Review Fix Exclusive: Samuel Bly Talks ‘Back in May’ And More

Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Samuel Bly to find out his goals and inspirations in music, as well the creative process behind his new single, “Back in May.”

Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?

Samuel Bly: My father always had music around the house because he wanted us to play instruments for the church he was building up. I started off on the drums with a basic ⅔  4 beat percussion. I wanted to learn all the instruments around me so I got on the piano, guitar, bongo, and the harmonica. Then ever since my public school found out that I can play the piano and sing, they booked me to play in all the eighth-grade graduations until I got to my graduation.

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

Bly: There would be so many situations and words going through my head. Then I break it down into a flow. I would always hear the beat before the words I speak. Probably because  I started on the drums as a kid. Also sometimes, I would take a real-life situation like a breakup, meeting a girl, getting my first job, a sexual ambition, money, etc. and write about it with my wordplay intact.

Review Fix: What inspires you?

Bly: God inspires me because I feel like that hits home for me. Im religious and I believe in him and he really helps me with my Rhyme Scheme bcz I always pray for God to make me better.

HipHop: Mostly because it makes the real me come out. I like the truth that it gives to a man and a woman, from smallest to oldest.

A Symphony: Basically a room full of different strings of Instruments all playing in one accord a symphony of angelic and Diminished chords.

Failure: inspires me to do better in what I do. I feel as though when I fail at a performance I want everybody to tell me I did but, it’s not about that. It’s more like what you learn from your mistake and the constructive criticism.

Basketball: I love the competition that comes with it. Not only that I think Hip Hop is just like basketball and Natural Selection “Only the Strong can Survive”

Battle Rap: It is the epitome of war on a mike and is similar to Natural Selection as well.

Skateboarding: It mainly helps me free my mind and get new creative flow going

Review Fix: What did you listen to as a kid?

Bly: When I was a kid I listened to a lot of Gospel Music because my dad had us in church most of the time. In the mix of that I was listening to “The King of Pop”, Michael Jackson, then got into Maxwell. I was listening more to Maxwell because I always wanted to sound like him when he hit those high notes. TLC was big for me, A Tribe Called Quest, The  WU-Tang Clan was by far my favorite lyrical group in the music industry for me. More so, I feel Joey Badass is a spitting entity of the Wu-Tang because his conscious rap and flow is similar to their Boom Bap style/ flow.

R&B, Jazz, Gunz n Roses, AC/DC, Prince, James Brown, Aritha, Nas, Chance The Rapper, and many more.

Review Fix: What inspired “Back in May”?

Bly: I wrote a poem actually, and it was about not telling people about your plans because I can fuck up and not do it. So I choose to shut up and do what I promise to do and not wait for people anymore. That was my thought process, then I just choose to make it into a song. I was also a little down because I was reminiscing about the times I was bullied. From where I was 10 to when I was 17 a senior in high school. Looking back I always had to fight when I was inside the public school system because if you didn’t make yourself as a person who can stand their ground, problematic confrontation will never stop coming your way.  So I guess I put all my demons in a song

Review Fix: What’s been the best moment of your career so far?

Bly: Performing in Central Park in front of strangers and getting love back from them was the best moment of my life

Review Fix: Why music? What does it do for you?

Bly: Music gives a purpose to keep on living because remember I was bullied all my life and most of the things that were going on would have led me to commit suicide, if not for a piano to free my mind. Music made me king in my mind and in my environment because I can say I am something. I am a Musician, a creator, a storyteller, the curious one, the malicious one, but not only that  I am human.

Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?

Bly: I would say my sound is Hip Hop with a Mix of Soul Music.

Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?

Bly: Live shows are not easy at all, whoever tells you that they are he/ she is a liar and needs to be disrespected on the spot. I say this because so many things can happen in your state of mind. Not only that but forgetting the words and letting the track sing over you is a complete no-no. Rapping in a booth is easier because you are one track minded, however, you feel as if your on top of the world when you’re on stage and the stereo is blasting your song.

Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2018?

Bly: My short term goal for 2018 is to pass the exams that my professors have in store for me not only that but go to tutoring and get the help that I deserve and finish college with a marketing degree.

Review Fix: What are your long-term goals in music?

Bly: My long-term goal is to be able to get a record deal with Def Jam, Alligator, or Atlantic Records. However, before that, I want to be in the corporate American workforce for a good three to four years.  

Review Fix: What’s next?

Bly: What’s next for Sam Trill? Right now I’m making a list of what I have to do and Want to do. I am brainstorming on advertising ideas for my two singles. Not only that but for my social media I am growing my fan base by the day by going outside in central park singing and rapping my latest songs. Money is a big topic of my raps, but also in my life so I am getting resumes ready for any paid internship and or part-time job in the city of NY, New York.