EXCLUSIVE: Sammie Shows Lasting Power on New Album (Review & Interview)

Sometime late last month, somewhere in Los Angeles we got a chance to catch up with R&B OG, Sammie. Since we spoke before his new album, 'Everlasting' was released and learned about the context in which it was created, the project hit just that much harder when we finally got the chance to press play.

After having some time to live and breathe with 'Everlasting,' it's immediately apparent - Sammie's got that lasting power. Coming with 45 minutes of heartfelt rhythm and blues, along with features from Lil Baby and My Family, the album has a vibe for every mood, emotion and occasion dealing with life and relationships. Peep the stream, as well as the full interview below for Sammie's thoughts on love, entrepreneurship and other grown man ish.

How have you been since we last spoke?

We spoke a little over a year and a half ago, right? I've been good. I've been super blessed, and “booked and busy” as the cool kids say. I’ve been hitting the road and I think the dope part about that time since is seeing the fans react to the words and melodies that I created. Super grateful for the energy that they convey at my stage performances you know what I'm saying? It's been just a beautiful ride since 2016. I'm just riding the wave.

"I'm so grateful to be back doing what I love to do at an elite level"

How’s the reaction from the crowd since the “Coming Of Age” album dropped?

It has been amazing. They love “Tsunami”, they love “Expiration Date” and they love “Show and Tell." I think they appreciate the honesty and the vulnerability side that I’m showing. I’ve always been very transparent and I learned that although it's therapeutic for me, it also resonates and connects with the fans a lot more when I'm just honest, good, bad and sad. They appreciate all facets of yourself.

Was it hard for you to start resonating? Were you thinking about how are they gonna gravitate to it?

I just felt like I owed it to the world to be so transparent. That's what it is. When I went on a hiatus, or the time when I had to start over and go underground, there was a long gap where we had a disconnect as far as me and the fans are concerned. And when I came back to the forefront, I felt that I owed them true honesty and transparency.

I'm not someone that walks around like I'm a perfect man. I don't mind talking about my imperfections and my flaws and the things that I don't like about myself, They need an artist that's going to be that truthful you feel me? And not just paint this image like everything's always perfect and glitter and gold because that's not true. I'll be the poster boy for that. I don't mind showing that it took a lot of mistakes and unfortunate mishaps for me to become the person that I’m evolving to.

How was the transition? I know I’ve asked you in our previous interview, but like going from being a child star and then talking about more mature stuff.

It's effortless because I'm not trying to be grown or not trying to be sexy. I'm not trying to be the smooth guy. I'm just being myself. It just so happened that the “Sammie Lovers” as I referred them to, they take a liking to it. That's what I like, that I don't have to wake up everyday and put on a costume. I'm simply myself, take it or leave it, love it or hate it. At least you’ll feel a way and all I’m about is making them feel me, not just the music.

I want them to actually fall in love with the individual and the man that I've become and still becoming. And the cool part about that question is I’m forever growing up. So, although I'm an adult at 31, I don't want to be the same way I am now and when I'm 35. I still want to grow and become better in all spectrums and all realms.

"I think it's smart to understand that this music thing is, it has an expiration date"

How are you growing? Do you read books?

I'm an avid reader. Anything that can strengthen my spirit. I really want to tap into Entrepreneurship and becoming a Mogul in this business. It is beyond music now, and I want to do fashion, make fragrances, design socks, make cool backpacks and secure liquor sponsorships.

Anything that can help me be a little more business oriented and to diversify myself. I love to read. And even from a vocabulary standpoint, subconsciously I think words lie dormant until it's time to utilize them. That helps with my song writing as well.

I’m a purpose driven life kind of guy. I love “The Alchemist”, “48 Laws Of Power”, and “The 50th Law." Those books help you navigate in this business. “48 Laws Of Power“ is a difficult read, and some people don't understand it’s not something you can get the first time or second time around. But if you really go back and dissect it and apply the different tactics that it teaches you, you can navigate in this business fluently.

I also have “The Secret." It's something I'm reading now, and It's about the four spiritual laws. I just started reading the first 3 chapters on the way to LA and I’m hooked. So, anything that can strengthen the spirit, help me to be more of a light and be more at peace I’ll reach for them because we go through all these obstacles in life. I believe how you react to those situations ultimately decide how your life will end up.

