SONGBROKER ARTIST PROFILE: Q & A with Sam Browne from Black River Drive

When did you realise you wanted to make music?

As a 3 year old I loved music and especially banging pots and pans, along with putting my ear against the washing machine and listening to its rhythm. The first song I remember hearing is “Shout” by Tears for Fears (which I still think is a great song!). Ten years later, I had a go on a drumkit and that was it - I didn’t want to do anything else. I did eventually get into songwriting and singing as my true passion is for creating music.

Name two major musical influences and why?

Depeche Mode - I listen to Depeche Mode at least once every day. Unlike most artists, they not only match their best work as they get older, they’re actually getting better with age. Lyrically, melodically and musically they put together well crafted, endlessly enjoyable songs.

Nine Inch Nails - NIN were a huge influence on me growing up, and I have gone for long periods where they are all I listen to. Trent Reznor is an extremely talented human being, excelling across songwriting, production, live performance, singing, piano, guitar, programming, even things like lighting design and choreography. His style of industrial music is its own genre - less abrasive than “true” industrial but much more musically interesting.

What do you find most challenging about the creative process?

Consistency. The key to getting anything done well is to do a little bit each day, but with music I tend to have periods of months where I am prolific as a songwriter followed by months where I don’t do anything.  

What do you want people to take away from your music? 

I aim to write music that resonates with people on a visceral level as well as on an intellectual level.

What’s in the pipeline for 2016?

I have begun writing for what will become my next album. I’m trying to write with the guitar as a small piece in the puzzle rather than the axis around which everything else revolves, and am focusing on rhythm and melody as opposed to writing chordally as I have done in the past.