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Samuel Beam. (aka Iron and Wine). Singer/Songwriter. Attended school at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA to become a painter. Became focused more on photography than painting.
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Samuel Beam (aka Iron and Wine)
Attended school at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA to become a painter • Became focused more on photography than painting • This interest led him to Florida State University where he studied Cinematography and subsequently met his wife • Sam graduated from Florida State University Film School with a Master of Fine Arts degree • Born: July 26th, 1974 • He then went on to be a professor of film and cinematography at the University of Miami • Raised in Irmo, South Carolina
Iron and Wine **“Beam's storytelling songs were filled with images of creek beds and meadows, cats and dogs and snakes and birds.” The songs of Iron and Wine are poetic and tell of stories of religion and the land. **Anthony Carew, About.com article Sam always had an interest in music but never thought of the possibility of a career. His songs are more poetic, and include writing about the culture in which he grew up as well as the landscape of South Carolina. **“Going back home to visit my parents, the landscape —both the cultural landscape and the geography— is a big influence” Sam often writes about love and longing, death and heaven, animals and nature.
Sam used a four track recorder to record many of his songs at home He played all of the instruments in his songs by recording the different tracks and then editing them together Sam eventually felt good enough about his music that he made some copies for friends with no intention of being famous However a friend of his passed his album on to Sub Pop, a record label that became interested in him. Sam got his name from a bottle of beef, iron and wine supplements he saw in a general store His soft whisper voice is due to his recording in his home after his wife and daughter had gone to bed
While most of the songs are written and performed by Sam himself several now, since signing with Sub Pop, have the help of other musicians including back up vocals by his sister, Sarah Beam. When Sam performs he may us anywhere from zero to six back up players Iron and Wine has toured in many cities around the country as well as Europe During his performances Iron and Wine seems to take over the audience and stupors them into a hushed reverence, while he stands alone and sings many songs A cappella and occasionally brings out his back up to play instruments ranging from the acoustic guitar, upright bass, slide guitar, accordion, tympani drums, and a piano.
The first album, The Creek Drank the Cradle, was released in 2002 with the Sub Pop Label Our Endless Numbered Days is the second album by Iron and Wine. It was released in 2004 The Shepherd’s Dog is the third album released. This album was voted one of the ten best for 2007 by Paste Magazine
Kiss Each Other Clean is the fourth and most recent album, it was release January 2011 With each album released Sam tries to create a different sound to avoid making the same record that he has already released. He has stated that he would rather make mistakes than create the same sound twice. For him music is an art, it is a hobby and something that he has always enjoyed doing.
Sam also has had several of his songs appear in movies such as Garden State and Twilight as well as in television shows like Grey’s Anatomy, House, M.D., and Friday Night Lights.
The Trapeze Swinger • Was recorded in 2004 for the film In Good Company • Included in the album Around the Well, released in 2009 • The song was produced and recorded by Sub Pop Records • This song was influenced by the movie it was written for • Sam tried to stay close to the events of the movie while keeping his traditional poetic writing The song goes back to different memories even from as early as childhood referencing a strong friendship
Flightless Bird, American Mouth The second song I chose is another great one that appears in the movie Twilight and has become a sensation as a romantic love song. Although reading the lyrics it is probably more about the longing of a cat to find a flightless bird than the love between two people. The song is called Flightless Bird, American Mouth and was released in 2007 on the album The Shepherd’s Dog and is again produced and recorded by Sub Pop records. Sam refers a lot to life being his influences for his songs including both happy and sad things. He finds a way to incorporate poems into songs and this song is definitely one that can be read as a poem but put into a song creates a whole new meaning with a lot for the listener to fill in.
