Sam Valentine on SoundBetter

Warm vocals, intricate harmonies, whimsical whistling, and lyrics that mean something

I'm a singer-songwriter with excellent pop, country, blues, gospel, jazz and soul sensibilities and a great ear for harmonized vocals, even if your project doesn't have any yet. I've written lyrics and composed music for both solo releases and full rock band recordings and also have experience performing choral arrangements for over a decade as a tenor 2/baritone/baritenor. I have at least a three-octave vocal range (chest voice and mix) and a warm vocal tone well-suited for blending within arrangements in any genre. I can also whistle across nearly three octaves with vibrato.

My songwriting draws inspiration from Kris Kristofferson, Jason Isbell, Dawes, John Prine, Gordon Lightfoot and other thoughtful lyricists. I love finding creative ways to convey simple ideas and finding the meaning in otherwise mundane themes within songwriting. My natural vocal tone is smooth and even with the ability to handle dynamic melodies similar to Michael Buble. I also draw inspiration from the full-voiced power of Tom Jones and the vocal agility of Stevie Wonder along with modern bands/artists I love like The Dip, Marcus King, and Allen Stone.

Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.

Credits

Languages

English

Endorse Sam Valentine2 Reviews

by Mark Thress
I’m extremely picky with vocalists, so I don’t say this lightly…Sam is one of my favorite singers to listen to and to collaborate with. His tone, musical instincts, and charisma are very special and not something you find often. And on top of that, he’s easy to work with, affordable, and strives for the best overall product. It’s a privilege to have his voice on your upcoming project! I highly endorse Sam for any musical collaboration.
by Mark Thress
I’m extremely picky with vocalists, so I don’t say this lightly…Sam is one of my favorite singers to listen to and to collaborate with. His tone, musical instincts, and charisma are very special and not something you find often. And on top of that, he’s easy to work with, affordable, and strives for the best overall product. It’s a privilege to have his voice on your upcoming project! I highly endorse Sam for any musical collaboration.

Interview with Sam Valentine

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: My solo EP "Somewhere Golden" from 2024. I wrote and sang all songs, played acoustic guitar, and added background vocals on several songs myself. This was an immersive process where I learned how to trust my instincts in the studio and not overthink each take.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Solo record writing, live jazz performances with a trio, learning challenging covers!
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Mark Thress
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Depends on the genre, the musicians and the engineers! Digital has gotten so impressive recently, but analog is more fun. If I'm playing guitar, for instance, I'll opt for a tube amp and pedal board...but I've heard incredible players using a modeling rig that's indistinguishable.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Treat each project like it's my own. Submit no less than my absolute best takes and inject my own passion for language and clever writing into your lyrics.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Taylor Goldsmith from Dawes. I draw tons of inspiration from his writing lyrically.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Aim for three takes or less, and treat the first take like it'll be your only take. Don't
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Soul, Country, Folk, Americana, Jazz, Funk, R&B
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Singing harmonies and finding the best vocal tone to fit an existing singer, or making a lead vocal my own
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Vocal blend, adaptability, and an ear for complex melodic arrangements. Thoughtful lyricism and thematic writing
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Logic Pro, vocal isolation booth, multiple microphone choices
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Brian Wilson, Taylor Goldsmith, Ben Rector, James Taylor, Sam Fender
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Coming up with harmonies to fit a song with an existing melody and arrangement

Singer - MaleAverage price - $70 per song
Songwriter - LyricAverage price - $100 per song
Top line writer (vocal melody)Average price - $100 per song

Typical turnaround for background vocals or lead vocals within one week or less! Songwriting and lyric requests may take up to two weeks' time. Two revisions included.