Self-proclaimed “sad prince of the prairies” Sam the Living debuts on our blog with new EP, Alone.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by Keeton Chrapko

An independent artist from Canada, Dylan Greenhough aka Sam the Living, has a growing presence on the live scene there. It’s through his new EP that his music has reached us this side of the Atlantic for the first time.

Among his influences, Dylan cites Crosy, Stills, Nash and Young as well as Nick Drake, so you can expect something folksy and melancholic from Alone. Lyrically, its five tracks grapple with heavy themes such as solitude and the fear of rejection, meaning its not necessarily an uplifting collection, but one that does provide catharsis to those who find themselves short on company.

In a delicious throwback, the whole record was mastered to analogue tape, meaning each track fizzes with a nostalgic warmth. Add to that the fact that the recording venue was an old church, and the ambience ratchets up. Yet, through it all, the standout features are Dylan’s expressive vocals and his devastating lyrics.

The EP opens with the slow-burning Wired and we are hit by all the aforementioned straight away. A stripped-back track, Dylan’s voice is accompanied by acoustic guitar and together they are full of heart-wrenching emotion, especially during a passionate final chorus.

We’re Fighting Again ups the instrumental complexity without losing any of the rawness introduced by Wired. I’m Afraid You’ll Leave Me strips things back again in a confessional vignette. How Much Can You Take is a highlight thanks to its finger-picked guitar and poetic lyrics. The Feeling Doesn’t Change closes the EP with its rawest moment. Dylan sings unaccompanied during a lingering meditation.

Sometimes less is more, and Dylan proves this with his new EP. His unique vocals and emotional song writing makes him a force to be reckoned with on the acoustic folk scene.

You can give Alone a listen below.