Sam Shinazzi

Interviews & Articles

The following interview went to air on the 17th July 2003 c/o 2SERfm and was conducted by Kelsey Munro for her excellent Foldback show.

Introduction : Sydney musician Sam Shinazzi has been writing songs and performing live under the guise of
The C-Minus Project for three years now. The independent release of his acoustic mini-album 'Long Drive Home' in 2001 and subsequent supports for the likes of Evan Dando, Joe Pernice and Lou Barlow has seen Sam steadily build a core fanbase around Australia. In March this year he released his debut album 'Less Than Perfect Day' which has been getting steady airplay here on 2SER. Kelsey managed to catch up with him recently to find out what songs inspire his work.

KM : G'day, welcome to Foldback. This week we've got Sam from The C-Minus Project in the studio. How are you going Sam?

SS : Very well, thanks for having me.

KM : Thanks for coming in. Your first pick for Foldback this week is a Buffalo Tom song 'Taillights Fade'. What can you tell me about why you picked that?

SS : Buffalo Tom came along for me at a really important age...kind of just getting out of high school. I really liked the whole Seattle movement and I was really into that but for me and writing songs, Boston had a really big influence on me. Boston bands were like Dinosaur Jr, Lemonheads, Juliana Hatfield...along with the Lemonheads I think Buffalo Tom for me made the biggest impression. They have a great way of being melodic and noisy and rock as anybody else but they have these great lyrics; really meaningful and almost poetic lyrics. They sound so earnest and I like that in music usually. 'Taillights Fade' was the first song I heard and it really made an impression on me.

'Taillights Fade' plays.

KM : Sam from The C-Minus Project's first pick on Foldback this week, that was Buffalo Tom. Next up Sam, we're kind of going forward in time but it sounds like back in time. We've got Palace Music and the song is 'New Partner'. Why did you pick this song?

SS : I think anyone that's heard this song...it really just strikes a chord with you. I don't know for a fact that it's a love song but to me it sounds like one, and just one of the prettiest songs ever. I love the production that they have on this. It was recorded by Steve Albini who's famous for...

KM : Lots of stuff.

SS : Yeah, but I guess mainly noise...noisy bands and with this it's just so quiet and it sounds like they
recorded it in a house and like it's all live to tape; and like you said...it sounds like it's from the olden days.

KM : Have you seen Will Oldham play live?

SS : Yeah, I think I've seen every show he's done here...quite a fan. I just really respect him, I respect people that do their own thing. You know, he hasn't got a voice that's...traditionally good; he's all over the place but I think that's the thing people like about him...his voice. He's a great artist.

KM : I saw him play with Jim White and Mick Turner at the Basement. He had this big bushy beard, wearing
shorts and thongs onstage. Didn't quite fit into their usual crowd.

SS : That's what I mean. Out of that face comes that voice and it's just a wonderful thing.

'New Partner' plays.

KM : That was 'New Partner' by Palace Music. Sam from The C-Minus Project is in on Foldback and last up,
we're moving on from Will Oldham to the Boss. Why the Boss?

SS : He's my hero I think. The first record I ever bought was 'Born In The USA' and just throughout my
life I've always been a fan. The older I get the more I like him, the more I respect him and the more I
understand him. He's just this huge icon...like Madonna or someone...but he's so much better...he says
things you want to say. I think he really understands the human race which is a tough one.

KM : We're a problematic lot.

SS : Yeah, and you know he gets a bad rap probably because of 'Born In The Usa'...I saw him at the SCG
about two months ago and he literally played for three hours and fifteen minutes and every song was killer.
He's like 52 or something but you really wouldn't know it. I just think he's someone who in decades...maybe
even centuries to come...when they're looking through all the music...I think he'll be one of the people they look at...I hope so anyway.

KM : So 'Thunder Road' then?

SS : Yeah, it was a tough to pick out of all his records but it's still the one which gives me shivers and probably one of his most famous songs.

KM : Alright, here it is. 'Thunder Road' by Bruce Springsteen.

'Thunder Road' plays.