Sam Bigelow — The Foundry

Produced and engineered by Anand Nayak
Recorded at Hi-n-Dry in Cambridge, MA
Mastered by Ian Kennedy at New Alliance in Cambridge, MA

Heartbreak can often be the musical mammary that nourishes an artist's innermost creativity. Sam Bigelow is no exception. The bluesy mélange of soulful vocals and raw piano rock heard on his newest album, The Foundry, are attributed to Bigelow's love loss in recent years. He remarks, "I needed to have my heart ripped out to hear what my real voice sounded like." There is a resounding sense of strength in both the lyrics and the trio of musicians backing Bigelow, as he incorporates a plethora of various blues instruments such as the organ, lap steel, bari sax, Wurlitzer, and slide guitar into his sound. Stemming from classic singer/songwriters such as Ray Charles and Otis Spann, Bigelow adjusts his sound to the modern era of Ben Folds and Elton John — all equally skilled in filling a room with rocking piano and enough booming sound to orchestrate a small parade. Bigelow is honest with both his emotional grappling and his musical style. The last song on the album, "Sugar & Milk," contains lyrics such as "Sugar and milk / Like the evening sun / It'll be gone in a certain amount of time / It's little things like this, remind me that my life is fine," proving that Bigelow is an artist who admires the minutiae of everyday life. He can also admit to himself who he is at his core: "Best I'm a pauper living in a rich man's skin / Fakin' it while I'm still young / But fading fast within." Complete with appropriate cover art — a literal image of the album's title — this release champions Bigelow's triumphant defeat of his pain and suffering. The album molds Bigelow into a tenacious and boldly defiant human being — a muse for music lovers and heartbroken souls alike. (Hi-n-Dry)

www.sambigelow.com

-Katherine Bruce