Los Angeles musician Sam Burton has signed to Partisan Records, and he’ll be bringing his dreamy Laurel Canyon-esque folk-pop to the venerable label. He grew up just outside Salt Lake City — in what he refers to as a “truck stop town” — though he migrated to LA in his pursuit of music. Over the last year, he toured alongside Loving and Jose Gonzalez and will be supporting Weyes Blood for a round of dates in the coming weeks. You can see those upcoming dates below.
And while we’ve yet to hear any official news regarding an upcoming album, Burton has shared a new single called “Maria.” Collaborating with producer Jonathan Wilson (Angel Olsen, Father John Misty Margo Price), the song allows him to focus in on and refine the soft rhythmic angles and gauzy melodies which he uses to explore themes of affection, hope, and the pursuit of redemption. Recalling the glistening movements of Roy Orbison and Harry Nilsson, the song is a pastoral journey through California in the early ’70s, but rather than rely on the established goodwill of his influences, Burton has crafted a loving ode to soft rock’s innate emotional veracity. The ornate strings sway like a gentle breeze sweeping in from the coast while his amber-hued vocals thrum the heartstrings he’s so effortlessly uncovered.
“‘Maria’ is a song of brief redemption,” explains Burton. “It’s seeing a shape in the soft light and trusting it’s there even though it’s not defined.“
Watch the video below.
Tour Dates (in support of Weyes Blood):
Feb 03 – DE / Kulturkirche
Feb 04 – FR / Paris / Le Trianon
Feb 05 – BE / Brussels / Botanique
Feb 06 – NL / Amsterdam / Paradiso
Feb 08 – UK / London / Roundhouse
Feb 09 – UK / Bristol / SWX
Feb 10 – UK / Glasgow / QMU
Feb 12 – IE / Dublin / Vicar Street
Feb 13 – UK / Manchester / O2 Ritz
Feb 14 – UK / Brighton / Chalk
