If you’ve been paying attention to the Aotearoa R&B scene any time in the last 10 years you’ll be well aware of Sam V. The Tāmaki Makaurau artist with Rarotongan roots first sung his way into our collective consciousness when he was barely a teenager. For the last few years he’s been consistently putting out some of the best R&B in the motu and putting on incredible live shows.

A couple of years ago during a particularly cold Matariki, we stumbled across Sam V and his band playing live on the Pocket Park stage on Karangahape Rd. We watched how he quickly drew a massive and enthralled crowd to stop on that windy corner of K Rd and Pitt St and we knew we had to get Sam V on the Neck of the Woods stage some time soon. We’re now getting blessed with not only Sam’s last show before he jets over to the US, but an incredible line up of emerging R&B artists.

In the lead up to this Saturday’s very special one off show, we caught up with Sam V to talk hopes, dreams and DMs…

You’ve put together a really stunning support lineup for Au Revoir. Can you tell us a little more about those artists?

I’m real fortunate to have several of my favourite up & coming artists on the card. Elena, HALES & JARNA are talented af. A great reflection of the next & current gen of NZ R&B/Pop talent. Can’t forget the charismatic Luther Lancelot on the decks, a man quickly ascending through our DJ scene here and abroad.

This show is named Au Revoir as you’re heading over to the States after this show. What’s the plan once you get over there?

I’m just keen to immerse in the scene over there. Watch shows, write with people, jam. Should be mean.

You’ve been in the game since you were just a kid, what’s kept you going this long? When will you feel like you’ve made it?

Definitely driven by the legacy I’m leaving and the precedent I set. I don’t ever think I’ll ever feel like I’ve made it 😂

Where do you see R&B going in Aotearoa?

I see Aotearoa R&B making noise offshore. We have all the talent, perhaps just not the infrastructure to support it. With the support of hustle & social media I can guarantee there’ll be a few of our R&B artists who pop off internationally (there already are shoutouts Teo Glacier).

How did your singing to girls in their DMs series get started?

I just always felt there was a space in those DM’s for me to enter.