We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sam Poon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sam, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I actually spent all of 2023 and the first half of this year working “regular jobs” in New York City, in addition to creative freelance projects as well. I was also a full time student up until April when I graduated. To be honest it sort of crushed my spirit and made me really discouraged as a musician. This is super ironic though considering I was playing more frequently back then than I do these days.

There are layers to it though. I have intense constant chronic pain (mainly in my back and neck due to a hereditary thing) so if you factor that in with lugging heavy instruments across the city, it’s a lot.

What finally got me out of doing “regular jobs” this year was acting, singing, and dancing in the world premiere of the musical Empire Records, based on the movie of the same name. The show premiered this summer at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ. I played the shoplifting character Warren! Getting to once again be surrounded by such brilliant and talented artists made me remember how sacred artistic jobs are and how fulfilling they can be for one’s soul.

After working on Empire Records and connecting with fellow musicians and writers who were on the show, it made me realize that there is no other job out there that is as magical and satisfying as working in the arts. It truly is a gift and privilege to be able to share a story with an audience every night and I couldn’t see myself going back to full time “regular jobs” if I can make it happen.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi! I’m Sam (he/they), and I’m a performer, musician, and music producer/engineer with a career that’s been in motion since I was nine years old. My journey into the industry began with professional acting in stage and film, where I was fortunate to play a wide range of roles. Some of my most memorable performances include Macbeth, The King and I, Les Misérables, and Sing Street on Broadway, along with roles in national tours, Off-Broadway productions like Runaways. I’ve also appeared on-screen in projects such as FBI, Boychoir, NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly, and The Late Show with David Letterman.

Beyond acting, music has been a lifelong passion that’s become central to my work. While on tour as a young actor, I taught myself to play guitar and discovered a deep connection to playing music. This love evolved as I took on musical roles like Eamon in ‘Sing Street’, where I not only acted but also played guitar, bass, and piano alongside an incredible band. That experience deepened my passion for creating music and collaborating with fellow musicians.

When the pandemic halted Sing Street’s Broadway transfer in 2020, I channeled that energy into music production. I enrolled at Berklee College of Music, where I’ve spent the past four years honing my skills in songwriting, engineering, and production. Now, I’m working as a freelance musician and producer, crafting music across genres, recording with various artists, and immersing myself in the vibrant NYC music scene.

What sets me apart is the blend of performance and music production expertise I bring to every project. My creative work spans both live and recorded music, from composing original pieces to producing high-quality tracks for clients. Or even just doing a super clean mix for someone! I focus on helping artists bring their vision to life, whether through arranging, recording, or mixing their work. My approach is highly collaborative—I listen carefully to what each artist wants to achieve and help them shape a sound that feels authentically theirs.

My goal is to create a unique space where storytelling and music intersect, drawing from my experience in theater to make each project dynamic and immersive. Ultimately, I hope to inspire others through my art, and I’m grateful to be part of a creative field that’s as rewarding as it is challenging.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think something that non-artists don’t get is that this is a lifelong pursuit and the work never ends! You are constantly learning and unlearning things as a creative. Furthermore, art is actually all about the process and not the product. We do it because it feeds our souls and it’s something to pour our minds into. It can be hard for friends and family to understand how dedicated we are to what we do, but you mustn’t let it discourage you from getting out your ideas.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In March 2020 I was set to open up a new Broadway show in which I was playing multiple instruments, singing, and acting. That all changed in a split second though. The pandemic halted Sing Street’s run in 2020 and it never returned to Broadway. I channeled that energy into music production and recording. I enrolled at Berklee College of Music, where I spent the past four years honing my skills in songwriting, engineering, and production. Now, I’m working as a freelance musician, producer, and engineer, crafting music across genres, recording with various artists, and immersing myself in the vibrant NYC music scene.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.spoonuel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spoonuel/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spoonuel
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spoonuel/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@spoonuel

Image Credits

image 1 Brian Collado. image 2 Miles Memory, image 3 Pedro Hernández, image 4 Thomas Mundell, image 5 Ellie Poon