about the record

Having shared stages with artists like Efterklang and Ólafur Arnalds, Samson has long felt like an outsider, caught between being “too experimental” for some and “too indie” for others. His struggle to fit into a defined space has deeply influenced his music. After the pandemic derailed a major indie record deal, Samson grew disillusioned with the industry, reflecting on how his search for belonging had often been met with barriers.

His album Songs of Beginning & Belonging reflects these experiences. Moving away from the themes of home and displacement that colored his earlier works, the album conveys a sense of inner peace and renewal. It is a delicate, meditative collection that underscores Samson’s growth as an artist and a person, driven by a desire to move past old wounds and start anew.

Recorded between November 2022 and May 2024 in Will’s former studio—a secluded spot on the River Tejo in Almada, which he shared with Casper Clausen of Efterklang—the album was made specifically for Dauw, who had asked Will to create a piece of music for the label. The recordings were largely crafted using his 1970s 'Uher 4200' tape machine, along with a small collection of other tape machines that wind their way in and out of the tracks, shaping them in a beautifully singular way.