Listen tangentially to "God Loves a Trier" by Edinburgh, Scotland autistic indie rock singer-songwriter / musician Samuel Nicholson and you will sense a grand ballad with a commanding vocalist and an utterly blistering lead guitar outro, that is for sure. Listen directly, intensely and you will become enthralled with the gospel of Samuel Nicholson, be shocked and moved by his emotional bloodletting as you become part of the choir he is playing to. And that lead guitar, that lead guitar bleeds too with a Prince like ferocity. I can tell you honestly to your face that it gives me goose bumps, real ones skating up my arms and fading out at my shoulders.
The rolling organ, stomping drum beat, bass and sparse piano gives me late 1970's garden rock vibes in a big way and, again, the shades of blue and gospel intertwine. This is my first foray into Nicholson's upcoming new album, "Birthday Suit" that as press notes share [serves as a dysfunctional self-portrait and a love letter in equal parts, dancing from electrifying guitar solos to naked vulnerability, as it brings the listener into the world of someone who has recently been diagnosed with autism.]
“The record is a dysfunctional self-portrait of my life at a time when I was falling deeply in love,” says Nicholson of the album. “Having previously gathered that I am not easy to love, I began to write these songs as a way of warning this person about my nature, and a way of being realistic about my ability to love and support another human being at that time.”
Art can change people, cathartic art might be the most powerful though because every problem we all have experienced, every demon we have slayed, someone else has experienced the very same thing.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ua2oGCxpHailViUgRO6zy
https://www.instagram.com/samuelnicholsonmusic/?hl=en
https://www.samuelnicholsonmusic.com/
Samuel is an autistic indie rock frontman, musician, and composer from Edinburgh, Scotland. Set alight by Motown records in the car with his mother, corrupted by hard rock records handed down by his father and formed by his own journeys into Jazz, Folk & Experimental Music of decades past, he is a cathartic songwriter, an impassioned singer and a gifted guitarist.
He is a regular on the London music scene and has enjoyed tours around the UK and Europe both under his own projects and others including Jemma Freeman & The Cosmic Something, Frankie Morrow and Jeremy Tuplin. So far, Sam's playing has been heard on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Scotland, Amazing Radio, Radio X, KCRW & BBC 6 Music.
His new album, Birthday Suit comes after years of searching and longing. It is a dysfunctional self-portrait and a love letter in equal parts, dancing from electrifying guitar solos to naked vulnerability as it tries to bring the love of his life into the world of someone who has recently been diagnosed with autism.
“The subtleties in [Susan] are simply stellar, accompany that with a well-paced flow and an exceptionally pleasing layered kaleidoscope of guitars and you have a lovely recipe for success.” – Jonah Holiday, IMR
“With love from KCRW already in the bag it won't be long until more people fall in love with Samuel Nicholson's works of art.” – It’s All Indie
“We are in love with Samuel Nicholson’s vocal tone and nuances. This is the kind of voice that makes a song stand out both as a story and in power.“ – Where The Music Meets
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