Music Industry News

While taking his music to the international stage in London, Darfield-raised Sam Heselwood has today released his new soulful ballad ‘I Remember’.

The emotionally charged single, written and produced alongside Joel Jones (Macey, Will Swinton, Balu Brigada) and Alex Stacey (Ella Henderson, OneRepublic) is the result of “just wanting to pour my heart out into something.” After a whirlwind session of just 4 hours at Auckland’s Parachute Studios, Sam says he drew inspiration from a heartbreaking fictional scenario of his partner passing away. Using music for both expression and comfort, Sam hopes that ‘I Remember’ will be “whatever the listener needs it to be. Whether you’ve lost someone, missing someone, or just need to pour your heart out.”

Made with the support of NZ On Air, ‘I Remember’ follows the release of Sam’s 2023 EP HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS and the raging success of single ‘Home’ (#1 Hot NZ Singles Chart, over 1 million streams on Spotify, ZM, The Edge). Sam says today’s release explores a different part of his artistic growth by “showing I’m able to stand alone with a piano ballad and not hide behind huge production.”

Also released today is a stunning music video filmed by Sam and his partner Sophie and edited by previous collaborator Gordon Duff. Shot in the serene Cotswolds, England, the video follows Sam as he walks and sings his way through the countryside, while incorporating still shots of the world around him. Sam says the clip hopes to “convey the simplicity and beauty of the song, while reflecting on time spent with a significant other”.

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Photo credit: Joe Wilkinson | Edit: Dave Richards

Rugby player turned songwriter Sam Heselwood has quickly sky-rocketed to Kiwi fame. Exploring themes of family, love, and mental health, Sam is trying to break down boundaries through his music. With each release, Sam showcases his versatility as a songwriter, blending elements of folk, rock, and pop to create a sound that is uniquely his own. Growing up in rural Darfield, he wrote his first song at 19, and became a finalist at the Golden Guitar awards for his song ‘High Off Love’ at 21.

Since then, he’s released 3 EPs and various singles with incredible success. His single ‘Home’ debuted No 1 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart and placed on the NZ RadioScope Most Added + NZ charts. He’s placed No 4 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart and no 29 on the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart for his 2022 single ‘18’, and he’s had strong support from radio (ZM Locals Only, The Edge). Sam’s had millions of digital streams – including 3 million on single ‘Book Full of Answers’ and over 1 million on single ‘Home’; received back-to-back single funding and support from NZ on Air; and featured on playlists Coffee + Chill (500k), Spotify’s Fresh Finds (1m), Spotify’s Fresh Finds Pop, Spotify’s Fresh Finds AU & NZ, Apple Music’s New, Music Daily, Apple Music’s A-List Pop, Apple Music’s New in Pop!