Sam Wolfson

Writer — London

01Profile

A Sam Wolfson Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
I’m Sam Wolfson from London

What do you do?
I’m Executive Editor at VICE and a writer.

Describe your style in three words:
Oof, I guess: Second-divorce dad

What is your all-time favourite gig?
I think either Blur at Glastonbury, the first time they reformed, or Watch the Throne at the Birmingham NEC. 

What was the last album you bought?
I’m a music journalist with an Apple Music account. I don’t really buy albums.

Most meaningful lyrics to inspire change?
Confidence Boost by Trim and James Blake, a song that could inspire a generation.

Look, strike a pose
If you don't care how deep he rolls
Strike a pose
Girl, if you know you look good in your clothes
Strike a pose
And if you've got issues and you don't care who knows
Strike a pose, strike a pose
It's your show, strike a pose
If you've worked hard for what's yours and you know
That your name's on your rentbook or bought or mortgaged home
Strike a pose
Also, if you had a dad or mum and not both
Strike a pose
If you was brought up in a foster home with no pops to phone
Strike a pose
If people only phone you when they want something
But when it's vice versa they don't wanna know
Strike a pose
If they talk behind your back
But to your face they're as good as gold
Strike a pose
If you're as good as road Niked out, hoodie's low
Strike a pose

04Playlist Notes

What was the first song you played on repeat?
I think Tribute by Tenacious D. I remember going to see them when I was about 11. They skated a dragon on stage.

What music defines the teenage you?
The Libertines, Regina Spektor, and The Rat by The Walkmen.

A song from your favourite album?
What, my favourite album ever? I think probably Like A Pen by The Knife, off Silent Shout, a record that came out 10 years ago and still doesn’t sound like anything else.

A song you wish you had written?
More Than Words by Extreme. I lived a few very debauched weeks in Paris once and we would play it every night.

A British icon that has inspired you?
I felt very moved by the books of Mark Fisher, a writer on culture and capitalism who passed away earlier this year.

What was the last piece of music you bought?
God it would have been a long time ago. I think it was when I saw a copy of Rihanna’s almost-forgotten debut album Music of The Sun in Amoeba Records in LA and had to have it.

Best song to bring people together?
I go through phases with songs I always want to put on when I get an aux cord in the Uber but at the moment it’s definitely There Must Be An Angel by the Eurythmics.

Best love song of all time?
This is impossibly difficult, but I think either Drunk in Love by Beyonce, I Would Rather Go Blind by Etta James or Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
As you can probably tell my music taste is quite erratic so there’s not much people don’t expect from me. There is a song called “Punk Rock Princess” by this old piano-based emo band I was very into when I was 14. I would never tell anyone about it, but occasionally I put it on and it makes me immensely happy.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
I’m Sam Wolfson from London

What do you do?
I’m Executive Editor at VICE and a writer.

Describe your style in three words:
Oof, I guess: Second-divorce dad

What is your all-time favourite gig?
I think either Blur at Glastonbury, the first time they reformed, or Watch the Throne at the Birmingham NEC. 

What was the last album you bought?
I’m a music journalist with an Apple Music account. I don’t really buy albums.

Most meaningful lyrics to inspire change?
Confidence Boost by Trim and James Blake, a song that could inspire a generation.

Look, strike a pose
If you don't care how deep he rolls
Strike a pose
Girl, if you know you look good in your clothes
Strike a pose
And if you've got issues and you don't care who knows
Strike a pose, strike a pose
It's your show, strike a pose
If you've worked hard for what's yours and you know
That your name's on your rentbook or bought or mortgaged home
Strike a pose
Also, if you had a dad or mum and not both
Strike a pose
If you was brought up in a foster home with no pops to phone
Strike a pose
If people only phone you when they want something
But when it's vice versa they don't wanna know
Strike a pose
If they talk behind your back
But to your face they're as good as gold
Strike a pose
If you're as good as road Niked out, hoodie's low
Strike a pose

04Playlist Notes

What was the first song you played on repeat?
I think Tribute by Tenacious D. I remember going to see them when I was about 11. They skated a dragon on stage.

What music defines the teenage you?
The Libertines, Regina Spektor, and The Rat by The Walkmen.

A song from your favourite album?
What, my favourite album ever? I think probably Like A Pen by The Knife, off Silent Shout, a record that came out 10 years ago and still doesn’t sound like anything else.

A song you wish you had written?
More Than Words by Extreme. I lived a few very debauched weeks in Paris once and we would play it every night.

A British icon that has inspired you?
I felt very moved by the books of Mark Fisher, a writer on culture and capitalism who passed away earlier this year.

What was the last piece of music you bought?
God it would have been a long time ago. I think it was when I saw a copy of Rihanna’s almost-forgotten debut album Music of The Sun in Amoeba Records in LA and had to have it.

Best song to bring people together?
I go through phases with songs I always want to put on when I get an aux cord in the Uber but at the moment it’s definitely There Must Be An Angel by the Eurythmics.

Best love song of all time?
This is impossibly difficult, but I think either Drunk in Love by Beyonce, I Would Rather Go Blind by Etta James or Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
As you can probably tell my music taste is quite erratic so there’s not much people don’t expect from me. There is a song called “Punk Rock Princess” by this old piano-based emo band I was very into when I was 14. I would never tell anyone about it, but occasionally I put it on and it makes me immensely happy.

 

05Videos

The 100 Club

"The successful fight to save the 100 Club proves that the death of small clubs is not inevitable, but the struggle will not be easy. Nor should it be, the night has never been a right, it’s always required a fight."

In Praise Of The Toilet Circuit / The Spirit Of The Independent Music Venue