Sam Handy – Better (2021)
Bringing together elements of pop, dream-pop and indie-pop, singer-songwriter Sam Handy has a lot of pop going on. Built on his background in American dance and rock music, this UK-based artist is building a reputation for unique, energetic and engaging melodies. While I have not heard of Sam Handy before, he has been around since 2017 where he gained coverage from BBC Radio. Since then, this talented musician has toured the south-east UK, performed at renowned live music venues and received coverage from notable blogs like RGM. The latest addition to his critically acclaimed discography is ‘Better’.
Following his laidback single ‘Lazy’, ‘Better’ dollops layers soul atop the typical contemporary pop sound Handy adopts. Reminding me greatly of some of the old-school soul bands of the 1970s, Handy taps into his inner Phil Bailey with the toe-tapping melodies and smooth falsettos. It’s interesting that there is a certain nostalgic sound to ‘Better’ while ‘Lazy’ was certainly a modern-day track; perhaps this is Handy dragging us back to those awesome days of grooviness…yes, that’s definitely it.
Working alongside producer Ed Stokes and bassist Allan Penford, ‘Better’ has a chilled out vibe showcasing innovativeness but it is not the melody that completely captivates me. Instead of being a cool beat to put on in the background, there is a lyrical depth exploring more evocative issues. Penned during the Covid lockdown last year, ‘Better’ touches on human vulnerability, anxiety, isolation and frustration. Yet, the upbeat tone of the song reflects the more optimistic side of lockdown where we realise the important parts of life – family, friends and love.
When speaking about ‘Better’ Handy shared a rather profound concept saying that “…we’re too busy getting caught up in producing content, writing music and trying to make it. The irony is that music reflects our real lives, so what kind of music are we writing if we’re not really living?” Personally, I find this quite insightful and thank Handy for making me realise the significance of living regardless of our situation. Life is important and even pandemics shouldn’t overshadow this heartwarming fact; we see or rather hear that in ‘Better’.
For more from Sam Handy check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
