Sam Burton

Sam Burton

Sam Burton is a Palestinian-American songwriter based in Los Angeles. He grows up in Salt Lake City and later moves to Los Angeles, where he develops a style rooted in folk and country songwriting, with americana, lo-fi and acoustic elements.

Early development

Burton teaches himself guitar as a teenager, practising on his stepfather’s guitar in secret. His early influences include the Beach Boys and the Velvet Underground. Before turning fully to his acoustic material, he plays in a shoegaze band.

Releases and recording

He emerges through the DIY cassette scene, putting out homemade music on the Chthonic label. He then signs to Tompkins Square, which releases two limited-edition 7-inch singles before his debut album, I Can Go with You. The album is produced by Jarvis Taveniere, known for work with Real Estate and Purple Mountains.

Style

Burton’s later work moves away from shoegaze into a more acoustic folk-based sound, while still using ambient and sometimes psychedelic textures alongside introspective lyrics.