Up-and-coming recording artist Sam Cruz recently released her debut single “Train Of Thought” under Universal Records. Her upcoming pop single narrates how having feelings for someone can make you lose yourself. She described her debut song as “…basically about love and how this girl talks about how a guy makes her feel something special”. The official music video co-starring Leon Barretto has also been released.

Known to be a member of a celebrity clan, Sam Cruz aspires to pave her own career path and continues to explore songs that would highlight her vocal strengths. Leaning towards R&B and pop music, Sam shared that her musical inspiration comes from Ariana Grande and Julie Anne San Jose among many others. With her undoubted talent, potential and charisma, Sam Cruz is definitely one of the promising artists to watch out for this year.

One Music PH recently had a one-on-one interview with her recently…

One Music PH: Hi! (Takes note of Nirvana shirt) Nice shirt! You a Nirvana fan?

Sam Cruz: Yes! And I also have a poster there (points at Nirvana poster behind her)!

One Music PH: You have a particular favorite song or album from them?

Sam Cruz: For me, my favorite songs are “Heart-Shaped Box” and “Lithium”. I used to listen to them when I was little because my Dad used to play their songs in the guitar.

One Music PH: How much of the creative process behind “Train of Thought” was you? I mean, you’re the one singing it clearly, but you have a team of good songwriters and producers behind you…

Sam Cruz: I am very hands-on kasi I’ve been singing ever since I was younger and now that I have the opportunity to make my own music. I’ve already written some songs on my own that I would be sharing really soon. For my debut single, I’m very lucky for it to be written for me and now I feel it is up to me as an artist to really make it my own even though somebody wrote it, I can add my own adlibs and I can spice it up further to make it my own song.

One Music PH: So could you please tell us the message of “Train of Thought” and why it was chosen as your first single?

Sam Cruz: First time I heard this song, I fell in love with it kaagad kasi anganda ng tunog and it’s something I would listen to myself and super chill vibes lang siya, perfect for any weather, kahit sa road trip lang siya or sa rainy days and I like the meaning to the song as well. Sobrang nakaka-relate, lalo na to people my age, dahil maraming tao na may  mga crush and nakikilig and uses their train of thought when they see the person they like.

One Music PH: Your sister Angelina has had a number of singles under her belt and started her recording career well before you did. Did she give you any pointers?

Sam Cruz: Yes. Actually my family has been a big help to me as a singer. Ever since we were young, kami-kami (magkakapatid) ang magkakasama nagka-karaoke, jamming sa ukulele or guitar. I feel that we’re really a team helping each other finding our own sound and what we would love to put out there talaga. Kasi sobrang mahilig kaming lahat kumanta. My sister Angelina, she’s been there with me to help me along the way. We’re also under the same label, she already knows the gist.

One Music PH: Your sisters and your mom are particularly active on social media. One thing I’ve admired with the four of you (Angelina, mom Sunshine, and sister Chesca) is that you’ve been brave and forthcoming about calling out foul comments from trolls and bashers…

Sam Cruz: For us, it’s something that we’ve gotten used to because ever since we were little, may mga trolls and bashers na talaga, we really try not to let them affect us talaga. Pero minsan it gets too much out of hand na nakakabastos na po, sobrang hindi na tama, we have to speak out also and do something about it para they would know it’s really not right and it’s something not good to say or both. We just let them know about it. Pero if it’s petty stuff lang and something we know is not true, we just let them be kasi I feel that if we talk about it pa, if its stuff that can just be ignored, it kind of gives them the satisfaction na “Ay, napansin ako ni Sam, so I’ll just keep commenting about this and that”. Kaya I feel like it’s correct to call out things that shouldn’t be talked about when it comes to trolls, pero if it’s something that can be ignored, hindi na lang.

One Music PH: Can you please give us a preview of your next release or two?

Sam Cruz: My next single is actually my first-ever collaboration and it’s with somebody from a totally different genre from “Train of Thought”. I’ll be collaborating with rappers and [unintelligible]. I’m also excited because I wrote my parts myself and I did this collaborating just through videocall we wrote the lyrics. Kaya din sobrang nae-excite ako kasi I did the music video with them and ayun, abangan na lang.

One Music PH: Can you please give us the top 5 songs off the top of your head?

Sam Cruz: My top favorite is my all-time favorite song, it’s the first-ever song I learned to play in the guitar is “Ang Huling El Bimbo” by the Eraserheads. Paborito din siyang song ng mom ko. It’s also my favorite OPM song. Number two I would have to say "Hey Jude” by The Beatles. Beatles fan din ako and it’s such a classic as well. For number three, I’m going to go with something more modern, I’m really a fan of Ariana Grande. My favorrite right now from her and always have been is “Tattooed Heart”, it’s one of her older songs, pero that’s the one that made me a fan of her. Number four is by Queen the band, I love “Bohemian Rhapsody” and I feel that it’s such a big classic. It’s my go-to karaoke song. I sing this song with my sisters. Another song is “Araw-Araw”, it’s an OPM song by Ben&Ben. And another song I love is “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. It’s the first song that my sisters and I loved at the same time. We couldn’t stop singing it when we were young. Another song I love because me and my mom would often sing together is “You Are My Sunshine”, the classic song (then proceeds to sing opening lines before bursting into laughter).

One Music PH: You’ve mentioned that you play guitar and ukulele, is this something that you would like to incorporate on your future releases?  

Sam Cruz: I haven’t had the chance yet, but if given the opportunity to, you know, start from scratch and make my own song from the whole instrumental and everything, that would be amazing! I find it so fascinating how composers write songs from scratch talaga out of nowhere. You know how old bands like Queen make their songs, sobrang galing talaga. If I get the chance to do it on a studio, that would be great.