'Twilight' Musician Visits Vancouver Island
Singer/Songwriter Sam Bradley Performs at Merville Hall
Apr 12, 2009
Bradley and his band headlined the “Still I Stand” concert, playing alongside three other B.C. acts: Vancouver rock duo Clarus, Nanaimo songstress Natalie Germann and the host band Vestige from Courtenay, B.C.
Bradley's big break was the 2008 hit film Twilight, for which he co-wrote the film’s most popular song “Never Think/Too far Gone” with lead actor Robert Pattinson when they lived together in London. The soundtrack went on to sell over 2 million copies worldwide.
While Vestige, Clarus and Natalie Germann played their indie/pop sets, Bradley sat in the corner, appreciatively tapping his foot to the music, seemingly unaware of the buzz circulating the hall that he was there. When Bradley and the men took to the stage, the audience crowded around from all corners of the room and the show began.
And did it ever. From the first note, Bradley’s clear, yet somehow raspy, voice ran out with soulful sensibilities that brought to mind John Lee Hooker. The band was just as good, with guitarist Dave Meszaros dolling out blues licks left, right and center.
Three-quarters of the way into the set, Bradley grinned into the microphone: “This next song is probably why a lot of you are here,” he said, and launches into “Never Think/Too Far Gone” from the aforementioned film.
From first album to Twilight
The song may be the reason that many in the audience came, but it would be disingenuous to suggest that that was the reason they stayed. Bradley and his crew are genuinely good and modest to boot. Bradley casually announced that his CDs are for sale at the back of the hall for $5 each.
After the set, the slightly drained Bradley talked about the record, running his hands through his curly black hair and nursing cigarette embers in between sentences.
“It’s a six track EP that I recorded when I was 19. There’s “Dead Flowers”, which is a Rolling Stones cover, and then five originals,” he told Suite101. “I’ve developed a lot since then, and so I kind of struggle listening to it, and I kind of get really protective of anyone else listening to it. But I really don’t have many left, so instead of them sitting in a box in my house, it‘s probably better that they get put in other peoples’ hands so they can listen to something.”
Since then, Bradley has found enormous success with the song he co-wrote with actor and good friend Robert Pattinson while he lived with him in Soho.
“It was their flat, but I was back in London, and so I lived with them for 5 months. It was a street called Old Compton Street, and life did not stop,” he laughs.
The song evolved over the course of his stay in Soho, with Bradley and Pattinson contributing different components of the song in between beers.
What brings him to Merville, B.C.?
“Joey Clarkson and Breanne Larson of Vestige asked me to come over,” he said. “I’ve met them a few times when they’ve come up to Vancouver to see a couple of my shows, and listened to their stuff on MySpace, and they’re really good.”
Bradley gets boost from Twilight and prepares for the next step
Bradley looks forward to the artistic steps he plans on making over the course of his next record, and beyond.
“Over the next couple of years, I want to try and dip into as many genres as I possibly can. Like the album I just recorded, it really stretches into a few genres,” he said.
“I play guitar, but I’m really a lyricist and a singer, I want to cross as many boundaries as I can. I’d like to try hip-hop. Not me rapping, but maybe doing the chorus or something.”
The talented musician fondly recalls his musical roots: “I was probably ten when I was singing R. Kelly songs in the kitchen, like ‘Bump and Grind’. I sang ‘Build me Up Buttercup’ at school when I was 13, 14. And then I didn’t play any music. My mum bought me a guitar when I was 16, I didn’t touch it.
“But when I was 17, all my friends were musicians, so I was like, ‘All my friends are doing this! I’ve got to do this too.’ After that songs just came.”
Bradley moved to Vancouver with his mother and sisters when he was 17 years old, where he met the members of his band. He considers Vancouver his home base, but maintains strong contacts in London.
Bradley said that he would like to have his work on the next Twilight film soundtrack, but fans may have to hold their breath.
“As far as submitting material for the soundtrack, I will. Whether it gets chosen or not, is way beyond my control. That is a huge, huge machine, Twilight.”
“I have hopes of doing another soundtrack, either as a writer or a singer, but I have to have the right song, that fits the story or the marketing. So maybe something will happen.”
Until then, there is plenty of good music to look forward to. As well as his own upcoming album, Bradley is planning an EP collaboration with 'Men' bassist Jeff Riedlinger.
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