Rivenmaster Promotions turns 13 this year! To help us celebrate this occasion, we thought we would bring back a veteran artist who not only was one of the very first to appear on the original website, but also who has continued to be one of the most successful independent artists to grace this platform.
New Zealand’s R&B artist Sam V “Sam Verlinden” was only 12 years old the first time he was showcased and still holds the record of having the most updated articles published.
Even at the tender age of 12 he had already been awarded a number of prestigious awards from various contests and performances.
Sam continued to progress in his musical skills while still enjoying being a young teen enjoying sports, and other youthful activities that encompasses any youngster’s life. He never lost hold of his dreams and vision for a musical career even while furthering his education in college.
It is for that reason, I asked Sam to write to today’s young artists who are pursuing the same dreams that Sam had at their age and share what he learned in the process of pursuing those dreams.
Sam V’s Letter to Young Artists:
Talofa lava Rivenmaster fam!
For those who aren’t familiar with my work, my name is Sam V and I’m a 24-year-old R&B artist/songwriter/director hailing from Auckland, New Zealand. Currently I manage my own music career, as well as a collective called Y$O (check us out lol).
I’ve had the privilege of being connected with “Rivenmaster/ Rod Johnson ” since I was a wee young buck. Rod took a willing interest in my work and development, and for that I am extremely grateful.
While still relatively young I thought I’d take a moment to share some of my learnings so far in the music industry.
1: Don’t wait for opportunities, make them. The most successful people I know are go-getters and highly ambitious, none of them wait for doors to be opened or platforms to be leveraged. They create their own.
For young artists apply this mindset with shows – don’t wait for a promoter to hit you up, make it happen yourself. Book a venue, learn how to promote, make mistakes. Do the same thing with releases, drop a song, promote it, send it to your mates, do it wrong, learn for next time.
2: Throw darts at the board. Sometimes the hardest thing for young artists to do is start. The anxiety around your first release, first live performance in a while, first online upload. Once you overcome your own fears and doubts, start trying things out.
You’ll notice what works/what doesn’t (examples – release strategies, skits, TikTok, pop-up shows, collabs etc etc) just try things out lol.
3. Self Belief is everything. Humility is great. You know what’s better? Self-belief. Speak your stuff and back it up. Manifest things into reality. It works lol. Most of the artists from my country I’ve wanted to work with, I’ve worked/spoken into existence.
There’s something real driving about keeping yourself accountable to things you’ve said.
4. Honour those who’ve helped you. Remember those who were there through the hard learnings & honor those people where you can. More of a sentimental nod than advice but ya know.
Anyway, if you have any questions regarding music things just flick me a bell on my IG and I’ll get back to you ASAP. Just tryna be the best or something.
Work in progress,
Sam
Big Thank you to you Sam for taking the time to do this! You’re The Best!
Rivenmaster
