Sam Himself

"Switzerland's King of Tears!" - Victoria Turrian, Radio Télévision Suisse

"His deep, rich vocals remind us of the beauty that exists even during the darkest times." - The Wild Honeypie

(New York, NY – October 24th, 2025) - Swiss-American alt/indie rocker Sam Himself shares his much-anticipated new album Moonsongs, marking his third full-length release and the latest evolution of his distinctive, self-declared “Fondue Western” sound. Recorded with longtime producer Daniel Schlett (Iggy Pop, The War on Drugs) and mastered by Greg Calbi (Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie), Moonsongs strips down to the emotional core of Sam’s songwriting, by turns confidently minimalist and cinematically atmospheric – and intimately evocative throughout.

Following the release of album singles “Dance With Me”, “Backstreets”, “Perfect Strangers” and, most recently, “Pale Moon” (Sept. 26th), Moonsongs promises a collection of tracks that explore homecomings, departures, and the quiet spaces in between. The album is a testimony to the artist coming into his own, showcasing his versatility as a songwriter and a vocalist. Moonsongs ranges from soaring anthems to whispered confessionals, guided and unified by Sam’s signature voice and the distinctive production style he, together with producer Schlett, has been honing over the last five years since he first entered onto the international stage. The result reflects the life changes of all kinds and sizes that ultimately added up to a period of significant personal transformation for the artist.

Written between his native Switzerland and his longtime home in Brooklyn, the album captures a dual sense of belonging and displacement. Rather than attempting to resolve this tension, Moonsongs surrenders to life’s ambiguities with integrity, grace and the sort of vulnerability only true confidence can afford. Sam weaves together threads of indie rock, folk, and post-punk into a sound that’s both intimate and expansive, calling to mind the emotional resonance of The National, Bon Iver, and Jeff Buckley, as he continues to carve a path uniquely his own.

Sam’s evocative style and cinematic sound have recently gained recognition on major platforms, including the soundtrack for HBO Max’s And Just Like That. Critics continue to compare his artistry to icons like Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie, with connections further underscored by Sam’s longtime mastering engineer, Greg Calbi, who has worked with both legends.

In support of Moonsongs, the two-time Swiss Music Awards nominee will embark on an international tour starting in February. Performances will include a mix of full-band shows, trio sets, and solo appearances, kicking off in Switzerland.

Sam Himself's music was previously featured on KCRW and KEXP, as well as numerous stations and platforms in Europe and beyond. In support of his most recent effort, Sam toured internationally and collaborated with the Symphony Orchestra of his native Basel, Switzerland.

In 2023, Sam Himself shared his second album, Never Let Me Go (Jan. 27, 2023 via Sony). The ten-track LP marked another collaboration between Sam Himself and his longtime producer / ‘Second Beatle,’ Daniel Schlett and mastering engineer Greg Calbi (David Bowie; Bruce Springsteen); it also featured Chris Egan (Solange; Blood Orange) on drums and Josh Werner on bass.

To dress for the occasion, Sam teamed up with Swiss fashion house YVY for a signature line of Sam Himself Buckle Trousers. The brand counts Madonna and Billie Eilish among its fans, according to the New York Times.

It's love at first sight when Sam Koechlin moves to New York in the early 2010s with dreams of pursuing music – and the rude awakenings to match: Sam’s fascination for the city isn't exactly requited at first, so he embarks on a number of musical adventures, attends college and works odd jobs before finally launching his solo project, Sam Himself, in 2016. The name is born out of necessity and a Brooklyn concert promoter's ill-timed sense of humor: when the other member of a short-lived musical duo fails to show up for a gig one night, the remaining half is introduced to the crowd simply as "Sam… himself!" Newly solo, Sam connects with producer and mixing engineer Daniel Schlett, whom the artist affectionately dubs his 'Second Beatle’ in homage to the Fab Four’s indispensable George Martin; their creative partnership lasts to this day.

In late 2021, Sam Himself’s debut album Power Ballads, a “well-crafted set of atmospheric post-punk” (KEXP), broke the artist onto the international stage: KCRW revealed that Power Ballads single La Paz was a Top Ten fan favorite within the station's Today’s Top Tune segment. As recently as June 2023, the song was included in the soundtrack of HBO Max’s show And Just Like That (S2E02).

Prior to Power Ballads, Sam was already making a name for himself and his “smokey baritone vocals” (Under The Radar) with Slow Drugs (2020), the EP he released shortly after the outbreak of COVID-19. The artist was touring in Europe when the pandemic pulled the plug on live music - and Sam's return to New York City, his chosen home of the previous decade. The shock and solitude of that experience shaped Power Ballads, on which Sam performed and recorded most instruments himself from a variety of DYI home studios.

In the fall of 2023, Sam Himself served up his Fondue Western™️ sound in German for the first time: to celebrate his showcase at the Reeperbahn Festival, he covered "Eisbär" by Grauzone. The arctic cool original version by the Swiss post-punk heroes (including the now internationally renowned solo artist Stephan Eicher) was released in 1981; today, Eisbär is considered a classic of New German Wave. Far from being a disdainful homage, Sam's cover reveals the longing and melancholy of the polar bear hidden beneath its fur, without resorting to pathos or irony - or being intimidated by the cult status of the original. Sam Himself takes a stylistically confident bow to his pioneers as a Swiss artist with international appeal.

As featured by HBO MAX, KCRW, KEXP, SPIN Magazine, Consequence of Sound, Under The Radar, American Songwriter, The Philadelphia Globe, FLUX.FM, radioeins, DIFFUS Magazin, SCHALL, FIP Radio (FR), Les oreilles curieuses (FR), Swiss National Radiotelevision SRF (CH), Danger Mouse Jukebox, Schweizer Illustrierte, 20 Minuten, BZ - Basellandschaftliche Zeitung, and many more. – Big Hassle