Pleasure Craft

​This is a moody pop tune from Sam Lewis, who studied at Humber College's music program.

There's a ton of instrumental flourishes on this track that elevate it from relative simplicity.

It's the little things that make this really memorable, like the strings, synth and trumpet lines. - CBC news

Pleasure Craft AKA: Sam Lewis has released the first single “It’s Not Real” off his forthcoming debut, EP 1. The album was self-written and produced, in Toronto, On. “It’s Not Real” takes cues from NME’s C86 music tape combined with sounds from today’s indie pop world.

Pleasure Craft on “It’s Not Real”:

“It’s Not Real” is where everything started, about three years ago when I first moved to Toronto. It’s a song about change and how surreal it was to relocate from rural British Columbia to a big city.

I like to produce and write everything myself to establish the mood, lyrics, and core of each song. But I find that if I include other people — send a demo off to one of my friends to add a synth line or a guitar part — the songs get a more rounded, multi-dimensional sound.

EP 1 was Written by Lewis between 2016 and 2018, and recorded at home and at Humber Recording Studios with notable assists from multiple guest singers and musicians — many encountered by Lewis while studying jazz trumpet at Toronto’s acclaimed Humber College — EP1 clarifies the prevailing Pleasure Craft ethos: music created by Lewis but buoyed by input from collaborators.

“When I started writing songs as a teenager, I’d work stuff out on guitar. With this record, everything started with my laptop. I opened up the program Ableton Live and produced a beat or a two-bar loop. From that vibe, I’d sing over it and come up with the lyrics and melody.

“I’ve gotten really into electronic production through my roommate, Andrew Feels. It’s a very free way of writing. I don’t have to think about what my hands are doing. I can just turn off the lights and really get into the words. I am quite introverted and introspective and I don’t speak a lot socially,” Lewis chuckles, “but I have a lot to say. I find writing music is the easiest way for me to express myself.”

Interestingly, while Lewis admits to loving jazz, growing up on Miles Davis, in the remote community of Salt Spring Island, nothing on EP1 nods to the genre.

“My hope is that some people will listen to this project as a cohesive piece. It’s only an EP but the lyrics and narrative are meaningful and intentional, I hope that gets across to someone at least.” - Northern Transmissions

It took a full decade after my 18th birthday to feel strong enough mentally to stand on my own two feet. 100% not the case with the man behind Pleasure Craft. He set off on his own and you’ll soon find out where too. No matter where though, his journey to independence is forever admirable. Fast forward to today and Pleasure Craft is still dealing with what’s real with his latest single. We talked about the moves, the music and more. Including his upcoming EP, out October 25th with a single and video dropping the 18th.

Kendra: Your latest single, “It’s Not Real,” is based around your move from a small town to a big city. What gave you that initial push to pack up and go?

Pleasure Craft: When I graduated from high school in 2013 I didn’t believe making music was a reasonable career path. I was more interested in becoming a commercial pilot. But I worked in landscaping for a year and saved enough money to go live in Malaysia alone for about six months and then Australia for three. I was only 18 on that trip and the independence I experienced gave me some perspective on what was really important to me. I figured if I was going to fail at something, it should be something that I really care about. So after I got back there wasn’t much hesitation. I auditioned for a jazz program on trumpet and moved within a year.

Kendra: I also moved from a tiny town to Los Angeles and it was (and still is almost 15 years later) a shock in some ways. For me, it’s the genuineness of people. I feel small town folks are more honest. What about you? What is the most significant difference?

Pleasure Craft: Yeah I’m definitely more of an asshole after four years living Toronto. When you pass hundreds of people every day on the street or on the bus it desensitizes you to other people. In BC I lived a kilometer away from my neighbours. When I went to the grocery store I would see 10 people from my old school. Everything was a lot more personal there. In Toronto, most people are out trying to get stuff done for themselves. On Salt Spring B.C. most people are just taking it as easy as possible.



Kendra: Going back to the single, what about the change felt unreal?

Pleasure Craft: That kind of culture shock is pretty bizarre for a long time. I didn’t know a lot of people when I got here, I spent most of my time in my room writing music or practicing. If you live like that for a few months it gets pretty weird. I like change though. There was something fun about constructing my identity from scratch. Nobody knew anything about me, I got to make new first impressions.

Kendra: You have an EP coming out soon. What can you tell us about the mood of the record?

Pleasure Craft: The whole EP is centered around that concept of constructing identity. The tracklist moves chronologically from un-anchored freedom on “It’s Not Real,” into the experiences and decisions I make while trying to belong, and ending on a note of confidence that I’m in the right place doing what I’m meant to do.

Kendra: You also have a show on October 26th in Toronto. Who are some of your stage inspirations that first inspired your performances?

Pleasure Craft: Stop Making Sense by The Talking Heads is undeniably the greatest concert film ever made. That performance had a huge influence on my live show. I have an eight-person band of extremely talented musicians. It makes the experience a lot more fun when there’s a group of people all trying to make it happen. - ZO Magazine

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