Sam Cullen is from way down south in Invercargill. Currently residing in the City of Sails, his career is going from strength to strength. Considering songs like latest single The Cold Midwinter this isn’t surprising. Self-penned by Sam, recorded in his own bedroom with additional recording at Parachute with the help of Ben Malone, with the final polishing up by Chris Chetland at KOG Studio, we have a set of lyrics Sam describes as “me down to the ground. It feels like it’s in a rush, which is what I feel like all the bloody time. It’s about my experiences as a teenager in pub culture and noticing the place that I’m from. It’s also about growing up out of your teenage years and realising your own flaws and weaknesses.”

Sam is undeniably a great vocalist. He’s also a talented multi-instrumentalist, and the song shines bright because of it. Visually he’s his own man and I very much like that. The video for the single is on YouTube now, and it’s set at night in a rugby stadium, none other than Invercargill’s Rugby Park, home of his beloved Southland Stags. Dave Thompson of Imaginary Friends did the vid, and it captures the spirit of the song and the performer to a tee.

We have a clean, pedal-free electric guitar kicking off, building into a full-band prog rock hit. There’s a Giorgio Moroder-ish synth thudding through the verses and I get a sweet feeling of melodic rock akin to Asia during their Alpha album period, or latter day Yes. It used to be called AOR (Adult Orientated Rock), and there has always been a market for it when it’s delivered well – like this one.

Sam is building a name, and now has a band behind him. He’s been on the road, and is hopefully going out again. It’s on a roadie that this will be well-received. Or again at the barbie with the neighbours, or over the speakers in the pub. Stick it on your Spotify when you go for a run. Absolutely anywhere! This one will fit.

Sam Cullen. A name that’s popped up, and an unashamed melodic rock sound that anchors a pantheon of genres. Very well done. Get into it people!