Introducing Samuel Carrancho (aka Sam) – the unstoppable sonic alchemist bridging continents and eras with grooves that grip your soul, shake your hips, and shatter expectations! South African-born and now igniting the UK scene from Warwickshire, this multi-talented powerhouse kicked off his musical odyssey in 2009, writing, singing, producing, and recording his own electrifying tracks while crafting full albums for local artists back in SA. Now, Samuel Carrancho’s a one-man symphony, dishing out infectious Pop Funk and Pop Rock anthems laced with heartfelt Folk and Country vibes that transport you from sun-soaked savannas to rainy British streets! Samuel Carrancho’s music doesn’t just play – it pulses with life! His breakout hits like the dancefloor-dominating “NEVER FADE AWAY”– blend bittersweet heartbreak lyrics with pure pop-funk energy, lively vocals gliding over rhythms that radiate summertime warmth and effortless joy in spontaneous love moments. Tracks like “CHOKE HOLD” and “BENEATH YOUR EYES” – fresh off his explosive Sands of Time EP – are locking in fans worldwide, exploding across media platforms with a growing global army hooked on his raw, relatable storytelling. But, Samuel Carrancho’s no solo act – he’s a collaboration king, penning bangers for upcoming artists and fusing his versatile sound with fresh talents to create genre-bending magic that amplifies voices and sparks worldwide waves!
With “Ghosts In A Glass” out now, we took some time to hear from Samuel Carrancho. Read below to learn more about Samuel Carrancho, the story behind “Ghosts In A Glass,” and what’s to come.
Hi Samuel Carrancho! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
Hello, thank you so much for having me here. Well… How did I get my artist’s name? The honest version is…it was given to me at birth, haha.
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
I am originally from Johannesburg, South Africa. I was born and bred there and have relocated to the UK only 7 years ago.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
Coming from a very musical family, my brothers and I have always been involved in music in some form or shape. I discovered that I could sing at a very young age when I used to come home from school and race my brother’s home just to get onto the piano to play music and create my own tunes. My dad used to record music on his MIDI recorder back then, and my brothers and I would sing to the music. Harmonizing came naturally for me, and it was then that I became interested in singing. At a very young age, we started a band and tried out the whole boyband thing at the age of 14……. OMG! That is so funny looking back now. Haha. I must say, we did get some following from that. Later, as we grew older and learned more instruments, we started to write our own music and recorded some of it. My brothers branched off and played gigs and did shows, but the music that they were into just wasn’t for me. Even though I wrote some of their songs, it just wasn’t my genre. It wasn’t until I had my own proper recording studio that I really got into song writing and composing and recording. I wrote and recorded so much, but never put it out there. I wrote for others and recorded their albums but never did my own thing. It wasn’t until a year ago that I decided to try and put my songs out there. Why only now? Someone I recently met who is in the music industry himself asked me this very simple question… What are you waiting for? And, the rest speaks for itself.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I like to think that I have a solid powerful indie rock vibe full of emotion. When you listen to my music, it grabs your inner senses and creates an emotional connection to the song. My music is energetic and full of explosive intimacy where you can drift off into the free world of your imagination. I would like to think that I have a unique sound full of imagination.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
Yes, of course I do. I love to cook, write, and be active. To stay creative and motivated, I try to stay away from things that drain you as a person and situations that create chaos in your personal life. I look at people and watch them….not in a creepy way…haha. I watch life go by, and I imagine what their real issues may be. I hear a certain phrase, or see a certain situation play out and it motivates me to write. The biggest motivation for me to keep the creative side of me going is to connect with my audience, to write about something that will keep them engaged.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Ah, this is a typically common question. For sure it would be Chris Daughtry, Muse, Maroon 5, Owl City, Queen, and few more, but mainly those.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
Stepping into the public’s eye and putting all my creations out there to listen to.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
People are people. It is ok to be who you are. It is ok to feel and to have opinions. Everything I have been through in my life had to happen in that exact sequence to create the person I am today.
Now onto your release, “Ghosts In A Glass.” What inspired this song? What is “Ghosts In A Glass” about?
I wanted to write a song that would not only connect with so many people, but that would resonate with the world. This song is about the inner demons that we all carry within ourselves. We keep them locked up in our closet of skeletons and we never deal with them. Ours about how they manifest in our daily lives and even consume us to the point that we physically change as our demons control our relationships with others. In the music video, you see how the conflicted individual physically changes from this internal battle.
What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for “Ghosts In A Glass?”
The cover artwork is for the whole EP and not just for the song. Basically, it shows that the world around us is so much bigger than our inner world.
What was the creative process like when making “Ghosts In A Glass?”
I create the lyrics first and then I get onto the keyboard to create a melody. As I play it, I write down ideas for how the song should sound in certain sections and what chord fits where. It then goes into studio to record. Once recorded, the vocals are added, and this may change many times as it has to be perfect. Once the song is completed, it goes through all the mastering process.
How long did it take to complete “Ghosts In A Glass?”
It took me 2 months to complete the song. Now a days, there are so many tools to help speed up the process of recording, I find that writing the lyrics…good lyrics…is what takes up most of that time.
What is your favorite lyric in “Ghosts In A Glass” and why?
The very first line of the song, “I wear a smile like borrowed clothes.”
It speaks volumes, doesn’t it? How many of us smile from the exterior only and not from the inside out? We sometimes put on a smile that is fitting and not genuine. Like borrowed clothes, they are not really your own.
What message or messages do you hope fans take away from “Ghosts In A Glass” and your music in general?
Forgive yourself. Love yourself enough to give yourself that peace.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
Right now, I have just released a Christmas song called “Come Home.” Please check it out. The video will be out soon as well. I am planning to put an entire album out soon where I want to build a show around. Hopefully get the right people onboard with an idea I have for it, but time will tell. Haha.
Where can we follow you on social media?
You can find me at the links below.
https://instagram.com/samuelcarrancho
https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557969045823
https://open.spotify.com/artist/25bnL2wjGjSErPXCU2RtCK
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
