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SASHA and SAM are performing at St James’ Music Hall this weekend. Gilbert Calleja met with this musical couple for a chat. 
The setting of the gig is a very intimate one. While Sasha is musically speaking ‘reinventing the wheel’ to suit her needs, Sam came up from the opposite side of the road. He took up formal tuition studying classical music under the guidance of various Maltese teachers and finishing off his studies abroad. He came back to Malta thinking he had nothing much to do on his hands. That was the time when he met Sasha. Their wonderful music coupled with dim lights and a glass of wine on stage, the performance will be very reminiscent of the ambience that Sasha and Sam are used to offering their audiences. So whether you are the romantic type or the cynical one, philosophical, sceptical or believing, do not miss a memorable evening.
So, who are you then?
Sam: I wish I could give you an answer the likes of Sri Ramana Maharishi or Salman Rushdie but keeping it simple, I’m Sam. I’ve been playing the piano since I can remember and I want to die playing it. I can be very moody, which is very good for my inspiration but very bad for my salvation… when I’m in a bad mood… if you get my drift. I’m very sensitive to other people’s moods and feelings. I get a taste of what vibe they’re in if they’re in the same room as me – doesn’t mean I am always capable of empathising with them – empathy depends on a lot of factors anyway.
Sasha: I don’t know. I think it’s some sort of ongoing process, and it’s nice to wonder how you’d react to situations you have to face and then maybe one can start to learn who they are. The past few years have shown me that so many things can change and naturally so do we, maybe not actually change but grow. Classic case of living-and-learning but it’s not always that easy. Another important thing are principles which we all have and maybe that is something that I know about myself for sure.
OK, let me rephrase the question: what do you do in life?
Sam: I work for my father, or rather, my father works for me: it’s not the first time that I go playing abroad and I call back home, “Ma, I’m staying here for a few months… wha…? Can’t hear you…” [mimics sound of phone off the hook]. Then a few emails are swapped, a few months go by and you see my father picking me up at the airport again.
Sasha: I’m a graphic designer by trade, I also carve stone as a hobby. I had a wine bar for the past three years but I’m now back into graphics and in the future, the web.
When did you meet?
Sam: Sasha and I met in October 2004. The details of how I got to know “she actually plays the guitar” are best left unsaid for now. But we met some years back at Juuls, Sasha’s bar.
Sasha: I first saw Sam at Maestro in Valletta, playing a jazzy tune and I thought straight away about how beautifully and how effortlessly he played. He then turned up at Juuls, my wine bar, a few days later in October 2004 saying that my mum had spoke to him because she thought that we should meet, so I definitely have my mum to thank for that. He then took me to his garage where I started to play a song and from the first note he played, I knew I was hooked totally.
Have you got a reason for ‘writing songs’ or any particular message behind your work?
Sam: I have a lot to say and words often fail me. I resort to playing the piano instead – the keyboard is the canvas on which I paint a calm scene bit by bit when I’m serene, sometimes it acts like a valve that releases the stormier moods on my bad days. Other times I ask myself questions about life or things that happen to me and I just play. The beauty of music is that it is a sequential art – a piece of music can change from a contemplative mood in the beginning, to one that sounds like ‘quiet resolve’ or starting out as fiery when I’m angry and ending up on calmer tones once I’ve let it all out. That is the reason for playing and writing songs. Now the ‘particular message’ bit… there was once a nice chap who was crucified just because he told us to love each other a little bit more, you know? If JC was here today he would probably die in a car ‘accident’ – I’m being sarcastic of course.
Sasha: There’s always the element of expression I suppose, but it’s like when I read a book – I enjoy it the most when it’s a book about life, real life. Things that happen to all of us and by reading that, one obviously associates to some extent. Maybe a part of me says, “phew! I’m not alone” so I think I hope that by writing songs, lyrics and music, people can maybe feel something different or maybe look at a situation from a different perspective. I feel my lyrics are important because it’s your mood that creates the inspiration from experiences whether it’s love, fear, uncertainty…
Who writes the lyrics? Were you inspired by anyone in particular?
Sam: Sasha writes the lyrics.
Sasha: I write the lyrics, again inspired by people, situations, love, the world… inspired by the difference in people and even though we all know that, “thank God we’re all different!”, they can be very hard to accept. Inspired by people who want to be better and even though we make mistakes, it’s learning to accept that within ourselves and get up and carry on.
How did you prepare for the concert?
Sam: Many people will be scarred for life if I answer that question. I’m talking about bureaucrats. Some people really wanted to be helpful but could not because someone else was too lazy to make a darned five-second phone call to say, “Go ahead with that. Bye.” Literally.
Sasha: Apart from the obvious rehearsals and loads of coffee, Sam handled everything. He was great! He got everything organised. Posters, flyers, press, he put up with a lot of bureaucracy and whatever we needed, he did.
Tell me about your future plans/projects.
Sam: We have a gig in France coming up in February. After that, Sasha goes to Belgium, Frankie goes to Hollywood and Sam goes back to Malta until Sasha finalises some details with some people who are interested in our music back in Belgium.
Sasha: I am moving to Belgium. The most important reason being that I want to join my partner there. The other is that we hope to work on our music. Some people have shown interest and seem quite keen but nothing is certain yet. All I know for sure is that I leave to Belgium in a week. Ideally it would be great to write songs not necessarily for all the fame and all that goes with it but just to be able to write songs as an actual means to pay your bills and not have to juggle your music into the few free hours you have between jobs.
Any hopes for the future?
Sam: A slight variation on a Benjamin Franklin quote – if you want to make history, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about. I don’t want to make history. If I do, well and good, but at least I want to leave a mark saying, “Sam was here,” before I turn to dust again.
Sasha: Yes, that we all realise that we can get on better and of course that my lyrics mean something to someone.
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