Sam Wickens – one of our Hot for 2021 acts – is delivering his debut EP tomorrow, and Hot Press is delighted to premiere the video for its second single, 'Murky Waters'.

The 5 track Watson EP is the second major release for Sam, since his critically acclaimed debut album, All I've Seen, came out in 2019.

‘Murky Waters’ sees Wickens once again take up the mantle of “songwriting juggernaut.” He has already proven this, combining slick production with raw feeling and a stunning vocal.

The stunningly shot black and white video plays on the nature vs. nurture theme of the song itself. "'Murky Waters' is the realisation that I was raised and put through terrible circumstances," Wickens explains. "Constantly feeling alone through every obstacle that was placed in front of me. Traumatic events seemed to follow me no matter where I ran, I started to believe that I was some sort of gatekeeper, that my purpose was to absorb the terrible things so others didn’t need to.”

Compared to the likes of Jeff Buckley, John Martyn, Death Cab For Cutie and Tom Waits, it's no secret why we had to put Sam on our Hot for 2021 list. He is is a soulful writer and performer with a restless creativity. A young and gifted artist, Wickens humbly plies his craft with a focused sincerity, and has created a style of his own.

Watch the video below.