Premiere: Saint Samuel Blows Through A “Quarter-Life Crisis” On Forceful New Single
It’s not that youth is wasted on the young. Actually, it is life & society that robs the young of their youth with endless paradoxes that turns early adulthood into a feeling of emotional drowning. Landed a good job out of college? Don’t forget to keep up with your social life. Spending your time travelling and making lasting memories with friends? Make sure you’re saving so you’re not stuck later in life. Have work and relationships under control? Be careful — you don’t want to burn yourself out so early in life!
It’s these contradictions that make this time period an endless struggle. We’re pressured to make life decisions and then punished for either making them too late or too early, with the consequences haunting us for decades to come. This agitated reality is where we find Saint Samuel on his latest single “Quarter-Life Crisis,” where he attempts to make sense out of these contradictions and not succumb to its sullen despair. The lead single to his upcoming EP Nervous, Anxious, and Sad, this bold and stirring track is one The Auricular is proud to premiere before its official release on Tuesday, February 28th.
Playing out over bright synths, thundering drums, and stinging guitars, “Quarter-Life Crisis” is musical exuberance that provides solace for its lyrical quandary. “We’re way too old, we’re far too young / Just to live like this,” Saint Samuel sings early on, zeroing in on what makes this time period so restless. Sometimes, we can see the harsh truths so clearly (“We pay to live, we don’t get shit and we can’t trust love“), while other realizations are much harder to reconcile (“Tell me now, does it ever get easier one day?“). Of course, there’s no solution to be found here — that’s what makes the reality so difficult. But with soaring tones and roaring melodies, this track makes this gloomy period just a little bit brighter, offering a welcoming hand that cuts through the despair and lets you know that there’s still beauty and love to find.
Sam McCoig first began recording under the Saint Samuel in early 2021 after spending several years playing under his real name and alongside other bands and projects. Since the switch, the clever musician has put out several singles as well as a self-titled EP back in 2021. Now a part of the burgeoning label Shockoe Records, McCoig is ready to take the next step forward with his music on his five track EP Nervous, Anxious, and Sad scheduled for release on Tuesday, March 7th. “Quarter-Life Crisis” is the first preview for that next step which McCoig spoke to us about briefly over e-mail.
“‘Quarter-Life Crisis’ is a conversation about people, typically between the ages of 20-30, going through a literal quarter-life crisis,” McCoig described. “It speaks about how difficult those times can be for young people figuring out so much of their life.”
Written alongside co-writer Emily Bruzzo, “Quarter-Life Crisis” lands in the realm of synth pop and indie rock occupied by bands like COIN and The Band CAMINO, which McCoig was listening to around the time of creating the song. (The working title for the track was actually “The Band CAMINO Thing.”) What sets it apart here is how McCoig helped the song’s meaning become as large as its anthemic sound, with a message that instantly connects with people both young and old.
It’s this attention McCoig brings to songwriting and composition that makes “Quarter-Life Crisis” so fascinating. Melodies are designed to linger in your ear for weeks to come while the lyrics can last even longer, offering a conscientious total package that points to Saint Samuel being of Richmond’s more exciting projects coming up in the scene.
“Quarter-Life Crisis” will be available through all streaming platforms on Tuesday, February 28th followed by the release of Nervous, Anxious, and Sad on Tuesday, March 7th. You can listen the whirring track above and while you enjoy it, make sure to follow Saint Samuel on Instagram and Facebook so you can stay up-to-date on their future shows and releases.
Saint Samuel is celebrating the release of Nervous, Anxious, and Sad on Wednesday, March 8th alongside CAS and Marilyn at The Camel. Doors open at 7 PM and tickets are $10 in advance ($12 on the day of the show). Click here to purchase tickets and you can check out the show poster below.
