University of Portsmouth Journalism student Sam Meaghan, originally from Liverpool, has carved out a music career alongside his studies. He has self produced an acoustic EP called Handle With Care while gaining further exposure with an acoustic session on the University Radio Station Pure FM. It will be interesting to see if the EP has a fresh new feel to it.
From the opening title track, ‘It Goes’, it is easy to see how fresh this sounds. The production is simple, just Meaghan with vocals and an acoustic guitar. The vocals have some reverb on them, giving off a relaxing feel, which can definitely ease off some stress. Lyrically, it talks about Meagan being in a relationship for around six months but describes the end of a relationship as a nightmare: “I can’t see clearly since you left me.” While this is slightly cliché, the emotion in Meaghan’s voice is strong and clear, making him stand out from his contemporaries.
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‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’ takes the shine off the EP slightly, as it is a bit repetitive, although at the same time, Meaghan humming demonstrates his diversity which is a nice touch. Up next, ‘The Morning’ is structured nicely, with a simple chord progression. One thing that is noticeable is the intertwining harmony in the guitars, working superbly to capture the flow of the track. The lyrics depict the protagonist wanting a girl to explore a new environment on the weekend and love him every day. This desire is heartwarming and once again backed up by Meaghan’s gripping voice.
The last track of the EP is ‘Counting Sheep’, a slow chilled out track. It explores the protagonist’s thoughts of what his girlfriend is thinking about. Primarily based around two chords, the repetitiveness is relaxing, and can definitely help with completing a piece of coursework or even in a moment of contemplation you can listen to this song and drift.
Sam Meaghan has demonstrated from this EP that he can write great songs. Yes, they are a little rough around the edges, but the emotional capacity of most of the tracks definitely says that he is one to watch in the future.
Words by Ermis Madikopoulos