTube, Spotify and check out his news on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen