About Me
My name is Samoel Soares. I go by Sam. Yes, my last name is Portuguese. No, I can’t really speak the language. I am a singer/songwriter/guitarist. My experience with the guitar has been extraordinary. I have played since I was 16. My enlightening musical moment was when I was 23 and working for an online tech company, and I was at a co-worker's apartment... I picked up his guitar and started plucking, and he told me that I was really good and that I should be in a band. So, that’s what I did. And now, that is all I want to do. I play music. I enjoy playing music for people. I like to see them dance, smile, clap and have a good time. That’s what music is supposed to do, right?
I can write a song and I can solo. Those ablilities are thanks to Noel Gallagher, Tom Petty and Jimmy Page. I started writing songs as a way to cope with my frustrations in life and love. I like to keep a positive light on my songwriting and I find that my songs are sometimes really catchy. Validation feels good when others tell me that my chorus gets stuck in their head and they say to me: “Me and my girlfriend were singing your song and I was like: I know this song, but who does it….oh wait! That’s Sam’s song!”
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could get up and play songs in public! But now I have no problem going out to busk by the ocean side or belt it out in a brewery or pub. In fact, it has turned into a great experience; I have played the Carlsbad Beach Festival in 2015 with a small project called Jeremiah’s Corner: a four piece reggae roots band, saturated in delay and African rhythm. Our singer from Cameroon worshipped Jah on stage and people loved it! I worshipped with my guitar. Also, in 2016, I was personally invited to play at a brewery’s 10th Anniversary in my hometown. I still get a little nervous before going on, but I am confident and grateful in my abilities that I can create a joyful enviornment.
If I were to sit at the head of a timeless boardroom table to ask advice about my life, music, and love, my board of trustees would include: Jesus, John Lennon, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Paramahansa Yogananda and my mom.
As a primarily self-taught musician, I have enjoyed meeting new musicians and playing new styles of music on my electric and acoustic. I can play many different genres of music ranging from the blues, rock, funk, R&B, acoustic, raggae and jazz. I studied at Mira Costa College and played in the jazz ensemble. It was a great experience, but not really my cup of tea. I found God in the music at church and really found my rhythmic R&B / funk chops. I come from a punk rock style as a kid, and exploring these other styles of music have given me new tools for my musical tool belt.