The last time we heard from Brisbane indie artist SAMMM. was his beautiful 2020 EP 'Fresh Sheet Feeling', which featured the epic burner 'Four Eyes'.
Now SAMMM. has returned with the single 'Stronger Now' that continues his firsthand account of his experiences with addiction and his battle to overcome substance abuse.The track also maintains his sonic appreciation for jangly indie rock paired with raw, honest songwriting that creates an intense sonic experience.
"When I wrote 'Stronger Now', I was watching addiction destroy my relationships, almost as if I was viewing my life from the outside, making choices that weren't my own," SAMMM. says.
"The lyrics 'wasted youth' came out so easily because I felt that I had lost so many younger years to drugs and bad choices.
"Then I'd be face-to-face with depression and anxiety again, and drugs felt like a safe constant for me.
"I think in retrospect 'Stronger Now' is a tribute to the friends that had to give up on me because I know it's hard to support an addict in a downward spiral.
"'Stronger Now' was my mantra that I wasn't giving up on myself yet."
Here, SAMMM. delves into his love of '90s TV shows with five series he reckons are binge-worthy.
'The X-Files' (1993)
A good friend of mine very recently recommended I dive into 'The X-Files'. I was surprised that unlike most American 'crime' shows, Mulder and Scully often talk really calmly, rarely shouting at each other or over-the-top screaming.It's binge worthy for three, four episodes until you're too overloaded with conspiracy and spooks info, which throws me out of watching TV and into something more productive.
It's the only show on this list I haven't finished yet – I'm about halfway through Season 4 and just finished 'Musings Of A Cigarette Smoking Man', which will probably be my favourite episode from the series. Between poltergeists, dark matter, and witches, an episode with a slice of American history conspiracy was a fun brain burner.
For a sci-fi show from the early '90s, there's some great effects, creepy episodes, and gruesome scenes that even I struggled to get through. I started to really feel for Mulder's fixation and get caught into the conspiracy of it all.
Maybe the truth is out there?
'The Sopranos' (1999)
You know 'The Sopranos' is going to be good from the reputation alone.It needs little introduction: B-rate gangsters always competing in an uphill battle within New York City. Even if you're aware of the (in)famous ending, it's worth the journey. Keep in mind the lowest rated episode of this series is still a 7.9/10 on IMDB.
Between immaculate costuming in true late '90s style (polos, sports jackets, shiny shoes), and the unexpected plot-twisting character deaths, 'The Sopranos' quickly sucks you in.
My favourite relationship in the show is Tony's psychiatrist dancing around his illicit affairs, and the battle between the two – Tony struggles to open up, and the psych struggles with treating her own biases. There's an intriguing tension watching the tough mafioso face therapy as one of his main conflicts.
The mob have a rule that the less you know, the better, and that's true about watching 'The Sopranos' too. If you don't know what to expect, you're set for the best watching experience.
'The Wire' (2002)
Not the '90s but it's so good it needs to be on the list. 'The Wire' is a natural progression from watching 'The Sopranos'.I was hooked early by the incredibly realistic portrayal of drug use and its effect on the community – trust me, I have been there. Insensitive scenes with drugs is a big turn-off when I'm sinking into a new show. Is watching all the teens in 'Skins' get high every weekend supposed to warn the viewer or glamourise it?
'The Wire' can seem police-centred at first, but as it progresses the community becomes more fleshed out and at the centre of the plot.
It's not just battling drug use, there's plenty of corruption and alcoholism among the force – plus judicial and systemic failures. It's a little corny, but that also helps lighten the mood between a lot of tragedies.
'Curb Your Enthusiasm' (2000)
This one came out in October 2000, but it was definitely in pre-production in the '90s so I'm going to include it.For someone with social anxieties, Larry David comes across almost too relatable. I love how one bad interaction snowballs in every episode. At the risk of my own embarrassment, I can relate heavily with Larry's actions.
It's the awkward American comedy, with the earliest episodes being the standouts. There is a very sad decline, though, the more modern the show gets. Once the show is being shot in digital, it's a sign to leave and go back to 'Seinfeld' re-runs.
Larry David goes from an affable, upper-class (yet relatable) fool to an out-of-touch rich asshole. While his 'old man' problematic quirks were once the crux of the joke, in the modern age it turns unbearable.
It still makes the list though, because it's a clear-cut '90s staple (with problems and solutions from the pre-Internet era). Just keep in mind that Larry is a character to mock, rather than identify with.
'Cowboy Bebop' (1998)
The soundtrack, Spike's outfits, the aesthetic, the soundtrack. I first watched 'Cowboy Bebop' as a teen as my gateway to my first anime. (Currently finishing off 'Naruto' for the first time too).'Bebop' is perfect neo-noir bundled into a succinct single season. It's somehow both incredibly '90s but simultaneously timeless. The jazz music, the dialogue, the sci-fi setting, and tense relationships. It's a nostalgia train.
Since so much is unspoken you can believe what you like, or delve into all the backstories online to find sense in it all.
I will always be down for a conversation about 'Cowboy Bebop' as long as you don't bring up the live action. See you later, Space Cowboy.
