Meet Hampton, Middlesex, England-born UK Open Mic performer Elaine Samuels:

Hi Elaine Samuels, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Group

What’s the name of the group?

Kindred Spirit Band.

How old are you?

62

Where were you born?

Hampton, Middlesex, England.

Where did you grow up?

West London

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

The place hasn’t influenced me, more the music I grew up with, like Fleetwood Mac and The Moody Blues.

Where are you based now, and why?

West London still – great connections, community and access to London.

What got you into making music in the first place?

I have always sung. I picked up the guitar and took to it at an early age and began going to folk clubs in my early teens.

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing
Guitar
Guitar

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

Fleetwood Mac – love the songs and vibe
Del Amitri – brilliant lyrics and great songs
The Moody Blues – beautiful songs and arrangements
Pink Floyd – Really powerful lyrics and arrangements.
Yes – Intriguing lyrics and incredible band arrangements (with Rick Wakeman)
Rush – Powerful lyrics and arrangements
The Beatles – Catchy pop songs with great arrangements
Crowded House – Beautiful lyrics and melodies
Joni Mitchell – Beautiful songs and voice
Paul Simon – Beautiful songs

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

35

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

Thinking of a core idea, thinking around the topic and feeding my unconscious, stream of consciousness writing, spider diagrams, lists, working and re-working lyrics.
Also sitting with my instrument and playing riffs and jamming with my band.

How long have you been playing open mic nights?

16

Why did you get into playing them in the first place?

I began playing pub gigs (largely with covers – for money earners) in the 1990s. Also in the 1990s I was booked, for my original songs, at Glastonbury Festival and was featured on television. I wanted to run my own, local open mic to earn some extra money, in 2009, so I started going to some to make connections. I began running a West London open mic in 2009 and though it has changed venues a few times is still going on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. Currently it is at The Cross Lances pub, in Hounslow.

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

Makes sure you have rehearsed and learnt your song.
Make sure you have tuned up your guitar and warmed up your voice.
Then, at the mic, make sure to sing into the mic (keeping fairly close to it).
Make sure you can hear yourself – both instrument and voice and that you are happy with the balance between voice and instrument.
Try to feel confident and believe in yourself.
When performing, concentrate on putting across the song to the audience to the best of your ability.

What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?

The spot is short and it doesn’t give you much time to get “into it” and make a connection with the audience.

What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?

I was playing at Twickenham folk club one time and a small dog (Jack Russell – I think) jumped up on stage and started humping my leg. Ha ha! It caused a massive reaction from the audience.
On another occasion, I was playing a pub gig and encouraging audience to join me “on stage” and play percussion and a man came up and (through heckling by women at the bar) began stripping off his clothes.

If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?

Yes

What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?

I am bringing out a new album on July 25th. It is a mental health theme and progressive folk rock genre. It is a really special, concept album, which we hope will help sufferers with mental health problems as well as help everyone hearing it appreciate what suffering with a severe mental health condition could be like. I and my band are not trying to cater to any current musical trends – so it may not have mass appeal “current” vibe-wise, although it is catchy. We have some prog rock fans already and a local presence in West London. So connecting with today’s generation could be a problem for us.
One of the biggest obstacles is lack of backing – both financial and having people with influence (like promoters) who believe in what we are doing and want to help us stage concerts and interest audiences.

What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?

I used to be an electronic design engineer and once worked on Challenger and Chieftain tanks

What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?

As I mentioned previously, I am working on a (mental health) concept album, called “The Journey Within” with my “Kindred Spirit Band”. This is a double concept album about a mental health journey. It begins with a sudden, psychotic episode followed by a deep dive inside the mind in an attempt to escape persecution and seek refuge and healing. This work is a terrifying look inside the mentally afflicted mind, crossings through a portal and a fantastic journey through a dream world in which we meet some magical creatures, brought to life by several, well known prog rock bands. Most of the creatures help you to learn ways to heal your mind. They guide you to a successful recovery and return to the real world, ready to make a new start.

Do you have your own music video, channel or playlist you’d like to share?

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vPrzHhwFldXKhe6nEwKOQ

Do you have music on streaming? What’s you main streaming channel to send people to?

https://kindredspiritband1.bandcamp.com/

Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?

https://www.elainesamuels.co.uk/home.htm

What other sites/profiles should people go to to find out more about you?

https://www.elainesamuels.co.uk/index.htm
www.instagram.com/elainekindredspirit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.instagram.com/elainekindredspirit/

www.facebook.com/elaine.samuels.5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.facebook.com/elaine.samuels.5

www.lemonrock.com/kindredspirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.lemonrock.com/kindredspirit

We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?

No thanks!