Sam P.

My name is Sam Pura and I own and operate a recording studio called The Panda Studios. I’d like to briefly tell you about my experience meeting and hanging with Sam. 

My assistant Ivan Garcia brought Sam’s band Giveaway to The Panda to begin work on their first EP. After hearing Sam sing from the other room I walked inside to see who it was, compliment him and meet him. You might be surprised but It’s not often that I hear a talented voice from another room and if and when I do I make it a point to compliment them.

Sam was very excited to meet me and hear my enthusiasm. He went on to explain that he was inspired to make music partly because of records I made with a band called Basement. In fact he used one of their songs to cover as an audition for Give Away!

I quickly got along really well with Sam. It wasn’t hard as I love growing and smoking weed and drinking beer and taking and listening to music and clearly he did too. Sam was also extremely stoked on my strain that I grow called Super Lemon Haze. He loved it enough that he would just open and smell my jars and talk about it being his absolute favorite strain he’d smoked. A true honor and funny memory. :)

I eventually reached out to Giveaway to offer help them with completing their new EP. I was so impressed with Sam that I knew with a little mangling and education we’d be able to elevate him and them to a level where touring and playing music could possibly be their full time career. This is rare as the majority of my clients play music for fun and don’t really think about how to turn themselves into a full time touring band / business. 

Sam would come over and hang on his breaks and we’d chat and smoke and listen to music. Even if I was too busy to hang he’s still come over and park outside and smoke and listen to music. I try to provide a safe and inspiring place and he for sure liked to tap into that energy if and when he could. When we would have Sam was surprisingly receptive to all my pop references and me going on and on about the formulas and math behind their lyrics and structures and how we could implement that into his songwriting. This is something the majority of people do not understand nor even care to understand. But Sam not only cared, he would refer to it as “mind blowing” and would call the rest of the band to tell them he was inspired by songs or videos I’d show him. Enough so to adamantly keep in touch with me and say how excited he was to work on the new material. 

Sam was one of the rare ones who would hear and understand me when I say making music at my studio is an opportunity that carries a responsibility to contribute. He absolutely understood that and would reference that my albums with the band Basement did that to him. He knew he needed to be that inspiration for others. That’s something that you either get or you don’t. It can’t be taught. Sam had that. He totally got it.

I’ve had a few clients pass away. Mainly suicides. This is the first where a life was taken from a passionate and driven and genuinely happy person. It just makes me sad we lost him and his passing just feels so unfair and confusing. He was a bright talent with a bright future. I was immensely excited to work with him and help him on his musical journey. I’ve still got them in my calendar in the next few weeks. I’m really sad we’re not going to be able to work together like we planned.

I always say there has to be a deeper meaning in tragedies. So what can I do to learn and implement a lesson from his passing? 

The main answer I’ve stumbled onto is that life is fragile, and life is temporary. Life is a magical opportunity that needs to create a positive contribution to the future of the world and peoples lives. Sam was on that path. He’ll forever be the example of a true talent with a bright future that was taken too soon on this exact journey I preach. 

He made positive contributions to my life and my musical life. That’s saying a lot as I’ve been doing this for over 20 years. Sam stood out as a special one. I really enjoyed hanging out with Sam. He was a great guy.

I hope this story helps reinforce that Sam was one of a kind. A true talent and homie that I am going to miss. 

I’m sorry for your loss. Much love. 

Samuel Pura