Tag: Gjenny Records

Sam Filiatreau shares first track from self-titled debut

Sam Filiatreau’s self-titled debut album from Gjenny Records. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

As a teenager who began writing songs almost as soon as he learned to play guitar, Sam Filiatreau found his calling in the storytelling songs of ‘70s country, along with John Prine and Randy Newman. Deciding to pursue music full-time at 16, Filiatreau quit high school, moved out of the family home, and joined a rock band. However, most of his free time was dedicated to traveling to area festivals, absorbing what he calls “sad mountain music,” and honing his own songwriting and singing. Along with his own gigs, Filiatreau has also played shows with Houndmouth and the Felice Brothers. His self-titled debut on Gjenny Records is now out this month with “Wrecking Ball” being the first single. (IV-PR, 2021)

The story behind Kentuckian Sam Filiatreau’s new record is one of chance and good fortune. A last-minute house show gig that just so happened to be in front of the right guys—Taylor Meier and Matt Vinson, who were on their way to AAA stardom with their band Caamp—led to a quick friendship and mutual respect which eventually landed Filiatreau the first spot on Meier’s new record label, Gjenny Records. American Songwriter premiered “Wrecking Ball,” an effortless indie-two-step which, in Sam’s words, “is a nod to the old time music I’ve always been so drawn to.” But, like the rest of Filiatreau’s tunes, there is a clever, quirky depth that might be missed on the first listen. American Songwriter notes, “Without saying too much, the artist’s stripped-back styling elicits a certain unifying nostalgia—even the empty spaces still brim with emotion.” Fans can hear the single now at this link.

“I don’t have a theme, other than it is honest and not trying too hard,” says Filiatreau. “I feel like whenever I’m writing songs or music, I’m trying to find that fine line of doing something well, but also not taking it too seriously. To me, this record feels loose and fun. I feel like we captured exactly what was going on there.”

Sam Filiatreau Track list:
Hold The Door
Wrecking Ball
El Camino
Hold Me
Ashes
Tired
Silver Highway
Fine By Me

Caamp’s Taylor Meier unveils new independent label

Louisville’s Sam Filiatreau is first up on the roster with full-length release coming soon. Photo: google

Riding high on a wave of sold-out tours, hundreds of millions of streams, and chart-topping radio residencies, Caamp front man and songwriter Taylor Meier has never let his focus drift from bringing even more artists along for the ride. Enter Meier’s very own independent record label Gjenny Records; an outlet custom-tailored to do just that. “So much good stuff gets buried because people don’t have the right contacts or connections, so I started Gjenny Records just so I could put out people’s stuff and give them a shot at some daylight.” After all, a man of the people should be a man for the people, and Meier fits the bill. (IV-PR, 2021)

Gjenny Records is proud to announce their first signee, Sam Filiatreau, a rising songwriter from Louisville, Kentucky, who blends the lyricism of ‘70s vinyl with the acoustic feel of Appalachian folk music. Burned out by playing in a local rock band for seven or eight years, Filiatreau hopped on a Louisville house concert lineup on Valentine’s Day 2019 to play a few acoustic songs. He was just a friend of a friend who took an open slot between Meier and fellow Caamp member Matt Vinson, who were touring the Midwest together with solo side projects. A conversation after the show ultimately led to an invitation for Filiatreau to join them on a Caamp tour and eventually to making a solo album. 

A chance encounter at a house concert proved to be the turning point for Sam Filiatreau. His remarkable debut album arrives on Gjenny Records.  As a teenager who began writing songs almost as soon as he learned to play guitar, Filiatreau found his calling in the storytelling songs of John Prine and Randy Newman, then immersed himself in the festival scene to hone his craft. 

Asked about the instant connection, Filiatreau says, “We hit it off pretty well, but I think it was mostly the songs. Taylor always talks about it to me that I just started playing and he looked at Matt across the room, and he was like, ‘We’re going to do something with this.’ We hung out until 4 or 5 in the morning that night too. So, right off the bat, musically, we were into the same thing, and we both love folk music and solo performances. We just had a great time together.” A hangover-curing breakfast followed, securing the guys’ love for Sam and his songs, and a plan for how to get them both out into the world. Stay tuned for more news on Filiatreau’s debut album, due out later this year on Gjenny Records.