A Quick Chat with Woody Samson

Tell us a little bit about your musical journey that led you to what you do now and your music project? 

Oh wow, how do I start?! I’m a complicated little piggie! I grew up with a trumpet in my left hand thanks to a very church-going, driven and complex mother. When Mum left my life when I was 14, I found myself expressing through gain-driven guitars and pianos, as it allowed me to sing at the same time. I played in a countless number of bands through my late teens and early twenties and always say I spent my 20s getting over trauma.

Skip forward to today, I have found myself playing 5+ shows a week in the busiest pubs around Naarm, trying to create environments where people feel comfortable to express themselves. I now feel at home on stage with my trumpet and five instruments around me. It gives me such joy to muck around and create songs that encourage people to dance. 

Currently, I have 8 tracks ready to release, so get your dancing shoes on and let’s have some fun!

What have been some of your biggest influences (music or not)?

I’m influenced by so much and fall in love every day! People that dance in public, a sunset or someone standing up for what they believe in will forever inspire me, as well as artists making something out of nothing, because golly gosh, we need it. As for musicians, I think Tash Sultana and G Flip are the best things to happen to Australian music in recent years. Unbelievable talents, hustler mentality and just good people. For my writing, Prince, Tash, Chet Faker, Jacob Collier, Cory Wong, Tame Impala, Lizzy McAlpine, gosh I could name so many. For my energies, Marc Rebillet recharges me with their energy and humour. They bring a joy to music that I can’t get enough of! I also have been very lucky with my little circle of friends that inspire me so so much: Tejo D’Cruz, Lewis Ciavarella, Lewis Toms, Marcus Knight, Camryn Jordans, Remedy, Kiwat Kennell. And again, my family. Brought up in the church choirs with my Dad bashing away at an acoustic guitar. My Uncle Adrian would come to visit and write songs with us! More recently, my cousin Claire Tonti brought out an amazing album of truths and vulnerability around motherhood.

What is your ethos behind the music you create? 

Truth bombs and slut drops! 

You mentioned you play in some other projects and bands, what are they and what do you do in them? 

I’m such a cheerleader for new music and fun shows. The people in my life right now are insane so you’ll often find me on stage either playing trumpet, cowbell (I was third cowbell in high school so my credentials are pretty impressive), guitar, keys or backing vocals with these amazing humans; The Glamour, Lewis Ciavarella, House Of Wood (my own band), Thea Fitzgerald and Hugo Bladel (when I go to Tassie).

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it?

Hmmm, depends on the day, really! Today I’m feeling good, so I’d say high-energy cosmic pop, re-imagining the music of the 80s with the sounds of the future!

You mentioned you gig 5+ shows over the weekend every weekend. Tell us more about that, what is the setup like? 

Gosh, it’s been so crazy since we came out of lockdowns. Coming out I said yes to every gig I could which has me playing 5+ shows every weekend at some of the busiest pubs on Chapel St, Brunswick St and St Kilda. Originally it was to hustle and get back in a better spot financially, but it’s turned into a musical journey of discovering what makes people dance. The setup at every gig is a bit insane for what it is. I show up with all my instruments an hour or two beforehand to set up and see what kind of mood I’ll be playing in…are we chilling out today or are we blowing the roof off this barn? It’s such an interesting vocation, really, as all my hospo people would know, we see people in their best and worst conditions so the stories I have are endless. Is it bad that I feel comfortable now when I walk out of a venue on Chapel St. with a fire on my left, a police chase on my right and a fight across the street?

Now take us through this your debut single ‘Don’t Let Them’, what is the track about?
I’m so excited to release this track! It’s about taking back my body and story autonomy and shouting it from the damn rooftops!

How was it written? 

This song was written in lockdown, hence the intense instrumentation. I had a bit of fun to start - the vocals are in 5/4, guitars are in ⅜ and the drums are in 4/4. This sums up me as a person I think…so much going on underneath, but a pretty little pop song on top. Those four rhythms don’t meet up until the 60th beat, so it makes for a nice climax.

I spent my whole life being told what to do and how to think, and there was this moment of clarity where I realised it’s really none of their business. In that moment, I put a call out on my Instagram stories, asking people what kind of things they get challenged on that’s none of people's business. The response on Instagram was fabulous and the song became a way to take back that power and blow the lid of this cookie. For me, it was about being fluid and proud of it.

Who have you worked with on this one?

It was actually so cool to have other people super into the track and interested in writing with me. The superstar Marcus Knight took a producing role and also wrote the chorus with me. Thea Fitzgeral popped over and wrote the second verse with me and Lewis Toms dropped some hot little guitars in there. I sent the tracks off to Lachlan Magoo in Queensland who put their ear on it and mixed it to what it is today. An experience I’ll always cherish.