Sam's story is a blend of cultures and sounds, having been born in the UK and moving to New Zealand multiple times during his childhood. He takes us back to his early days of musical discovery, listening to his parents' records and feeling a profound connection to The Stranglers and other iconic bands.This episode dives deep into Sam's unique musical path—from piano lessons at the age of five to exploring the electrifying world of heavy metal. Sam opens up about his experiences as a neurodivergent artist and how his autism diagnosis in 2021 has influenced his understanding of himself and his creative process.Join us as Sam candidly discusses the highs and lows of forming bands, his eclectic music influences that range from atmospheric sludge metal to pop, and the liberating nature of letting go of preconceived ideas in music creation.Don't miss out on:-Sam's amusing anecdote of singing Stranglers' lyrics as a child-How an encounter with a Metallica tape at age 8 changed his life-Insights into playing in various bands across New Zealand and Australia-His heartfelt advice for young neurodivergent musiciansSam's gigs:Drums at After The FleshAmbient Sonic Maximism at ThoughtsexplodethruskullsNoisesmith/Atmospheric Tantrums at Opium EaterComposer/Performer/Producer at SporkConjurer of sonic nightmares at Opiate SleeperDJ Doran at The Anger Management ShowStudied at New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī, Victoria University of Wellington