I recently had a chance to interview Samantha Parks, a singer songwriter from western Michigan who’s pursuing her passion by releasing her cd entitled “Everything I Am” and gaining a fan base at local venues. I think she’s got a great sound that’s pure and unique and I wanted to get to know more about her and her approach to playing guitar. She’s working on her music career as well as attending college with the admirable goal to to become a math teacher as a backup plan.
Sam at the Kettle Coffee House – Hartland Music Hall:
Here’s my interview with Sam …
1. You first started taking guitar lessons at a local music shop with Scott when you were eight, since then what was the most important technique or concept you’ve learned about playing guitar? What did you find to be the most challenging?
For me, the most important concept has been learning as many chords as possible because the more you know, the more diverse your songs can be. It is amazing how many different chord combinations there are, and each one can be molded into a new song! The most challenging thing on guitar for me is playing solos and really rockin’ out! Chords are definitely my comfort zone, but I would love to be able to just play a sweet solo out of the blue!
2. I’ve read that your songwriting process so to speak is pretty much spontaneous. As an example, can you take one of your songs and share the details on how it became lyrics, chords, melody, and a ultimately a complete song?
My songwriting is very spontaneous, it is just kind of a result of me feeling an extreme emotion. For example, I wrote the song “Sisters” when my sister was graduating from high school. She was the first of us three kids to go off to college and I knew it was going to be hard not having her around. That was when I decided I wanted to write her a song as a graduation gift.
I just sat down and started playing a guitar part and singing along with it. I incorporated memories from our childhood (which explains the part about Brittney Spears!), and pretty much just wrote what I was feeling and the things I wanted to tell her. It was like writing a meaningful card but with music and a melody. This is how I write all of my songs, from the heart.
3. Do you have a favorite guitar? What is it and why do you love it?
Yes! My favorite guitar is my Martin! My parents just recently surprised me with it and I absolutely love it; it is like my baby. It is such a beautiful guitar and it sounds awesome. Sadly enough, I cried the first time I played it!
4. If you could work with any artist that’s influenced you, who would it be and why?
I would definitely have to say Missy Higgins. She is from New Zealand and my absolute favorite! She writes beautiful music and her style has really influenced the artist I’ve become. I also respect the fact that she sounds just as great live as she does on her CD. It drives me crazy when an artist sounds great on a CD but can’t sing live. It just shows where the true talent is.
5. Have you ever taken an voice lessons? Do you feel very confident in your vocals or is there some part of your range that your still working to develop?
I took one year of voice lessons when I was in middle school, but we focused strictly on classical music. I really enjoyed it, but I would say my voice truly developed by just constantly singing (which I am ALWAYS doing, by the way!). And I believe that no vocalist feels completely confident in his or her range, unless you are Christina Aguilera or Mariah Carey! Sure, I am confident in singing the songs I write and the songs in my set list, but there are a lot of songs I am not so great at. I just try to pick songs that display my voice to the best of it’s ability. I am still working to develop my upper range, so I can really belt out those high notes!
6. In recording your cd, “Everything I Am”, are there any tips or advice you can give others that have their own music and looking to make a cd?
I think the best advice I could give someone is to just have fun with it, and make sure not to record with someone who wants to change you. I recorded my CD with my guitar teacher Scott Christopher and we had a blast! We always agreed on which takes sounded the best and we always seemed to be on the same page. It is a lot of work and takes a lot of time so if your not having a good time doing it, the finished project is going to show this.
7. What’s your understanding of music theory? Chords, keys, etc. Is it part of playing or do you strictly play by ear and what sounds good to you?
I do know musical theory because of taking guitar lessons and being in choir for so long, but I’m not gonna lie, I often just go off of what sounds good to me. You have to feel the music and get into it, and I think that is oftentimes when a song sounds the best.
8. You played at cafe’s and pubs, is there a venue you like to play in the near future that you’ve always thought of as being pretty cool if you did?
Ummm lets see, the CMA’s???! Alright, being serious, it is no place specific, but I would love to play with a full band! I think that would be so much fun because it gives you the freedom to really get into it without looking like a crazy one person act! It would be great to play at a fair, or to be the warm up for someone at a concert. I would love to experience the feel of a big stage and a big crowd!
9. What has been one of your best experiences to date, playing live? Recording a cd? … something else?
I would have to say my CD release. I had it at the local Hartland coffee shop, and it was just so wonderful to see all of the people that showed up to support me and buy my CD. It reminded me how lucky I am to have such a great family, friends, and fans.
To learn more about Sam and her music, visit
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