Acclaimed Singer-Songwriter SAM MORROW Anointed WORLD CAFE: NEXT Artist By NPR Station WXPN

July 29, 2014 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA: After garnering rave reviews for his debut album from the likes of No Depression, Performer Mag, Songwriting Magazine, Americana UK, LA Music Blog, Alt Sounds, Review Fix and Musical Shapes, influential NPR Music tastemaker station WXPN has anointed singer-songwriter Sam Morrow a World Cafe: Next artist.

Beginning Monday July 28 at 3:00PM EST, listeners can tune in to WXPN (88.5 FM) in Philadelphia to hear “Sure Thing” and “Old Soul” from Morrow’s haunting debut album Ephemeral. The World Cafe, with host David Dye, is distributed nationally to over 200 stations across the country through NPR Music.

Ephemeral was issued in North America this spring by Forty Below Records (John Mayall, Bonson Berner, KaiL Baxley) and MRI, home to partnerships with artists such as Billy Bragg, The Black Crowes, Johnny Winter, Sinead O'Connor,  Joseph Arthur, Los Lonely Boys, Bob Schneider and Hank3. Ephemeral is also available in the U.K. via Forty Below/Proper Distribution.

The 10-track album opens with the hushed strum and tentative words of “War”. The pursuit of happiness in the face of domestic conflict is embodied in the building tensions between Sam’s incendiary vocal and Freddy Koella’s (Bob Dylan) somber violin. The album then flows to "December," where the lyrics grapple with the pains and struggles of a long distance relationship, where Sam admits that although he has changed, he is still flawed and love is the companion he desperately needs, as he battles past demons. As with every journey out of darkness, “Sure Thing” carries the record into the light, dwelling on the reality that the greatest joy often follows the most chilling pain. And, if we can just hold on, it’s worth the wait.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSNr0W3d4Qk



Morrow is forthright in his self-awareness, “Coming from a background with a love for all music, I found it challenging to nail down my style. Between everything I listened to, I saw a single commonality: honesty. Whether it’s Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Damien Rice, or David Ramirez, they all have these heavy truths woven in their writing that you don’t want to believe, but have to, because you’ve been there, you’ve felt that, you’ve seen those things. And it’s from that well of honesty I write.”

But to be honest, three years ago this album might never have happened. Three years ago these songs might never have been written. Three years ago, Sam was barely alive. He was a shell of a soul and a withered voice. A 20-year old man entering his prime, found himself trapped by the burden of a destructive life.

Sam's quest for the truth is ever-evolving, “I started out in churches and now play in bars, but I’ve found crowds are pretty much the same wherever I go. We’re all searching for something bigger than ourselves, some truth we haven’t found yet. But that’s what keeps us searching, because the moment we quit looking, is the same moment our pens run out of ink.”

Morrow heads out on an East coast jaunt from September 11-20. Dubbed “Eastbound & Down," a knowing nod to HBO counter-culture icon “Kenny Powers,” Sam is eager to bring his impassioned performances to the East coast for the first time. In addition to opening slots for blues legend John Mayall in Fairfield, CT and Bethlehem, PA, he’ll play solo acoustic shows in Burlington, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington DC and do several special songwriter-in-the-round performances with acclaimed "Bostonian of the Year" Hayley Reardon and Sirius/XM Coffee House favorite Emily Hackett.

LISTEN to the NPR feature at http://www.npr.org/blogs/world-cafe/2014/07/28/333735598/world-cafe-next-sam-morrow

QUOTES
“His disc reveals him as an impressive, wiser-than-years troubadour.” Musical Shapes

“What’s amazing about Morrow’s music is how it speaks directly to the listener’s soul.” Performer Mag

“It’s rare that you find someone who really takes your breath away with their talent.” The Music Enthusiast

“A charismatic experience ‘Ephemeral’ is a one of a kind album, making Morrow an artist to look out for.” Review Fix

“This is one of the most honest, raw, immediate and beautifully moving albums you are likely to hear for a long time." Alt Sounds

“Ephemeral delves into the territory occupied by the likes of Neil Young, Bon Iver, Bright Eyes and Johnny Cash.” Songwriting Magazine

"Morrow’s soulful voice is what makes this album. It cuts through the instrumentation and constantly commands your attention.” Americana UK

“A sterling debut LP that offers ready comparisons to the inspiring melancholia of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, Steve Earle’s Train A Coming and Jason Isbell's Southeastern." No Depression

TOUR DATES
Aug 16 - Los Angeles, CA @ Room 5
Sep 11 - Burlington, VT @ TBA
Sep 12 - Dedham, MA @ Paradise Cafe (w/ Hayley Reardon & Emily Hackett)
Sep 13 - Cambridge, MA @ TBA (w/ Emily Hackett)
Sep 14 - Providence, RI @ TBA (w/ Hayley Reardon & Emily Hackett)
Sep 16 - New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
Sep 17 - Fairfield, CT @ Fairfield Theatre (w/ John Mayall)
Sep 18 - Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest Cafe (w/ John Mayall)
Sep 19 - Philadelphia, PA @ TBA
Sep 20 - Washington DC @ Ebenezers

Sam Morrow
Ephemeral
1. War
2. Old Soul
3. Sure Thing
4. Run
5. December
6. Forever
7. 14
8. Midland
9. True North
10. Gone

ONLINE
Official - http://sammorrowmusic.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/sammorrowmusic
Soundcloud - http://soundcloud.com/sammorrow