In between the release of his second full-length album, Huckleberry, and a headlining show at the Neptune, Seattle rapper Sam Lachow found time to drop a new EP, 80 Bars, which features him rapping over classic hip hop beats. We sat down for a chat with one of the hardest working guys in the game.
Seattle Weekly: Huckleberry was funded by an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign, you raised more than twice what you asked for. Why Kickstarter, and were you surprised by the results?
Sam Lachow: At that point, [my collaborators and I] were in the middle of deciding if we wanted to do the label route or stay independent. We thought that Kickstarter was a way to test if we were able to do it ourselves and if the support of our fan base could be our label. I was definitely hopeful, I guess I didn’t expect it to do what it did at all.
Your music is on Spotify, a company that’s been in the news recently regarding how it compensates artists. How’s it working out for you?
I like Spotify a lot because I want people to be able to hear my music for free. We charge for my album on iTunes, which is great because that’s my job. With Spotify, I get to make a little bit of money and people get to hear my music for free.
What’s the worst non-music job that you’ve had?
I worked as a busboy. I couldn’t believe how difficult that job was—every day just non-stop running back and forth without a single break. I was always trying to find time to sneak off and write down my music ideas: I’d pretend I was getting another towel or something.
Any crazy gig stories?
We officially played the last all-ages show at Chop Suey. It was sold out way over capacity. They didn’t prepare enough security so the backstage area was flooded with friends and fans, and we had to store all of our belongings in our cars outside. My singer got her purse stolen.
Do you think the internet makes it easier or more difficult to succeed as an artist?
It’s hard for me to answer that because the internet and social media are what gave me a job. I can’t imagine trying to market myself to labels as this white boy rapper from Seattle—I don’t know how I would’ve ever done it at all.
With Gifted Gab and BFA. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 682-1414, stgpresents.org/neptune. $20 adv./$25 DOS. 9 p.m. All ages. Saturday, Nov. 29.
