ACM Alumnus Sam Edwards started his ACM journey (like so many others) by joining the Saturday Band Academy, but even before this Sam’s love for playing drums started from watching his Dad perform in ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’. Seeing his huge drum solo number during the opening number confirmed to Sam that his future was drumming.
Having completed the then ACM HND Drum (now Cert HE Drums) and following on to the ACM Drum Degree (2005 – 2008), Sam is now doing what he loves and putting his skills into practise. ACM caught up with Sam to find out what he’s been up to since graduating from ACM.
Tell us about what you’ve been up to and who you’ve been working with since leaving ACM?
Since ACM, I’ve been involved in a number of different projects ranging from Theatre tours – ‘Laughter in the Rain’, West end show ‘Dreamboats and Petticoats’ – to touring with the London Community Gospel Choir on their Songs from Sister Act tours, and then more recently more in the pop side of the industry with The Freestylers, Plan B, Devlin, Julian Perretta, Paper Crows, Junior Giscombe and the Foundations. I still frequently dip in and out of theatre work and have been teaching on and off ever since I left college.
What’s been your proudest moment/career highlights so far?
T in the Park 2011 with Plan B was pretty mad, about 85,000 people or something stupid like that and Live TV and radio. At the time I hadn’t ever done anything like that so was terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time! Heres a clip from the gig
So what’s on the horizon for 2014?
More touring with The Freestylers, they’re on a comeback mission at the moment and they’re coming back hard! So yeah going to be fairly busy with that, plus a couple of other things in the pipeline – but can’t really say too much about that right now.
Do you have any advice or tips for our current ACM students?
Practice hard. Be Ready. Be yourself. Be original. Find a space in the business where you can fit in and capitalise on it. Don’t try and do what everyone else is doing. Be musical, be professional, be on time and be really really nice!
Oh and don’t ‘network people’, just make friends with everyone its a lot less creepy and much easier! Also in certain areas of the business image IS really important, sometimes almost everything unfortunately.
What was the best part about studying at ACM?
The tutors, especially Mike Sturgis, Jon Duff, Pete Riley and Graham Fox (God Bless) who were a constant source of inspiration and knowledge. The facilities are awesome as well. Sparkly toilet seats – I mean come on!
ACM would like to thank Alumnus Sam Edwards for sharing his story with us and wish him well for all his forthcoming projects.
