Have you ever had a moment where a cover of your favorite music has taken you by surprise? Favorites are always personal, and the artists who can make us crazy about covers are some kind of special people, and that’s probably why the artist Sam Edelston is special. It is crazy how his recently released project entitled “Making Waves” has deeply impacted me as a listener, and while the majority of the songs featured on this collection are covers of the classics from big names such as Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Billy Joel, Chicago, and others, these covers are stylish and highly interesting as Sam showcased his undeniable expertise on using his main instrument, the dulcimer.
A dulcimer is a stringed instrument played by striking the strings with light hammers, and honestly, this is the first time that I have heard this instrument being mentioned anywhere. Upon the opening notes of the intro track for this collection, this instrument sounds like a guitar, but Sam shared, “It’s all dulcimer.”. According to the artist, the point of the whole collection is to showcase the versatility and power of the dulcimer as an instrument despite only having three strings, and I can honestly say that this goal for this project has been successfully achieved.
“Making Waves” is an interesting collection, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect from it. Opening the project is the piece “Looking at the Waves,” a bright and fun song that I can’t help but associate as his way to introduce himself and his music through his awesome instrument. The whole experience is like listening to a grandfather talking—sharing his story, his memories, and his music with a circle of kids—giddy to hear adventures. It bears simple instrumentation and also simple yet vibrant lyricism. These vibes remind me of the countryside, and there’s a little part at the back of my head thinking that he could be a part of the production of the OST of movies like The Lion King because of the style of his music.
The next featured tracks are covers of classic tracks from big names in the music industry. It includes “Wild Horses,” “Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard,” “Colour My World,” “Please, Please Me,” “Call Me,” “Born to Run,” “If I Can’t Get You,” and “Ace of Spades.” In addition to that collection are pieces that include collaborations with amazing performers such as Teddy Parker for the performance in “You and Me on the Rock” and with Chesney Snow for “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”.
Additionally, the covers for the classic tracks “She’s Always a Woman,” “Sweet Caroline,” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” top the list of my favorite pieces for this collection. It’s just so stylish and creative! Sam Edelston has managed to give an alternate breath of fresh life to this ever-iconic song that he covered—it features a different type of richness and vibrance and is now on the more expressive side of the spectrum. This also proves that music, even though without a lyric, can still be expressive and crazily good!
Finally, another original track from Sam Edelston is “If I Can’t Get to You,” a classic rock-and-roll piece that leans heavily on the grungy and funky side. Here, the artist has managed to showcase his versatility and style with his strong sense of instrumentality and musical character. The lyrics are also well-written and delivered, a great feature on this particularly strong debut album!
Ultimately, “Making Waves” by Sam Edelston is an interesting project that features the instrument Dulcimer. While it is true that Dulcimer is something new to our ears, Edelston has successfully highlighted its versatility and power as an instrument with a style throughout this whole collection. I can’t wait to hear more about this artist! Sam Edelston, along with his dulcimer, is something to watch out for, so don’t forget to drop by his social media pages and follow him for updates! For now, enjoy his music and stream “Making Waves,” now available on Spotify for your listening! Stream “Making Waves” now!
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About the Author
Born and raised in one of the 7000-ish islands in the Philippines, a self-proclaimed professional fangirl, with a degree in Biology. She probably annoy the people around her so much for not speaking and speaking too much. A frustrated writer, yes!
