I recently caught up with Sam Hauge who has been featured on 2 IVM comps & has released a recent EP.
IVM: Good afternoon, This interview has been a long time coming so thanks for talking to us here at Indie Vision Music. I personally love your sound and talent and think you’re the best pop punk artist out right now. It appears your write all your own songs and play all instruments and produce your own videos. We have also seen 2 of your songs on the 2 most recent IVM compilations.
IVM: Can you tell us how you got started in making music and your creative process?
SH: I’ve been obsessed with music from my earliest memories. My mom took me to see the band Petra when I was about 3 years old, and my love for music has never stopped since then! Drums were my first instrument, and I would say they are still my main instrument. I later picked up the guitar and started singing because I wanted to create songs. But my love for rhythm is the driving force for how I create music in general.
IVM: How did you first get involved in music and where do you see yourself progressing in the next 5 years?
SH: After playing on drum pads for several years, I finally got my first real drum set when I was 9 years old. I started playing with other people for the first time back in my church high school youth group. I also joined a band called “Tracings” in 2011 as one of the guitar players. Indie Vision Music actually reviewed our first EP, so it’s a cool full circle moment to do this interview all these years later! For the longest time, my biggest dream was to record my own album. Now that I’ve done that, my goal for the next 5 years is to do live shows consistently, and hopefully with a band!
IVM: Can you describe your creative process when writing music?
SH: For my writing process, I basically always start with a guitar riff and build from there. Lyrics are always last for me. It seems to sound more natural when I write the lyrics to fit the music, as opposed to trying to make the music fit the words. I also tend to let the mood of the music direct the topic I’m writing about.
IVM: My most recent fave of yours is Too Late for Second Guessing which also appears on the most recent Jesus Freak Hideout compilation # 14. Can you tell us how this particular song came to fruition?
SH: I’m glad you enjoy that song! I’m proud of that one for sure. Musically, I really wanted something with a classic pop-punk sound in a major key. However, it still has a little bit of the drop C/double bass stuff at the end, because I couldn’t resist! Lyrically, it’s mostly about my habit of second guessing every decision I make. It’s easy for me to waste time thinking, “What if I had done this instead?” Often the best thing you can do is continue to move forward and keep asking God for wisdom!
IVM: I know you are a Christian just like myself. What is your favorite Bible verse and why?
SH: Worrying and second guessing go hand in hand for me, so I would probably say Matthew 6:25-34; especially verse 27, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” and verse 34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” I would also throw in the whole book of Ecclesiastes as well!
IVM: I know you are fresh off your most recent EP Exit 9B that was released this year. Are you working on anything new?
SH: As soon as I released my first album “Out of Isolation,” I immediately started writing the songs that became “Exit 9B.” I felt like I spent a lot of time in my own head during that season, so I’ve been enjoying playing music with friends recently for fun and being involved with my church worship team. I plan to focus next on writing songs that are structured in a way where I would feel comfortable playing them solo acoustic. A few songs from my first album, such as “Make it Very Far” and “I Know You’ll Be Fine” were originally acoustic songs. So that’s a good example of the style I will likely lean into.
IVM: What is your biggest challenge as a musician right now? And have you thought about any collaborations with other artists?
SH: Well, truthfully, I don’t find a lot of joy in playing the social media game of chasing “likes” and bowing down to the algorithm. That’s probably my number one challenge, because you do have to push through that to get the music heard. Putting a band together for live shows is also a challenge, working around jobs and family schedules. And as far as collaborations, those who follow me on Instagram probably saw I recently did a show with some friends under the name “Green Eggs and Sam.” That project will continue, likely under the name “Until the Return,” and we plan to keep working on our own songs written as a group! A lot of the stuff we’re jamming is more funk based, which is fun for me as a drummer! I also have some great friends in a band called “Thief
on the Cross” that I’ve played with in the past. Hopefully, there can be some cool collaborations there as well!
IVM: Any shows these next few months? Any plans on coming to the Virginia Beach area?
SH: Currently, the answer to both of those is no. However, playing live is really important to me moving forward, even if it’s often solo acoustic! So be sure to keep an eye out on my website and social media pages!
IVM: What are your interests outside of music?
SH: I could literally discuss Spider-man 24/7 with anyone who is willing to listen!
IVM: Anything else you want to let us know?
SH: I would just like to invite everyone to keep following me on my website “samhaugemusic.com” for information about new music and shows. Thank you so much!
Thank you again for helping us get to know you better & for giving us an opportunity to open up and let people into our vision and passions. Check out Sam’s website https://samhaugemusic.com/
