Attacca by Sam Girling
'Attacca' is the debut mixtape of Bedford-based electronic artist, producer and DJ Sam Girling. The 13 tracker is a reflection of Sam's creative output in its rawest form. The mixtape is written in tandem, with each track directly affecting the tempo, key and themes of the next.
“I discovered J Lloyd's 'Kosmos' mixtape early 2021. The concept was to write a full length project from start to finish with all the tracks interconnected. You handpick your favourite tracks when releasing music – people don't hear the other 99%. This project was an unfiltered flow of recording - I can't edit or delete the tracks I don't like. It feels very freeing to put something out there with the know that it's not perfect.”
Lifted from his forthcoming mixtape, 'Take Your Time' is the latest single. An undeniably standout piano weapon, it's a simple yet memorable moment on the record where each element commands its own lane. In Sam's words “This felt the most obvious track to extend
and lead with as a single. TYT was made one sunny Saturday afternoon. I was heading to the pub soon after, which I why I think this track exudes a certain positivity”.
Taking back artistic control, 2022 saw the launch of Sam's own label, 'Attacca', which he sees as his own 'paradisiacal world'. It begs the question, what came first: the label or the mixtape name? “Weirdly, the mixtape actually gave birth to everything. I recorded it back in my bedroom in May 2021 and landed on the musical term 'Attacca', meaning a musical directive for the performer to begin the next movement of a composition without pause. This summed up the mixtape concept perfectly and the more I sat with it, 'Attacca' started to sound like this utopian paradise where I get to create the storylines and rules.”
Berlin plays a pivotal role in the journey of Attacca. Talk of moving to the German capital in late 2021 sparked the creation of Sam's inaugural label release. “I was feeling flat with my artist project. A conversation about living in Berlin lit a flame within me and the track 'Empty Flat in Berlin' was created. I knew this was the first single back.”
Sam goes on to say: “I finally got around to visiting Berlin in September 2022 and had that moment. I've had unbelievable experiences on nights out but I still felt I was lacking that life changing moment so many artists talk about. It was a eureka moment, so unbelievably
overwhelming – I'm sounding very cliché here but I'll never forget it. I came home with a new perspective which essentially triggered me to feel that now is the right time to release this mixtape.”
Tracklist
| 1. | Overthought Intro | 1:03 |
| 2. | Sahel | 1:34 |
| 3. | Faith | 2:22 |
| 4. | Just Me | 1:19 |
| 5. | Need Your Love | 1:34 |
| 6. | Work It Organ | 1:50 |
| 7. | Wish You Never Met Me | 1:11 |
| 8. | Chaotic Interlude | 1:23 |
| 9. | Taping Life | 1:31 |
| 10. | Living Dissonant | 1:31 |
| 11. | Deny | 1:56 |
| 12. | Take Your Time | 1:42 |
| 13. | You Don't Wanna Know | 1:07 |
