Today (Mar. 1), we brought you into the world of Sam Hutchinson, an Alternative Rock artist from Leeds, UK, who had a deep conversation with InMusic. In his songs, Sam pays particular attention to storytelling, leading him to create ‘big anthemic songs.’
The year 2022 marked a pivotal point in his career. He was the lead guitarist during Nigel Passey’s UK tour, and while the pair were backstage, they found themselves writing new songs together, eventually leading them to form the successful duo called Hot Liquor Tank. Last year, they released their first project, an extended play titled ‘What You Say Goes,’ amassing more than 55k streams.
Despite his commitment to the duo’s work, Sam also launched his solo career with the debut EP ‘Stick To The Script.’ A new version of one of the tracks on the EP, ‘No Faking,’ has recently been released with the addition of drums to enhance the song’s essence.
Teasing future solo projects and Hot Liquor Tank releases, Sam hints at a forthcoming 10-track solo record slated for early 2025, promising an eclectic musical journey. With plans to focus on Hot Liquor Tank and organize summer shows, Sam is thrilled about their newly acquired studio space, anticipating greater creative freedom.
In his in-depth conversation with InMusic, Sam delves into his debut EP, Hot Liquor Tank, and more!
How would you define your music?
My music can be defined as vocally driven with an observational writing style. The music I make focuses heavily on the storytelling aspect of writing though is well suited to the creation of big anthemic songs.
In 2022, you and Nigel Passey formed the duo Hot Liquor Tank. When did you decide to combine your talents?
I was doing lead guitar for Nigel on his UK solo tour and we found ourselves backstage writing tunes… The lyrics and melodies just came flooding out and before we knew it we had 6/7 songs. We’d wanted to do a solo project since the tour but couldn’t decide on a name, then one night after a rehearsal we were in a local bar throwing names at each other, the rest is history really!
A year ago you released your debut solo project “Stick To The Script.” Can you tell us about it?
So ‘Stick To The Script’ was a concept I thought up during the UK tour with Nigel. The EP speaks on the experiences I saw/felt whilst travelling to and from different cities. To me each city held a different story, which was transferred to each song on the EP. A common theme through the tour was the amount of homeless people we saw! We’d be loading in and I think each venue, we were approached for spare change/food and it really put into perspective how lucky I was to be in the position I’m in. The EP ultimately is a summary of what I saw on the road for the first time.
In the EP, you delve into your experience on tour with Nigel. What is one thing that you will always carry with you from that experience and why?
I think as a musician it’s easy to take for granted the opportunities you get thrown at you, and it’s on you to grab them. Everything on tour seemed to go so quickly and some days I would sit there and think “wow I’m really doing this”. The one thing I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life is how lucky I was to be able to perform each night to hundreds of different people! It’s a memory you just can’t get over!
“By The Gun,” “Focus,” “No Faking, “Emily, “Summer”-These are the songs from the EP. What’s your favourite and why?
I love them all for different reasons, but ‘Focus’ was a favourite for me. The song pretty much wrote itself and within 10 minutes I had the lyrics pretty much done. I think going back to how everything goes so fast on tour, ‘Focus’ was my subconscious literally telling me to focus and be here in the now. I should have probably listened!
You recently released an alternate mix of “No Faking.” Why did you choose that song?
So when me and Nigel were in the studio, we found ourselves tapping our feet and banging on the desk, whilst we recorded/mixed ‘No Faking’. We both felt the song would work well with drums so in addition to the 5 track EP we recorded the ‘Alternate Mix’. It was only ‘No Faking’ we really felt worked with drums, the idea was to keep it quite raw but the track just seemed to keep dragging us back to the idea of a full band setup.
What do you hope listeners will take away from this song?
I never really expect anyone to feel a certain way about a song. When I write my music it’s for me and what I’m experiencing, then when I release it, it becomes yours. I guess each person will attach their own thoughts and memories to a song. The song’s might make people feel something completely different to what I felt when writing it, but if that’s the emotion that comes out for them when they listen to it, then I guess I’ve done my job.
You hinted at new solo projects on the way. Can you share any details?
I’m currently working on a 10 track solo record that should be finished later this year, with a hope to get it out early 2025. Between now and then no doubt I’ll have a few singles out and the same with Hot Liquor Tank! It’s all go at the minute, and I’d love to put everything out now, but absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I want to make sure finished later this year, with a hope to get it out early 2025. Between now and then no doubt I’ll have a few singles out and the same with Hot Liquor Tank! It’s all go at the minute, and I’d love to put everything out now, but absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I want to make sure it’s right when I release it!
What’s next for Sam Hutchinson?
Over 2024 l’m focussing on Hot Liquor Tank and sorting out a set of shows for this summer. We’ve recently just moved into our own studio meaning the writing process for the music will feel a lot less pressure and alot more freedom to try new things. It’s all really exciting for the future.
What is a message you would like to give through your music and why?
If my music brings out emotion and feeling for my listeners and allows them to create their own stories and memories then I feel as a singer/songwriter, I’ve done my job.
Write here something you want to let people know.
Stay tuned for all the new exciting things to come! 2024/2025 will see a lot more new music as well as bigger and better live shows! Thank you for all your support so far, without you guys there’s no show to put on and nobody to listen to, so from the bottom of my heart. Thank You!!
You can listen to Sam Hutchinson‘s new single “No Faking” on our Spotify playlist!
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