This week we caught up with Sam Clarke, lead singer of the band Avarice and student at Newcastle College University Centre. Sam studies BA (Hons) Music Production and alongside his band has just released his first album Sanctify on Newcastle College's in-house label PushPuzzle.

Name: Sam Clarke

Course: BA (Hons) Music Performance, first year.

Role in the band: Vocalist

Who are you inspired by and why? My main inspirations are Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge), M Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold) and Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour). I am inspired by them because despite having very different styles of both singing and writing, they have an unparalleled amount of expression and nuance to their voices and in their lyrics. They are all instantly recognisable for their singing and that is something that I aspire to achieve.

What advice would you give to your 16 year-old self?
I’d advise myself to put a lot more time in to practicing. I’ve always been lazy when it comes to practicing and it has held me back at times due to me not being at the level I should be at, both with singing and guitar. I’d also tell myself to just have a bit more confidence in writing music, it’s not easy and it comes with a lot of practice and effort so it’s best to try and write as much as possible.

What has been the best part of your course?
The best part of the course is learning about the different aspects of the music industry, because it has given me a better understanding of how the industry works and how to maximise your chances of being successful, which has greatly helped with our band and this release.

Tell us what you are most excited about for your upcoming album release?
I am most excited simply for people to hear the songs. We have put a lot of time and effort into this release and it has been a long time coming so I am just excited for people to finally hear what we have been working on.

Tell us something that has positively surprised you while working on this project?
I have been surprised by the amount of positive feedback we have had during this process. We have always been confident with our songs and our playing ability but the response we have had from those that have heard the songs has been very encouraging. Receiving this feedback has made us work even harder on our newer material because we want to keep improving.

If you were stuck on a desert island and could take only 3 albums – which 3 would you choose?
- One Day Remains – Alter Bridge
- Help! – The Beatles
- Master of Puppets – Metallica

What is the best thing about college for you?
The ability to network and meet people who like similar music. It’s also a place where I’ve been given lots of opportunities I may have never had if I hadn’t been at college.

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Make sure to check out Avarice's new releases, which are available to download on Spotify.