Samuel Joseph Kim

Samuel Kim is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer currently based in Washington, DC. Through his time living in Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and now the United States, he has literally acquired a world of sound within his ears.

It was at England's famous, "Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts" that Samuel honed his craft of recording and production. He has been prolific and independent from the beginning of his artistic career with a number of EPs and five LPs self-recorded, self-produced, and self-distributed. "It's ambitious I know, but every part of the musical process -- even distributing it to people -- is very important to me," says Samuel Joseph Kim.

Alongside his solo work, he has also done two soundtracks featured in indie films out of LA and Athens. His work in soundtracks helps to understand the filmic power of many of his recordings.

His first album was recorded ten years ago, and his sound has gone through many evolutions. Perhaps the most consistent characteristic of his music in the past decade has been the organic blend of instruments alongside electronic elements. "I recognize I'm not your typical four-piece band," explains Samuel Kim. "I wanted to show my audience that my production comes from a very intimate and personal space, and with the recent advances in performance and recording technology, I found ways to achieve that goal. I love riding that uneasy tension between technology and organic creativity." It is through bands like the Notwist and artists like Son Lux or Apparat that Samuel Kim found his voice and vision for how he best wanted to express himself artistically.

Currently, he is collaborating with a diverse range of artists in Athens, GA as part of a musical non-profit project called "Emergent Heart" (www.emergentheart.com) with all proceeds going to benefit Nuci's Space in Athens. He was responsible for most of the production and recording of the first release and will have a song he wrote and recorded on the upcoming second release. Samuel Kim has always believed in the importance of art touching lives not just on the sonic level, but in areas of social justice as well.

"Music is a deeply rooted passion of mine," he shares. "The creative arts are integral to my character, so I hope to always be doing this regardless of where life may take me. I love how the arts can transcend our individual boundaries and even change lives somehow -- it's that kind of art I love the most and that's the kind of art I want to give to people."