A DAY IN THE LIFE: SAM WILKINSON

WORDS RACHEL EDWARDS

South London folk singer Sam Wilkinson is fast carving a space for himself in the British singer–songwriter scene. Winner of The Voice Kids UK in 2019, where he stunned audiences by performing his own version of “Everything’s Alright”, Sam isn’t just a talent show star, he’s an authentic storyteller whose music traces its roots back to local street parties and early guitar and harmonica sessions. At only 19, he's out here fighting the good fight against the popular belief that "kids spend their whole time sitting inside on their phones", one field frolic at a time.

His second EP, Why I Live in a Bungalow, out today, makes you want to sit by a fire toasting marshmallows and telling stories. There’s a certain nostalgia a harmonica simply can’t help but evoke, and paired with the strum of Sam’s acoustic guitar, it conjures up dusky summer evenings and slow walks home at the end of the night. In a world that wants you to go-go-go, Sam urges us to slow down and enjoy life's simple pleasures.

Constantly appearing on 'one to watch' lists, Sam is turning heads. With thought-provoking lyrics and wisdom that is usually reserved for the old, you get the feeling he was born to connect through music. We caught up with the artist to see what a day in his life looks like (and it's just as wholesome as you'd expect).

F Word: What's bringing the most joy to your days lately?

Sam Wilkinson: All my friends are back home for the summer so we’ve been playing football in the park a lot. I used to play in a few teams but quit to do music. It’s nice going back to the old days.

FW: What's motivating you the most lately?

SW: I’ve been watching a lot of John Martyn Live videos on YouTube and rinsing Solid Air. I love that album so much. It’s twisted and beautiful. Also the Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory soundtrack has been on repeat. I feel like The Wondrous Boat Ride would fit pretty nicely as an extra track on Solid Air.

FW: What are you hoping people will take from this ep?

SW: The lyrics ask a lot of questions that aren’t there to be answered. I wrote these songs at a time in life where I was realising there’s not always an explanation.

FW: What genre could you see yourself experimenting with for a future project?

SW: Whatever genre Ivor Cutler is. Yellow Fly is a masterpiece.

The EP is split down the middle. Erg Chebbi and If I Could Fly are both reflective, while Hey Mama and Why I Live In A Bungalow are more forward facing. If you’re going to take one thing, listen to the saxophone solo in Erg Chebbi.

FW: What advice do you have for yourself for tomorrow?

SW: Get off reels.

FW: What is your favourite F- word?

SW: Fretless. I just got a new bass on eBay and haven’t stopped playing it. I dove into Pino a few months ago and have been learning some of his lines.