Sam Wrangle - Smokey Shady (2023) Hi Res

Sam Wrangle is a Brisbane-based singer/songwriter and producer, whose jangly rock sound struts hypnotic lushness and hooky ferocity throughout his upcoming album, Smokey Shady, featuring a stunner of a new single entitled “Dress to Impress.”

Sam's musical beginnings trace to age 15, when he picked up the bass and began studying jazz in high school. His first written song emerged two years later. "I started writing a few songs a year when I was about 17. Then, one fateful day in 2017, I went on a long drive in Townsville, Queensland, and realized ‘hey, this isn’t just some Sunshine-Coast pastime…I want to be an artist, I want to live this as my life.’”

Shortly thereafter, Sam took on guitar playing, and found inspiration from artists like Johnny Marr, John McGeogh (Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees), Robert Smith, and Interpol. After delving deeper into music production, Sam released his first album, Idolatry, under the Corrections moniker in 2017. Initially a washed-out shoegaze, post-punk style, the sound evolved into a patchwork approach influenced by lo-fi recording methods.

“I learned how to produce properly from the beginning of 2021, when I moved to a small town called Gayndah. It was during this time that I started to produce with my friend and fellow artist Job Cran, who makes metal music. My production really improved throughout this process of collaboration, training my ears via helping to realize someone else’s vision.”

Sam’s eclectic stylistic forays as a producer and songwriter have culminated in his newest album, Smokey Shady. “Dress to Impress” is a stand-out track from the album, which encapsulates Sam’s honed sound of jangle-guitar, eerie-synth, and forlorn-vox along with lyrics expressing his current introspective musings.

“‘Dress to Impress’ is quite literal,” Sam says. “It’s a commentary on a narcissist’s want to please people and to present a good image—whether it’s on a first date or during the daily grind at work.” Sam notes that the track also reflects on body image and self-esteem. “The line ‘When I look in the mirror I think I look good / but rarely ever great’ implies that I do think I look good, but not good enough for someone else. The latter idea crops up in the line before the second chorus: ‘perpetually out of your league.’”