Our readers have shown extraordinary interest in a news piece about an Australian singer, Sammi Palinkas. Sammi has recently released a new single. Her new song, “Let Your Hair Down,” is a catchy, hit-worthy creation that even listeners less familiar with country music will find appealing. We requested an interview with the artist, and she graciously accepted immediately.
First and foremost, thank you very much for the opportunity. Is this the first interview you are giving for a Hungarian language media?
Yes, this is the first time I’ve been interviewed by a Hungarian publication and it’s very exciting to be able to connect with the Hungarian community around the world!
You’ve been working on a new country album and have released several singles in recent times. This must involve a lot of work. How much of your time is taken up by being a musician and engaging with music?
It takes up a lot of my time! I write songs with co-writers in Nashville and the US from 6am during the week, then there’s social media, content creation, music videos, photo shoots, PR commitments, meetings, shows, guitar and singing practice, preparation for writing songs – the “to do” list never ends, but I really love it!
It’s completely clear to me that your passion is music. This is felt in every song, every lyric, and every stage performance. What fuels this passion? What do you love the most about being a recognized country star?
I love music because it is a way to connect with and reach people. I love how a good song can tell me how I’m feeling, sometimes before I’m able to work it out myself! There’s a special art in that. This is also why I love writing songs both by myself and as a co-writer, and the reason I love the storytelling writing style typical of country music. When I’m performing those songs I write, I love to see the real-time audience reaction that happens when I’m on a stage. There’s nothing quite like connecting with people in that way, and see people sing those lyrics back to you!
When do you plan to release the album? Will it be available in physical form (CD, LP) as well? Several of our South American readers have asked this. Do you plan to release more singles before the album’s release?
I am currently recording my debut album with award-winning Australian Country Producer Rod McCormack, and we are on the home stretch! An album represents a chapter to me, so making sure I have a body of work that accurately reflects that chapter is really important to me. I plan to release it around the middle of this year (all going to plan), and I have a few more singles to release before then too! it will be available for purchase digitally and in CD format (I may do an LP run too!). I will also have merchandise available for purchase soon too – I’ve just approved the first design, so watch this space!
Our Hungarian readers feel a special affinity for you since your surname is Hungarian. Krisztina – who is also an artist – from the United States has asked us a clear question: Sammi, do you speak any Hungarian? It’s a remarkably difficult language, and it’s not at all obvious that someone would learn it despite their Hungarian roots.
I can’t say I have learnt Hungarian (yet!) but I can say a handful of words and count to ten! I learnt two languages at school and university growing up – Japanese and French. My Father and Grandmother both speak Hungarian and have done for as long as I remember. They were both born in Hungary, and moved to Australia when my Dad was 6 years old.
Budapest’s music scene is outstanding across Europe. Zoltán from Budapest asks: have you ever visited Hungary? And we would just add: do you plan to perform in the Hungarian capital at some point in the future?
I haven’t been to Hungary but I would love to go – if I could perform a show there this would be really special! Over the years I’ve spent most of my time overseas writing songs in the US, but I would love to get back to Europe at some stage especially to visit Hungary. Maybe you can all give me some tips on where I should go for some great live music !
(www.sammimusic.com)
Anna, a 13-year-old school student from Buenos Aires, asks what do you do when you are not performing as a musician? Do you have any hobbies or other activities?
I do have hobbies outside of music! I play golf – mostly with my Mum and Dad. I love being able to spend some time with them doing something we all enjoy. I live really close to a beach so I also like really long walks down there to keep fit, and I love reading.
Following Anna’s question – since it’s evident that your career inspires the younger audience as well – are you aware that your early career stands as an example for thousands of young girls worldwide? What message do you have for them?
This question brought a tear to my eye in the loveliest way. I love that I inspire young people, that’s such a nice way to be thought of. I have worked hard consistently from a very young age to follow my dreams. There are so many messages I have for young people (my song “Don’t Blink” is full of them too)! The biggest one would be – don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. If you really want to achieve something, work hard and find a way. Never give up on something you love!
You started singing at a very young age, 3, and achieved significant success by winning a television singing competition at the age of 8. How did you handle the success at such a young age – especially at 8?
I grew up on stage and my Mum made sure I stayed very grounded (she still does!). I went to school (unless I was being schooled on set for something) and went about life like a normal child. I still had to eat what was put on my plate at dinner time, do the dishes, etc. like anyone else. I think where it was challenging was when it came to parties and events outside of school the clashed with dancing, singing or performing. That said, my parents have always been so supportive and always gave me the option to quit if I wanted to… I couldn’t, I loved what I was doing way too much.