“The Trapeze Swinger” 0:00 Intro – Here the song is introduced with the soft clinking of metal wind chimes as well as a strong guitar strum in major. The sound is very repetitive and upbeat with a harmony that leads you into something that feels happy. 0:28 Bridge – Voices and drums are introduced along with the chimes and guitar. There are no words at this point but the voice brings in a harmonic hum. The pulse of the drums has a constant beat that fits right into the harmony of the humming voice. 0:53 Verse I – the vocals begin with a soft dynamic that keeps an easy harmony. The form of the song remains repetitive with a melody that is consonance. 1:44 Verse II – begins with the addition of new instruments. The main sound of the song as well as the lyrics still remains repetitive. However a somewhat different sound begins with the addition of a slide guitar and bass. The rhythm is a bit more upbeat with a slightly faster tempo. 2:35 Verse III - The verse again is repetitive beginning with the first same line as each verse before. The texture of the song at this point is very strong with many different melodies. 3:27 Verse IV – This verse uses the deep sound of a bass slide guitar often which provides the music with its own style. The cyclical melody continues with the soft whisper of the voice. 4:18 Verse V – During this verse a new rhythm with the guitar comes in that creates kind of a dissonance sound.
5:09 Verse VI – This next verse again begins with the same first line, continuing with the same repetitive harmony. 5:59 Verse VII – This next verse begins and a new sound is added in giving the song very layered texture. This new sound is dissonance and throws off the harmony a bit. 6:50 Verse VIII – This verse begins with an added sound from the piano to replace the melody that was from the guitar. The piano sound adds a different rhythm to the song by making what sounds like a retrograde melody. 7:41 Closing – Here the last verse ends and the sounds goes back to a humming voice layered with many different textures and sounds from the different instruments used. The piano is still in place with a dissonance sound. 8:57 Ending – The song is slowly coming to an end but one last sound of a wood instrument is added that provides the song with an African music feeling that leaves you feeling content.
“Flightless Bird, American Mouth” 0:00 Intro – The song starts right out with verse I, with the whisper quiet voice of the artist and a soft repetitive melody in the background that includes the guitar and tambourine. The rhythm is easy for the listener to find. 0:37 Chorus – Here the chorus does a crescendo with the vocals but then becomes very soft at the end. The melody has a nice texture that brings everything together nicely. 1:15 Verse II – This verse continues from the soft chorus and right into a strong melody and vocals. The pulse of the beat is strong and easily found. The sound during this verse is solid and emotional. The timbre between the instruments is strong enough for you to notice each one but they play together in a nice harmony. 1:53 Chorus – With no breaks in the song we are led right into the last chorus. The music is still very decisive and strong. The rhythm allows you to feel the passion within the music. 2:36 Ending – From here there are no more words however the instruments as well as the singers voice adding ooh’s and aah’s combine a wonderful harmony that is strong and fervent. The song the slowly tapers off and comes to a close.
Works Cited Carew, Anthony. The Bearded Bard, About.com Artist Profile. Web. 21 Feb. 2012 < http://altmusic.about.com/od/artists/a/ironandwine.htm> Carew, Anthony. Interview with Sam Beam of Iron and Wine. About.com guide. 16 Dec. 2010. < http://altmusic.about.com/od/interviews/a/Interview-Sam-Beam-Of-Iron-And-Wine.htm> Harris, Sophie. Interview with Sam Beam of Iron and Wine. Time Out New York. 21 Jan. 2011 < http://newyork.timeout.com/music-nightlife/music/713185/interview-sam-beam-of-iron-wine> Ruehl, Kim. Iron and Wine. About.com guide Web. 21 Feb. 2012 < http://folkmusic.about.com/od/artistsaj/p/IronandWine.htm> Morgenstern, Hans. “Iron Man.” Broward Palm Beach New Times 3 Oct. 2002 Web. < http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2002-10-03/music/iron-man/> Gross, Joe. Folk Hero. Austin 360. 26 Sept. 2007 Web. 21 Feb. 2012 <http://www.austin360.com/music/content/music/stories/xl/2007/09/0927xlcover.html> Morgentstern, Hans. Iron and Wine Preview Evolving sound at Fillmore, Miami Beach. 22 Nov. 2010. Web. 21 Feb 2012. < http://indieethos.wordpress.com/tag/sam-beam/> Iron and Wine Bio. Web 21 Feb. 2012. < http://www.ironandwine.com/bio/>
