Sam Himself, born as Samuel Koechlin in Basel, is a Swiss-American musician who captivates audiences with his deep voice, melancholic melodies, and a distinctive style that blends indie rock with Western romanticism. He describes his music with self-irony as «Fondue Western» – a tribute to his Swiss-American identity and his love for Ennio Morricone-style guitar sounds.
At the age of 19, Sam left his hometown Basel and moved to New York, where he worked as a bartender, songwriter, and even comedy writer – a path that taught him to fight for his art. Despite all obstacles, he remained true to his musical vision and released his first EP «Songs in D» in 2017. This was followed by «Nobody» (2018) and «Slow Drugs» (2020), recorded with renowned musicians such as Parker Kindred (Jeff Buckley) and Josh Werner (Ghostface Killah).
His first studio album «Power Ballads» (2021) marked his breakthrough in Switzerland – reaching number 36 in the charts. With the follow-up album «Never Let Me Go» (2023), he climbed to number 23. His music gained international recognition: the song «La Paz» became part of the soundtrack for the HBO series And Just Like That in 2023.
A special highlight was his collaboration with the Sinfonieorchester Basel, where he performed orchestral versions of his songs – a bold move that showcased his artistic depth.
Today, Sam commutes between Basel and Brooklyn, living between two worlds – and that’s exactly what makes his music so unique. It’s honest, vulnerable, powerful – and always a little bittersweet.
Sam’s favorite…
Film
- Wings of Desire – Wim Wenders (1987)
- Blade Runnder – Ridley Scott (1982)
- Tschugger – David Constantin, Mats Frey (2021–2024)
Music
- Hymn to Freedom – Oscar Peterson (1963)
- Don’t think twice, it’s all right – Bob Dylan (1962)
- Die Strass, won i drann wone – Mani Matter (1973)
Programme
- Sounds! (SRF3)