sam huntington — INTERVIEWS

Sam and I first met a few years ago through mutual friends on the party circuit -- it was a time when we were all at the peak of our "intense going out" phase, before he and I had gone out and started our own projects, and it was a time of careless fun. Flash forward a couple years later and Sam, now the frontman of Mobile Steam Unit, a band he helped conceive in Jan 2014, has been touring around the country and is about to release his second EP with MSU. Get to know more about Sam, his NYC life, and what lies ahead for this on-the-rise rocker in his Cult Chat below>>

WHY NEW YORK CITY?

I'm a native son, so it feels inevitable that I always end up back in New York.

THE CITY NEVER SLEEPS...WHAT TIME DID YOU GET TO BED LAST NIGHT?

I went to bed around 11 with ice packs on my knees and a smile on my face. I play in a basketball league on Monday nights (hence the ice) which usually has me heading to bed at a reasonable hour, plus my band Mobile Steam Unit has a huge show tonight. Had to make sure the battery was fully juiced.

PLAY HOST FOR US... WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE US FOR

COFFEE - (for the road): Cafe Vita; (to stay, aka to accompany hours of laptop bullshitting): Why Not Coffee

DINNER - Le French Diner

COCKTAILS - Yerba Buena

PARTYING - Baby's All Right

WHO ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

Basking in the Phil Collinsian wonder of Benny Sing's new record Studio. Exploring the Stone Temple Pilots catalogue. Getting pumped for Gabriel Garzon-Montano this Friday @ Baby's.

ANY CREATIVES YOU WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH?

Just last week Mobile Steam Unit had the privilege of recording a single with Julian Fader and Carlos Hernandez of Ava Luna, one of my favorite BK bands (everyone reading this go listen to Billz). It was a treat to work with them and I'm very excited about the song we did.

FAVORITE PROJECT SO FAR?

We've got a new EP coming out this Christmas which was largely composed during a weekend of intensive jazz improvisation and laptop exploration in the Catskill Mountains. There's a rawness about it that speaks to me, and the voice is soothing.

DREAM DINNER PARTY -- WHICH 7 GUESTS WOULD YOU INVITE?

Soren Kierkagaard, Paul McCartney, Pochahontas, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Wendell Berry, Thom Yorke.

ARE YOU A REGULAR ANYWHERE?

I'm big on Dimes. Try to get there once a week.

WHAT'S YOUR SIGNATURE LOOK?

I don't shop regularly, but when I do I buy sweats.

FAVORITE SPOT?

The North Brooklyn Industrial Business Zone. I love to ride my bike there at night.

DO YOU HAVE A MUSE?

I guess I gotta go with Thom Yorke here: his exasperation about current affairs feeds a songwriting machine (namely the full band) that creates music which, at its best, is both thematically and sonically vital.

NYC FOREVER?

I reserve the right to become depleted by the ceaseless mania of NYC and relocate to Mongolia or Copenhagen.

MOTTO YOU LIVE BY?

"I want you to get up now—out of your seats." –Network

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AND WHERE CAN WE SEE IT?

MSU has been very busy these last two months, on the road playing live shows across the Northeast and working on new recordings. We have a huge show tonight at 10pm (Tuesday) @ Mercury Lounge, it will be the last performance of 2015 and the final show with our beloved bass player Aaron Younce, who is relocating to New Orleans for an undetermined period.