Sam Varga on his Fiery New Single, Queen of the Ashes
Singer-songwriter Sam Varga is back with the release of Queen of the Ashes, the latest in a series of singles that have come out this year. The brooding, moody anthem tells the story of a woman who burns down her world to get back at those who hurt her. Turning the chaos of self destruction into something both cathartic and seductive, Varga balances the emotional intensity with driving guitar and catchy choruses. Varga sat down for Off The Record to talk about the release of the single, and what fans can expect more of in the future.
1. Is there anything about releasing this single that you're particularly excited about? How does this fit into the next chapter of your music?
I've had this song ready to go since October of last year, so I'm excited that I'm finally putting it out almost a year later. In my mind, this song shaped the sound of my forthcoming EP. I'm always playing with sounds and genres, but the lyrics are always the most important thing to me so in a way the sonics are the delivery for the lyrics. I do think that this song sonically is a great home for my lyrics and vocals though. It's lyric-forward but also exciting to listen to. I think I'll keep hanging out in the alt-country/folk territory for a bit longer.
2. What do you want people to feel when listening to "Queen of the Ashes"?
"Fuck ya with a dash of karmic comuppance." It's a pretty self-aware song. The lyrics themselves have a balanced and holistic view on whatever conflict is afoot, but it's clear what part of the story is going down at the moment.
3. This song is a collaboration with Caroline Romano and Spencer Jordan, did that change your writing process? Is there anyone else you’d like to work with in the future?
Working with artists like Caroline Romano and Spencer Jordan just always makes the writing process better. I had the lyrical idea already, but I was originally thinking that "Queen of the Ashes" would be a slower, more contemplative song and it kind of felt like I was wasting the lyrics on something boring. I needed to get the dream team together in order to adjust the lens.
4. You grew up in Louisville before moving to Nashville, do you think the differences in the music scenes between the two cities has affected the evolution of your music?
Louisville was a very kind and supportive incubator for creativity. Nashville is kind at first but it's also a slow-moving gauntlet. Both cities have helped me hone different parts of my craft though.
5. For first time listeners, what three songs would you want them to hear and why?
I'd say "Never Better," "Apocalypse," and "Queen of the Ashes." "Never Better" introduces listeners to the sound, "Apocalypse" introduces listeners to me, and "Queen of the Ashes" shows listeners where we're going next.
6. Anything upcoming you’d like to tease? What can listeners expect in the future?
A relentless, unflinching, and completely unsustainable amount of tuneage.
Photo Credit: Catherine Powell
Stream Queen of the Ashes, out now on all streaming platforms
