Sam Day Interview

 Before I share the interview I did with Sam Day, I just like to say that this was second features article I did for the show and it was the second one that was released and posted to their main page, and the community group. I really enjoyed being able to learn more about Sam Day, and what His story was. I related to different parts of it as well as getting to help share His testimony in a lot of ways. He just released a new song called Warrior Spirit. Which you can find on YouTube by searching Samuel Day and Warrior Spirit, it's also on Spotify, and ITunes. I'm sure if you look up his name I have mentioned and the new song, a lot of his music will come up of what is released already. Here is the interview I did with him. I hope that you will enjoy reading this, as much as I did and as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Elizabeth: When you were growing up, how did you first come to know who God was?
Sam: I was raised in a Pastor's home, so I was always in a Christian environment. However, while my family always taught me the truth, they also taught me that I personally have my own choice. As I grew up, I had some chances to walk away, and even some pressures in those directions, but instead I held to the Word and also looked for testimonies; people that had been healed or delivered from addiction or whose lives had turned around. Also, having grown up being raised by my single mother and my grandparents, I had to learn to know God as a father, and that was really powerful for me.
Elizabeth: What was it like for you growing up and did you have any struggles that you faced that were hard for you? If so, how did you overcome them?
Sam: One of the things I contended with growing up was loneliness - being a "pastor's kid" (my grandmother was the Pastor of my church), and without a dad made me feel excluded a lot, even if people didn't mean for that to happen. On the flip side, always being kind of a weird kid and a music geek made me not your "typical looking/acting" Christian either in some ways. As I went along I was doing my best to be really serious about my faith (the best I knew how to at the time), and that made some relationships difficult as everyone grew up and started deciding for themselves what directions they wanted to head in. That's not to say I was perfect - far from it. Sometimes I wonder how folks ever put up with my younger self. But even being in music, I had to learn to be consistent among a sea of people's opinions and find my worth and my TRUST in God.
Elizabeth: Was there a time in your life when you were at school where you felt like you didn't fit in with the kids you went to school with? If so, what was that like and do you ever feel that way now?
Sam: Sure, there were times like that and still are now sometimes, but I think everybody feels that way on occasion. The trick is to figure out why - is it because you just have different interests? Different standards? Are you judging THEM unfairly or maybe the other way around? The truth is, adulthood doesn't change the issue. Especially as Christians, we aren't always going to fit in with everybody. Even just as human beings that's true. But we can't allow an isolationist attitude to take over. God MADE us for relationship and relationships. We shouldn't let situations or experiences like that close us off in such a way that we miss out on the good relationships.
Elizabeth: Who would you say helped you in your walk with Jesus growing up and is there a scripture or passage from the Bible that you go to, when you're feeling like you want to give up?
Sam: My Grandmother was a huge one for me. Grandma moved here from Germany when she was 17, didn't even speak the language, and went on to Pastor a church for many years. She was very focused on the idea of excellence; that we should do everything as unto the Lord (Col. 3:23). She maintained that mindset no matter the job she was doing; even when she was cleaning furniture stores and people's houses when I was little, as she brought me along on the job. That mindset has carried into my artistic endeavors like music (of course!). A scripture I go to a lot is 3 John 2 - "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." I know that on the surface level it's John speaking to Gaius, but I also deeply believe that it reveals a lot about God's heart toward us. After all, John was the disciple who had such a real revelation of Jesus' love that he even referred to himself as "The Apostle Whom Jesus Loved". So I really take that as the Holy Spirit talking to me and reminding me that God's plans for me are good, and Jeremiah 29:11 is a huge tie-in to that as well.
Elizabeth: Is there a song that speaks to you or a lyric from one of your own that has helped you?
Sam: Actually, my newest single Stand Through This is one that I dug really deep lyrically on. It's not the most clever or flowery set of words I've ever penned, but it's raw and deliberate in a way that's very intentional. The chorus of that song says "Looking myself in the mirror again; am I gonna stand through this? Yeah, I'm gonna stand through this." I like that dynamic of asking myself a question and then answering it with strength and resolve. The reason I bring it up is that I believe that so many things in life are about making quality decisions. I think that's powerful, and I like to remind myself of it.
Elizabeth: If you could describe who you are as an artist, what comes to mind and what would you like people to know about you and your music?
Sam: So much of my music has an air of adventure and determination to it - Whether I'm writing poppy music for "Samuel Day" or heavier stuff for my rock band "Reclaimers", that really seems to be a common theme for me. I want to encourage people to experience things from a viewpoint of victory, and I want to give a voice to that in my music. I think that's why even when I'm writing pop or CCM or even worship music, things always end up with these grand arrangements. Not every song is right for that, so I don't force it, but I naturally gravitate that way. I want to be the soundtrack to someone's adventure.
Elizabeth: Has there ever been a moment where you were writing a song and thought about how people would respond to the song, when you released it for the first time?
Sam: That definitely happens all the time, and that perspective has helped me not only in producing my own music, but in producing for other artists as well. Sometimes I write something and dream about people singing that big, anthemic chorus back to me. Other times I wonder how many will connect with a really heartfelt lyric. Sometimes I also wonder how many musicians will catch some cheeky instrumental gesture that was thrown in. It's kind of fun, really.
Elizabeth: Have you ever had a moment in your life as an artist, where you felt like you couldn't perform and didn't have the strength to continue, if so how did God help you through it?
Sam: Oh sure. One example that comes to mind is that there have actually been times that I was a part of some worship services and was just struggling physically - but especially in that type of setting, something that I remember is that worship is something we do together. It's not exactly the same as a concert, necessarily. So honestly? In that situation sometimes I have just stopped singing and let the congregation take it. We're doing it together anyway, which really helps take the stress off. When it comes to more "performance" driven situations, when I have moments like that I just do my best to relax and ask the Lord for help. I used to take everything SO seriously because I wanted to be excellent. I still want to be excellent, but I also have learned that I usually do better when I'm having fun.
Elizabeth: Finally, if you could give any piece of advice to someone who may be struggling what would you tell them and why?
Sam: Look for promises in the Bible that apply to what you're struggling with, and stand on them. When I say "stand on them", I don't mean to just read them one time and feel a little bit better for a few minutes. I mean write them down, print them out, put them on your phone, go back to them regularly; do whatever you need to do to keep them in front of you and THANK God for those promises during your frequent time with Him, no matter what it looks like when you start. Thankfulness increases our capacity to receive from God, and continuing to return to his Word keeps our mind in the right place while also building our faith. That's a powerful thing.