MEET THE ARTIST
Sam Edward Grow
Honestly, I hate my middle name. When I was younger, I was worried there would be ridicule that would come with my middle name. As it was, I heard a lot of Sam-I-Am jokes as a kid.
Age
28
Hometown || Currently Live
Born in La Plata, Charles County, MD
Spent many of my years in Mechanicsville, St. Mary’s County, MD
Currently lives in Nashville, TN
What made you want to start singing/writing?
My dad. He isn’t a professional singer or anything, but he is a great singer. He worked on the power lines as a lineman. We used to ride around in bucket trucks to go from job-to-job. He’d play me all kinds of music in his truck and we’d sing along. I just fell in love with it. My dad listened to a lot of George Jones, Conway Twitty, and Willie Nelson. He also listened to some old soul stuff, which is some of my favorites, like Marvin Gaye, Sam Cook, Elvis Presley, and Ray Charles. I got to listen to great substance music at such a young age and I was like, man, I want to bke those guys.
Who are your biggest musical inspirations?
The artists my dad listened to in his truck played a huge role in me wanting to chase music.
But I still stand by my dad as my greatest musical influence. I mean, listening to him sing was such an inspiration and I wanted to be like him. But also, my sister played the piano and I wanted to be able to play like her.
My family is my greatest musical influence, because I was lucky enough to grow up in a musical family.
Do you play any instruments?
Guitar
Bass
Drums
I love it all! I’m not an expert at any of it, but I enjoy playing all of it.
Did you teach yourself?
I sure did! I tried piano lessons for a couple weeks, but I didn’t like that it was making music so complicated. I started watching music videos and would mimic what their fingers were doing and kept trying to find the sweet spot until it sounded good.
You mentioned your family earlier, is that where you get inspiration to write?
Family and life.
I actually have a tattoo on my arm that says life, love, and music. For me, that is the whole circle of everything. You live a little, love a little, and you normally can write about it. That is what I stand by; that is why I love country music so much. It is a story-telling business and I love the structure of a song telling a story. That is why I chase the genre as much as I do.
Do you have a favorite song that you’ve written or co-written?
No? Songs are funny—every time you write a new one, it creates this nostalgic feeling. Now, in Nashville, I’m signed to a publishing deal; I go in everyday when I’m in Nashville and write music.
If I had to say one of my favorites, Shot of Crown [not on itunes anymore]. I wrote that about a personal experience. My dad went through a rough divorce with my mom and I wrote a song about it. That is one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written.
What moment in your career is your favorite thus far?
Being able to do this, as a job, has been the pivotal best moment for me.
Everyone has their different calibers of “making it” but I’ve always been a guy that felt like you’re able to go and sing songs for a living, you’ve made it.
The fact that I can get up and do what I enjoy and sing songs for a living is the biggest accomplishment for me. It is never going to get old. It is the people who are coming out on a Friday night and buying the tickets and buying the beer. They could be anywhere on a Friday night, but they are choosing to see me and that is something that continues to put me in awe every night.
Finish this sentence, If I could write a song for or with anyone I would choose….?
Ronnie Dunn.
Then I would just cross my fingers and pray that he would sing that song or allow me to sing that song with him.
If I could sing a song with anyone I would choose….?
Haha still, Ronnie Dunn
But if they could be alive or not alive, it would be Ray Charles.
Where do you see yourself in a year?
Hopefully, doing this. This is a cool portion or my career and I am trying to soak it all in. For the longest time, I was only singing in bars, playing for free, playing bar after bar. Now, I’m hanging our in the back lounge of a tour bus behind The House of Blues in Boston waiting on the show tonight. If I could just do this, for a little while, that would be amazing.
5 years?
I hope to have a couple records out there. I hope to be headlining my own tour. But most of all, I hope I’m still out doing this, playing live music every weekend and making a living out of it.
Do you have a favorite song to perform live?
Currently? I have a song called Woah and another song called Is It You. I open up with Is It You and then go right into Low. They have such a great energy and I love playing them live.
If I wasn’t a singer/songwriter I would be…?
You know, I would probably want to be a chef. It is still creative, but you get to be creative with food. I really enjoy food, even though I am not allowed to eat it anymore. If I were a chef, I’d totally be able to eat all of the food I was creating.
[Side note: the interviewer went on a tangent about how she was jealous because she can’t cook]
I could help you with that. Have you heard of that Pinterest thing? There are all kinds of good recipes on there.
I’m not ashamed; I’m a man that has a Pinterest.
I’m afraid of…?
My faith calls me to not fear anything, but I have a little girl and my fear has always been, since she was born, that I will miss something important. I’ve made all those big moments so far, and I want that to continue.
A couple months ago, I got to teach her how to ride a bike. I think I cried more than any man ever has, will, or should cry.
When you sign up for this kind of life, you have to be gone a lot. So my biggest fear is missing something important in my daughter’s life.
I never get tired of…?
Playing music!
What is one thing people may not know about you?
I have a ton of tattoos. But I have never been the type of person who enjoyed the process of getting a tattoo. I actually dread the entire process of getting a tattoo. While I’m driving there and when it is actually going down, I don’t know why I’m doing this. But two weeks later after it heals, I’m all about it and am ready to go again.
We are two months into the new year, what does 2015 look like for you? New music? Festivals? Etc.
Oh yeah, we have some crazy festivals and awesome shows. This year alone we have booked shows with: Jerrod Neiman, Eli Young Band, Brett Eldredge, Billy Currington, Joe Nichols, and Blackberry Smoke.
We’ll be performing this summer in Philadelphia with Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, and Chase Rice. I’m stoked for that show. I think we’re doing the pre-show or the after party for it so I’m super excited that I’ll actually be able to watch that show. I’m a huge Eric Church fan.