We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sam “Samwyse” Girardot a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sam “Samwyse”, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
When I was a kid, I would always make up little songs and sing them around the house. Even as I grew up, I would turn things that I’m saying or doing into a song, and that kind of expression I knew I could never stop. It’s almost an obsession where if I don’t create, my soul hurts. When I was younger I also played music in Church, and seeing how music would touch people’s spirit in that setting always confirmed for me how powerful music can be for people in their lives.
Sam “Samwyse”, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hello world, my name is Samwyse (Sam Girardot), and I was born and raised in NorthEast D.C. to a musical family. My cousin is in a very successful band called “The Revivalists”, and he was truly the first person to get me in recording by downloading Ableton and Logic onto my computer in highschool. I would work the merch table when they would tour through DC, and go to endless open-mics with my poetry friends, which got me more comfortable with the stage and with the idea of being vulnerable on stage. Fast forward to me going to New Orleans to learn at Loyola University, where I got to learn from some of the best in Audio Engineering and Production. At Loyola I found my passion for spending countless nights until 6 am in the studio, helping artists craft their sound and find their voice musicially. It is such a precious and vulnerable process, and it really feeds my soul. Today I have worked with countless artists and produced dozens of albums and hundreds of songs. I’ve also mixed and mastered for all of my artist friends and dozens more artists who want my help creating and refining their sound. I think mixing is one of the most important processes that can make or break an artist, because it really is defining a sound and an era for artists. For example my most recent album was a collab album called “Grapefruit”, with the incredibly talented Leo Manzari, and Ayotemi. When we first came together, we didn’t exactly know what we were going to do, but we had very specific inspiration for the sound we wanted to achieve. We are all big fans of D’Angelo, Anderson Paak, and Lauryn Hill, so those were the big three inspirations for the album sound and I think with the help of the gifted drummer AJ Hall, I made that happen. I would pull up some drum loops he made, lay a bass line with Leo or Ayotemi in the room and when the heads start bopping, the pens come out and the rest flows easy. This Album was made in 2 weeks and really is the epitome of what happens when creativity and spirit align in a harmony.
I think I just truly love being involved in any creative process. That’s why I mix and master for artists, why I enjoy producing songs and melodies for people and why I love performing. The rush and mix of anxiety, adrenaline, passion, joy, and all of the emotions that coarse through when creating gives my spirit so much life.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Honestly, just actually pay for services/art. So often in this world we ask creatives to create for free or provide their creative minds for free, when we are struggling to support ourselves. We can support each other as creatives as much as possible, but when it comes time for companies, individuals and businesses who commission us, most of the time we are underpaid, or not paid at all. With the invention of AI now, it seems to have lowered an already low perception of creative work to being ‘easy’ and under valued. The other biggest thing is sharing via word-of-mouth and on social media. The biggest help you can give to an artists is by telling 5 of your friends about them. Word of mouth is still the best promo.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I really just want people to feel good and feel powerful in their own skin. Art is my therapy, so I hope to bring that peace to others. If that means healing, if that mean introspective journeys, or even just the beginning of a conversation, that’s fulfilling to me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @samwyse_
- Facebook: facebook.com/samwyseg
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-girardot-0b265a137/
- Twitter: @samwyse_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Samwyse
Image Credits
photos by Jada Imani, and one by Chelsea Thompson