I know you did a song with Soulja Boy, and being that you want to get more into Entrepreneurship, how do you feel about his moves as an Entrepreneur?

I respect Big Drako, he’s always been ahead of the curve. He was the first guy who utilized the Internet before the Industry became so Internet driven, and he was a Youtube sensation. I don't know if he could see that the world was going to evolve this way, but he was the first to do it.

I think it's smart to understand that this music thing is, it has an expiration date. For some of us it’s five years, for some it's one year or even 20. I think it's very, very, very imperative to diversify your realms of income and I respect him for becoming a Businessman.

He's probably not where he wants to be musically, like in the mid 2000s. But, from an Entrepreneur's standpoint, he's still out here making great power moves that I respect. I think his delivery is a little funny, but if you really listen to him, he's a smart individual.

"My mom told me that every relationship good or bad, one-night stand, and fling will have an everlasting effect on the man I've become"

So what are you working on now?

My fourth studio album entitled 'Everlasting,' It comes out on my birthday (March 1st) on all digital streaming providers. I just want more people just to really take the body of work for what it is, an honest and transparent project.

It’s not about one particular woman. I really just took all the experiences that I've been indulged in since I was around 17 as that was when I started dating and I decided to make this Gumbo of music to share. My mom told me that every relationship good or bad, one-night stand and fling will have an everlasting effect on the man I've become, and she was absolutely correct. So as I started to create in the Studio, the word “Everlasting” popped into my head, and that's where it came from.

It's funny, when you're 17, you listened to your mom and your father tell you things and you act as though they haven't been here before. Of course, they've been there before. They experienced it and they're trying to save you from certain things and certain avenues. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I took the wrong turn and bump my head, but I'm grateful for those experiences because it can inspire awesome heartfelt music.

I believe in the idiom, “You evolve or evaporate." So, I'm grateful for all the experiences I've had because not just as a man it has allowed me to grow, but as an artist. That’s key in this business, to stay innovative. I've been around for almost two decades, and that's unheard of. So, for me to overcome those little storms that were thrown my way, I took those storms and put it in songs, and that's why I'm still here doing what I love to do.

"I felt like I would be cheating the people if I conform to those ways"

What’s your songwriting process like?

I have a little station in my master bedroom on my desk. I play some tracks, might have some wine next to me and just let the music speak to me. I don't want people to think that music is a thought. It's more of a feeling. With that, I just play a few records and then one will literally tell me, “Okay, this is a song about heartbreak”, or “This is a song about sex” or “This is a song about being remorseful for infidelity." It paints itself and I just pretty much write according to the instrumental. If it takes longer than minutes to write a record, I know it's not mine.

As I said before I don't like to force music, it should be a fluid. In the recording process it takes about an hour and a half to do a song from top to bottom, so I'm pretty fast. In every session I can do at least three or four songs, and as long as my voice can handle it, I'm good with it.

I don't write music every day, but I do feel like every day there's a song waiting to be made, you just have to seek it. We might just have conversations and you say something that's profound to me and I'll just put it in my notes in my iPhone and it could be the title, but I may not have the lyrics until later on in life. It's funny how the creative process works. A record that doesn't speak to me today, doesn't mean it's not the record. It's just not the record today to write to.

My domain is sitting at my desk in my room by myself with no distractions and no phones. I just rock out and let out whatever I hear my head, and then I can't wait to get to the Studio to really bring it to life. It's a cool process.

"That’s key in this business: to stay innovative"

Anything else you want to tell the fans?

I just want to tell them thank you. I'm so grateful to be back doing what I love to do at an elite level. I appreciate that they’re supporting real R&B, and that's refreshing.

Some years ago I sat in front of some major executives that thought or that told me rather that real R&B is dead and I should tone my music down - to not put harmonies or to turn up the auto-tune. That was just against my creative essence of myself and I felt like I would be cheating the people if I conform to those ways.

So I'm grateful for their support. Again, I hope that they love the album. It comes out on my birthday March 1st, and all I want for my birthday is for them to download and purchase the project. I appreciate you all.