From the Archives: Sam MacPherson on “Power Lines,” Van Life Dreams, and Writing Through Chaos

In 2023, rising singer-songwriter Sam MacPherson sat down with Music You’re Missing's Brendan Jeannetti fresh off his sold-out show at Boston’s iconic Café 939 at Berklee College of Music. The New Jersey native had just released his EP Power Lines, a deeply emotional project that reflected on endings, transitions, and self-discovery.

Two years later, with fans still searching for Sam MacPherson’s lyrics, interviews, and meaning behind Power Lines, this conversation remains one of the most compelling artist interviews we’ve hosted.

If you’ve ever wondered about the mind behind “Play Dumb,” the road life of an indie artist, or what it’s like to live with your manager while chasing a dream, this is your must-read.

Sam MacPherson on Naming Power Lines and Why It Mattered

“I think the song Power Lines had the most connective tissue,” Sam told us. “It felt like a lot of experiences glued and stitched and kind of papier-mâchéd together.”

The EP title didn’t come first. It emerged after a few tracks started falling into place, and Power Lines helped bring them into focus. “It seemed like the mission statement,” he said. “A convenient umbrella to pack everything under.”

For Sam, choosing that track as the title wasn’t just aesthetic. “If it didn’t work, it wouldn’t have made the cut. But it did. It said everything I wanted it to.”

The Headlining Tour: Wires, Weather, and Wow Moments

In March 2023, Sam hit the road for his first-ever headlining tour, including a stop in Boston. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect,” he said. “But people showed up. That’s all I can ask for.”

He described the experience as pleasantly surprising — a whirlwind of wires, logistics, and trying to make gear work. “We practice the songs in like a 15-minute window,” he joked.

When asked about standout venues, two came to mind: Café 939 and the legendary Troubadour in Los Angeles. “I’ve seen shows there, and it just sounds amazing,” he said. “That’s the finale of the tour, and I’m really excited for that one.”

Sam MacPherson on Writing Play Dumb and Relationship Endings

Of all the songs on Power Lines, “Play Dumb” hits the hardest — and fans still search for its lyrics and meaning. We asked Sam about the line: “So I play dumb, like I’m not watching everything we built coming undone.” “That song was born from all the times I waited too long to end something,” he admitted. “Or ended something too soon. Or was the one blindsided. I’ve been on both sides.” Now, he says, “I think I’d act more quickly. Call it like it is. But those in-between moments — those are the ones that inspire songs like this.”

Living With His Manager and Staying Creative on the Road

At the time of the interview, Sam was living in Los Angeles with his manager and roommate, Coco — a setup that kept him in constant work mode.

“It’s great,” he said, laughing. “But yeah, we’re trying to find ways to sidebar some of the work things and just be friends again.”

That dual life — of friend and professional — is common in music, and Sam was honest about the balance: “You have to reframe it. It’s not sustainable to always be on, but for now, we’re just having fun with it.”

Van Life, Spontaneity, and the Art of Chasing Songs

Sam describes himself as spontaneous — a personality trait that feeds his creativity. “I love change,” he said. “I switch things up every few years. I moved colleges halfway through. Moved to LA on a whim. I’m probably in a two-year cycle of just picking up and going.”

That impulse feeds into his writing too. “I used to wait to write. Reflect. Reframe. But now I want to shorten the time between living something and writing about it. I want to document things in real time.”

Instead of forcing songs into structure, Sam said he’s learned to chase them. “I’m not engineering it anymore. I’m letting the songs happen.”

On Genre: “I’m Genre Agnostic”

When asked if he’d ever veer far from his sound, Sam lit up: “I’m down for anything. If I sing it and believe it, I don’t care if it’s country, EDM, or whatever.”

He said his only requirement is believability. “If I listen to something and it gives me that visceral, unavoidable emotion, I’m in.”

Sam MacPherson’s Goals: Presence, Growth, and More Music

As the interview wrapped, we asked Sam what’s next. His answer was simple: “More of everything — more songs, more shows, more being present.”

“I just want to remember all of this. Support the people around me like they’ve supported me. And keep building this world we’ve started.”

Listen to the Full Sam MacPherson Interview

Stream the full episode of Music You’re Missing featuring Sam MacPherson on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.