Greetings to all music fans and dearest readers. Please help me welcome Canadian artist Sam Louis. Sam Louis joyfully delivers his first full-length studio album on 27 June called “8 BALL”.”8 Ball” delves into crazy themes of mental difficulties and escapism, creating a gritty breakneck trip filtered through a hip-hop lens. Let me tell you more about this 8 song album
The album’s title track is a song called “Part of the Problem “. The song’s opening is a vibrating synth song that keeps building and building and building. The song talks about a couple where one of them has come to the realization after a while that one of them is part of the problem plaguing their relationship (” That’s why we’ll never know when we’re part of the problem”). Louis’ voice is beautiful and his vocal performance is very captivating, giving listeners a taste of the rest of the songs on the album
“Faded Jeans” is the next song. This song’s intro is practically nonexistent but on the plus side, Louis’ magnificent voice welcomes us to this song. The song is about a character who is talking about his partner, he talks about how she is not trustworthy but holds so much power over her despite her lying ways (”liar in the faded jeans, and she knows what she can do to me”). He talks about how he’s had enough of her behavior and wishes he could turn back time to a time in their relationship was new(”take it right back, right back, right back to where we started”). There is a lovely electric guitar sound holding this song together and the way the vocals are arranged is tastefully done for maximum enjoyment
Next is the song “Like a Drug”. The song starts with a beautiful and dreamy guitar sound. The song describes a toxic relationship. The man in question talks about how he keeps going back to the person who hurt him over and over again(” You would tell me where to meet, I kept coming back”). After this happens for a while he comes to accept that he has become addicted to this person and is struggling to fight that affliction because it took everything from him (”the addiction was insane, you got me using you like a drug”). The song is very emotive and tender and the vocals and the mouth percussions are insanely good.
“Chemical” is the title of the next song. The song starts with a very beautiful mixture of sounds. The song is a beautiful and heartfelt description of love or being lovesick(”lovesick in general”). The character defines love as a feeling that is purely chemical and causes certain toxins to be released into your brain(”we are all so chemical”),(”all the dopamine just like kerosene”). Louis gives another breathtaking vocal performance and the arrangement (the Drum beat is very prevalent)of the song deserves a standing ovation and an encore
Next is the song called “Burnout”. The song opens with a very laid-back and soft instrumental brief yet beautiful. The song describes a character who feels like he is toxic, and incapable of maintaining a loving relationship(”how can I be with you when I ruin what I love”. The persona has given up on love completely fearing that he will destroy it but finally accepts that he has to let go(”or maybe I finally let it go”). Musically, the song is a slow burn but there are moments in the song where there is a very exciting beat and there is an electric guitar solo towards the end of the song that will knock your socks off The song is a beautiful rollercoaster of vast emotions
Next is the song “Legacy”. The song opens right away with Louis giving you a fabulous welcome to the song. The song introduces us to a persona having an existential crisis about life regretting the opportunities that passed him by passing him by and having regrets about all his relationships(”now friends are in their graves, I’ve been wasting time alone”). He talks about how legacy means nothing when you’re alone or by yourself(” Legacy don’t mean shit to me, I know you’ll never see its harder when I’m without her”). Louis’ voice is layered in such a way that his voice echoes in your ears, the beautiful piano melody and mouth percussions create a lasting feeling that will stay with you long after the song has ended
The next song is called” Make it Alone”. This song starts with a synth sound that is fused with a beautiful drum beat. The song displays a character who is struggling after a breakup and facing a lot of pain(” You left me with nothing, I’m hopeless again”). He describes what his relationship was like in the beginning how it has deteriorated over time and how there’s no going back(” You took a part of me and left, no going back, going back”). Though he knew that things would end he tells her he can’t make it without her(”I can’t make it alone”). The song is quite fast-paced and will delight you thoroughly
“Don’t wanna be saved” is the last song on the album. The song’s opening is a bright fusion of sounds that will captivate you instantly. The song introduces us to a persona who has given up on himself and deemed himself as damaged goods(”maybe I just don’t wanna be saved”. He tells the person trying to redeem him that he or she should give up because nothing will change(”you’ve been tryna have faith but nothing’s changed”). Later in the song we come to know that the person who wanted to redeem him had let him down and was tired of being lied to(”every promise that you make you keep on breaking”). The instrumentals are a little subdued so we can hear Louis more clearly and appreciate the song even more. This song closes out the album quite beautifully
Sam really impressed me with the lyrics, instruments, and vocals. This album was made under a microscopic and industry giant and Sam was totally amazing. His voice and style of performance reminded me of Justin Bieber and I was completely speechless and blown away. Sam is a rare and genuine musical artisan and will do big things in the industry
Stream the “8 ball” album on Spotify or SoundCloud
Follow Sam Louis on here and his socials; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Bandcamp
