Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with Sam Ritchie of Sam and the Womp about his new solo work in the form of ‘The Dawning’. Having achieved multi platinum status with Sam and the Womp, Sam now ventures on his own with an original blend of improvisation and modern tinges of electronic, pop, and soul to fuse into what may be a new subgenre all it’s own.
The best artists are the ones that reinvent themselves with traces and roots of what they were and who they are. Sam is one of those artists. A visual virtuoso who can take a few simple colors and paint a masterpiece on a blank canvas.
And, we talk with Sam about those qualities that makes an artist great as well as his new music from ‘The Dawning’ to what the future has in store.
About Sam Ritchie
Multi-platinum selling artist Sam Ritchie is excited to announce the release of The Dawning. The first track from the brand new ‘Jazz N Bass’ project. The single showcases Sam Ritchie’s signature lyrical trumpet sound and melodic improvisation with dark synth bass tones, live drums and production from out of space.
Sam Ritchie is best known as Trumpeter and leader of Number 1 UK band Sam And The Womp with 55 million Spotify streams under his belt, performances at Wembley Arena and Glastonbury Festival and has toured Australia with MARK RONSON and MIA.
While Sam and The Womp utilizes catchy horn riffs with heavy bass and processed drums in a dance setting, this new project is a vehicle for Sam’s lyrical trumpet playing and improvisation to shine, influenced by trumpet heroes Miles Davis, Erik Truffaz and Ibrahim Maalouf with the backing of modal chords, heavy analogue bass and live DnB inspired drums.
The Dawning is the first track from the brand new ‘Jazz N Bass’ project. The single showcases Sam Ritchie’s signature lyrical trumpet sound and melodic improvisation with dark synth bass tones, live drums and production from out of space.
“Very Nice Playing, Sam! This is actual modern jazz. Also rather Epic!”
Ashley Slater (Freak Power/ Loose Tubes)
“Sounds great. Love the production and groove and that it’s intense music.”
Gerard Presencer (former Head of Jazz at The Royal Academy of Music, London / MD Danish Radio Big Band)
Sam Ritchie is best known as Trumpeter and leader of Number 1 UK band SAM AND THE WOMP with 55 million Spotify streams under his belt, performances at Wembley Arena and Glastonbury Festival and has toured Australia with MARK RONSON and MIA.
The Dawning mixes Jazz with Bass Music, influenced by the buzzing U.K. Jazz scene with acts such as The Comet is Coming, JSphinx, Corto Alto and Yazz Ahmed stretching the genre to reach new audiences. While Sam and The Womp utilizes catchy horn riffs with heavy bass and processed drums in a dance setting, this new project is a vehicle for Sam’s lyrical trumpet playing and improvisation to shine, influenced by trumpet heroes Miles Davis, Erik Truffaz and Ibrahim Maalouf with the backing of modal chords, heavy analogue bass and live DnB inspired drums.
“The play between the trumpet melody and the deep “Wompy” synth bass and DnB drum track feels unique and fun, while retaining enough serious jazz vibe to convince those stubborn “jazz police” of artistic legitimacy.”
Shell Daruwala, writer
The Dawning was produced, written and performed by Sam Ritchie at Ritchie HQ, Amsterdam.
The drums were performed by Ben Stone and recorded to tape at The Lullabye Factory, Amsterdam, NL.
Additional production and mixing by Nick Trepka, Brighton, U.K. and mastered by Nick Watson at Fluid Mastering, U.K.
“The Dawning was spontaneously composed one morning in early 2023 at a dark and sad point in my life. The making of this track and new project represents a new beginning hence ‘The Dawning’.”
Sam Ritchie
The Dawning’s initial reflective mournful introspection turns positive with the cosmic ‘lift off’ to the upbeat Drum N Bass major section heralding a new beginning.
LINKS:
https://www.samritchiemusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/samandthewomp
