Sam Sparro released his second (yep, it’s taken him a while) album, Return To Paradise, on Virgin records 11th June 2012.
All that time that Sam Sparro was generally being forgotten about he had been working on this new album. His first album in 2008 included Platinum single Black & Gold, something that Ellie Goulding later covered for one of her first few tracks.
Sam may have taken a while to get around to writing and bringing out his second album but lets no forget that the artist has a Grammy nomination and 5 Arias under his belt, in that time he was also busy collaborating with the likes of Mark Ronson and Basement Jaxx as well as writing for other artists such as Natasha Beddingfield. His fans include Katy Perry, Beyonce, Cee-Lo Green and Adele who covered ‘Black & Gold’ in the Radio 1 Live Lounge.
Sam’s new album, Return To Paradise, is a play on nostalgia and “paradise garage” – a genre derived from the hedonistic discotheque scene in New York in the late 70s that began in a parking lot giving rise to the term “garage” famous for its unique and eclectic style of disco and dance music. It has been co-produced with long time collaborator Jesse Rogg.
We are told it took a considerable amount of time as Sam was determined to get it right. “It is the product of a lot of experimenting and songwriting – I changed direction at least 2-3 times, completely. I started doing more rock oriented stuff, then I went in a pop direction and then through the process of scrap booking stuff that was inspiring me I ended up with an album that was influenced by music from 1978 to 1984”.
The central themes are love and loss and the quest for inner joy and happiness. “A lot of the songs are about me trying to find my sense of innocence and peace of mind and things that I felt had escaped me for a while”.
Whilst drawing on influences from the 70s and 80s the album is very contemporary with a modern take on these themes.
Working between the USA and UK Sam has become conscious of the sense of disillusion and struggle many people are facing. “I know things in Australia are still pretty good but things in America – especially with the economy, people are struggling and disillusioned and looking for escapism and when times are tough people resort to nostalgia”.
Sam Sparro Return To Paradise album track listing:
1. Paradise People
2. Happiness
3. Let The Love In
4. Yellow Orange Rays
5. Hearts Like Us
6. I Wish I Never Met You
7. Shades Of Grey
8. We Could Fly
9. Closer
10. The Shallow End
11. Return To Paradise
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