It seems quite clear even to observers living continents away that you were considered a child star from a very young age. How did you experience this as a child? How did your schoolmates view you at school?
I never saw myself like that to be honest – I was just a child who grew up in the Entertainment industry, and I’ve always been grateful for any opportunity that led to doing more of what I love the most. School was interesting. I remember when I won the television competition, my first day back at school there were kids lined up outside of school to carry my schoolbag, which was very funny. They brought the whole primary school together to watch me win the competition on TV. When I was in shows and off doing things people were mostly nice and inquisitive about what I was doing, but I did get bullied a bit for it as well which was challenging at times (especially when I went to school with my hair in rollers on a Friday!).
Your parents must be incredibly proud of you. How stressful was it for them to handle your early success?
They are, which makes me so happy – I’m so grateful to have the support I do from my Mum, Dad and sister. I think the most stressful thing for them was the driving! I did so much that they were constantly driving me all over Victoria (and sometimes flying interstate with me) to do different things, all hours of the day and night.
Was the transition from child star to adult singer a natural part of your development process for you? How did your musical world evolve during this journey, and which genres and artists had a significant impact on you?
My musical journey has been an interesting one. I was brought up on a wide range of Artists from Shirley Bassey and Judy Garland, to Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton! As a child I was involved in a lot of Musical Theatre which then progressed to Big Band and Jazz for many years I saw it really start to shift when I started writing songs, which came about when my music lawyer saw me writing poems in the studio I was working out of in my late teens. When I started writing songs my lyrics took on a natural rhythm and I was good at formulating hooky vocal melodic lines, all of which really leant itself to the Pop genre. I then went on to wrote Pop for many years with established/award-winning songwriters and Producers for many years between LA, NY & Australia.
As I grew up and got some life experience under my belt, the messages I wanted to convey as an artist and songwriter steered me toward the storytelling lyric style typical of the country genre. I’ve always told young artists that I mentor to “listen to how you write songs because it will tell you who you are as an artist”, and I did exactly that! I love the country genre, I feel right at home as an artist for the first time in my career, and I especially love the clever hooks and melodic lines in the writing style, and how organic a lot of the production and instrumentation is! I fell in love with 90s/2000s Country when Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood became household names. A lot of my sound is influenced by that time in Country music!
You sing in English, which has the largest market in the world for music. Country is fundamentally an American genre. Do you wish to build a career in the United States and perform for the audience there?
Having spent so much in the US writing songs, I’d love to have a real go at the US market and build a career over there. I have performed at Writers Rounds in Nashville and sung at the Bluebird Café, and I’d love do full shows and tours over there. All that said, Australia is now the third biggest country market in the world behind the US and Canada, and with the likes of contemporary artists (Beyonce, Lana Del Rey, Post Malone) and country artists like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson bringing so much attention to the genre – who knows what the world holds for the popularity of country music over the next few years! I’m excited to see what the future holds!
As absurd as it might seem today, can you imagine ever singing a song in Hungarian? Or perhaps trying yourself in another genre – just for the sake of a single song or a duet?
Never say never but I have experimented so much over the years with different genres, and my heart is really at home in the country genre! If I built enough of a fanbase out of Hungary, who knows – maybe I could try something in the native language one day! It would be a great challenge for me as an artist!
Where do you see Sammi Palinkas in one, five, and ten years? What do you wish to achieve as a musician and as a person?
I’d like to be a well-respected artist (and person), and someone who inspires others to work hard and live their dreams. As an artist I’d like to grow, evolve, and really reach and connect with people. I have some big dreams – stadiums I’d like to play, writers I’d like to work with, tours I’d love to be part of, and awards I’d love to be considered for … You’re only ever as good as your last move, and there’s always going to be something new I want to achieve. I figure if I shoot for the moon with my dreams, surely, I have to land somewhere amongst the stars!
Thank you very much for making yourself available for this interview despite your busy schedule. On behalf of all our readers, I wish you great success in your musical career!
ARTIST LINKS
- Streaming link
- Artist website & LinkTree
- YouTube
- Tik Tok
- Twitter/X
- Apple Music
- Spotify
- Amazon Music
(Dél-amerikai Magyar Hírlap / Francesco Silvai, the head of the culture section)