Vocalist and keyboard artist Sam Welch unveils his 11th album, Last Night on Earth,
a captivating sonic journey into realms of spiritual transcendence. Featuring 11 mesmerizing tracks, this record builds on the dialogue initiated by his previous album, Girl on Vacation, while diving deeper into the social and emotional impact of transition into the afterlife. Through evocative melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, Last Night on Earth invites listeners to ponder the existential mysteries beyond our mortal plane.
“What is a good metaphor for the experience of transcending this life? This is the question that I’m always trying to answer in my music,” shares Welch on the content and inspiration behind his work.
While Welch’s music is definitively techno, he is intentional about finding a balance between natural and synthesized vocals. The natural tones evoke familiarity while the robotic tones speak to feelings of foreignness and alienation. Embracing his unique artistic vision, Welch coined the term: "transcendental techno vox" to capture the essence of this genre, a term that perfectly encapsulates its ethereal and immersive qualities.
In this album, Welch unpacks the intricate relationship between death and personal connection, as showcased in the track "Kamikaze Co-Pilot." This standout single explores what happens when partners develop divergent spiritual paths. The kamikaze is trying to end it all for a chance to get to heaven, while the co-pilot just wants to arrive at their destination safely. How can the two coexist?
“Every relationship is finite; every relationship has an ending,” says Welch. “So, the question is, do we focus on the relationship in this world, or do we look towards the next world?”
Symbolism is present throughout the album as Welch uses metaphoric representation to question what happens when we die. On the ninth track, “Service Interruption,” he presents death as a temporary interruption of service. Welch explains that “it’s like a pause, moving from one world to the next, like getting your electricity turned off.”
Likewise, the songs "Coming Up for Air" and "Upstairs Ocean" observe water as a transformative element bridging different realms of existence. In "Coming Up for Air," the journey from life to death is symbolized by the image of being submerged in water and subsequently resurfacing. Conversely, "Upstairs Ocean" depicts the vast cosmos as an ethereal ocean above us, the celestial realm from which we came and will ultimately return.
Sam Welch has been writing and recording music since 2001; however, music has always been a part of his life. He started studying piano at the age of eight, performed in choral groups and theatre during his teenage years, and received formal vocal training at Columbia University and the Longy School of Music of Bard College.
As a young adult, Welch suffered from severe depression. However, he transformed his pain into a powerful force for change, dedicating himself to advocating for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. His work in the mental health sector and his music both serve as platforms to raise awareness and promote inclusivity. Welch shares that he wants “to stimulate a dialogue about the things people don’t like thinking about” to provoke meaningful conversation, comfort, and healing.
Next month, Welch will perform selections from Last Night on Earth at one of Boston’s annual street fairs, The Feast of St. Agrippina, held August 4 - 6 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Check your local event listings for more information and stay connected with Sam Welch across all platforms for new music, videos, and social media updates.
ON THE RISE
Lebanese artist Elie Al Hajj — better known as Ely — is ready for connection.
His new rock song, “My Falling Star,” dropped last month. The track is a showcase for Ely’s versatility and passion. The song and its 80s vibes will appeal to audiences eager for their next heartbreak anthem.
The lyrics recount a love that ended too soon, and the reminiscence of a night under a sky full of shooting stars. Amidst thundering drums and a big guitar solo, Ely’s pleading voice is the main focus, with a Cher-like tone quality and vibrato.
Ely’s persistent passion is reflected in the song’s repeating four chords. Like that night with the shooting star that he can’t forget, the music returns again to remind him:
I feel the pain inside my broken heart
I never felt this way before, girl
I never want to feel this way again
Goodbye to you, my falling star
Your love will always shine on me
I’ll close my eyes and there you’ll be
With English lyrics, Ely, 43, aims to reach beyond the Mediterranean basin to connect with international fans. While he also releases songs in Arabic, he has broader plans for his music.
He says, "In Lebanon, most of the people and the known artists sing in Arabic... But I can do both. I can do English, I can do Arabic. By recording in English, I'm aiming to appeal to a more international audience."
He knows it won’t be easy to reach his fans, but he is not afraid to put in the work. His songs, like “My Falling Star,” are beacons to the like-minded lovers and dreamers out there in the world somewhere.
Ely says, "I just want my fans, if it happens, I just want them to respect what I do in the same way that I respect them and the same way that I give them my music from the heart."
Ely’s creative background extends beyond music. A filmmaker, he is known for directing and starring in the 2018 romantic comedy, I'd Prefer Your Problems Princess. His filmmaking prowess is also put to use as he directs his music videos. This includes the beautiful outdoor locations for “My Falling Star”.
With “My Falling Star,” Ely is committed to building a genuine audience for his own songs — not just covers, not just regional radio play, but an international fan base connected by shared emotion and respect.
His wistful lyrics and emotive instrumental playing may have been born from heartbreak, but Ely insists they point toward something larger: persistence, hope, and the belief that music still has the power to bridge worlds. He doesn’t want to wait any longer.
“I’m 43 now — there’s no more wasting time,” Ely says. “I just want people to hear about me, to feel what I feel, and to know that I give them everything from the heart. If I can reach fans who give that back, I’ll have done what I set out to do.”
With the passion and progress of songs like “My Falling Star,” it’s clear that Elie al Hajj is ready to make the leap. Fans can dive into Ely’s work and listen to “My Falling Star” at the links below:
