Adam Sams: A local musician’s story and journey as an artist

By Makenzy Veldboom | Staff writer

“A celebration of the slower pace - finding fulfillment in enduring relationships and shared place." - Timber Choir.

This quote on a local musician’s band’s page devises recent album collaboration, but for Adam Sams, this quote is not only a shift in the focus of his music but also on life.

Sams grew up around music listening to artists such as Switchfoot and Relient K.. Switchfoot had an influence on Sams, particularly Jon Forman's songwriting. He got his first guitar when he was nine and later picked up the drums and piano. Sams years later moved to Jacksonville, Fla. where his music journey continued.

“There was a really thriving local music scene when we moved there, specifically at Murray Hill Theatre.” Sams said. “I played in a folk rock band called ‘Don’t Sigh Daisy’ for several years, and I also began writing my own music around that time.”

Sams said his life was formative, as he sang in the high school choir and later studied voice at Augusta University. He also learned to sing harmonies, blend with other singers and tune his ears to become a better listener.

In 2007, when Sams was 15, another important event took place at a concert. Here, he met his wife, Anna Sams and a close friend who he would collaborate on a project called Timber Choir with, Brendan St. Gelais. 

“Adam and I became fast friends over a shared love of our favorite bands and artists,” Gelais said.

In 2012, Sams began pursuing music full-time and played shows whenever he could. That year, he recorded his first project Welcome to the Motion. Sams and his friend Nick Duke produced the project and recorded with a studio Duke has built in his backyard.

A year later, Sams recorded his second solo project Tightwire with Don Chaffer.

“Don is kind of a legend in the songwriter community, and it was such an honor to work with him,” Sams said. “He really helped me shape the songs on that record.”

After the release of Tightwire, Sams toured heavily for two years. He opened for several of his musician heroes, one being Jon Foreman.

“Jon has been a musical hero of mine since I was a kid, and his music has been an integral part of my life," said Sams. “Murray Hill Theatre was the first real stage I ever played on, and that room, really that music scene in Jacksonville, was so important to me when I was first finding my voice.”

After touring, Sams said he began to feel burned out with the business side of being an independent artist and feeling empty creatively. He wanted to make a change with these feelings and asked himself  “what’s the point of calling myself a ‘professional’ musician if I’m not even enjoying the day-to-day reality of it?”

This is when Sams began to focus on just doing what he really loved, making music with friends and writing songs he was not worrying about trying to be successful. After several years with this shift of focus, his project Timber Choir with his friend Brendan Gelais began.

This project came to fruition in 2020 when Gelais and Sams came together to create their first EP Come and Go. They enjoyed the time creating this project so much they came together again creating their new EP Eternity.

“I feel like there was some real magic happening when we got together, said Gelais. “It felt so good we had to do it again so we made our second EP Eternity just to chase that feeling!”

Their first project together, Come and Go, had those themes of the attitude shift Sams was going through and what he hoped his life could look like.

“With ‘Timber Choir,’ there are these repeated themes of slowing down, making time to be still, cherishing quiet moments, celebrating mundane daily activities really are what make up the bulk of our actual lives,” said Sams.

These themes carried into ‘Eternity,’ which according to Sams did not have a set theme because they approached the EP one song at a time. When looking back on the project as a whole, the two realized there was a story weaving through it. 

They also became fathers during this project so they view the music as a little piece of their life to pass onto their family and friends.

Now, Adam in addition to being a musician is a father and this has impacted his music and life.

“I think finding a new rhythm in a growing family inspired a desire for a slower pace, which deeply affected his songwriting and messaging,” said wife Anna Sams. “I'm excited to see what he produces next, because becoming a dad brings a profound shift in perspective, and I think we'll find new themes and emotions in his songwriting.”

Listen to Adam Sams and Timber Choir.

Contact Makenzy Veldboom at kveldboom@augusta.edu

Photo courtesy of www.adamsams.com