Meet Sam Fairless | Guitarist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Fairless and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, why did you pursue a creative career?
I started playing guitar seriously at a fairly young age and I never really did anything else. I didn’t make a conscious decision, it just happened to be the thing I’m obsessed with and was driven to do the best that I possibly could.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started playing guitar just before my 13th birthday out on my parent’s farm in Canada. I became infatuated with playing, learning the songs of my influences which included the 70’s guitar heroes like Ritchie Blackmore, Uli Jon Roth, and Tony Iommi. As I continued to play my ear led me to players like Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker, and Paul Gilbert to name a few. After hearing those guys, I completely committed myself to reaching new technical heights and expand my knowledge of harmony and melody as well. I would wake up and play and fall asleep playing my guitar. After years of developing myself as a guitar player for countless hours a day, I eventually made it out to Musicians Institute in Hollywood where I got even deeper with my playing and understanding of music. These days I play with my band live all over LA, perform with other projects, and teach guitar. The biggest challenge has been immigrating to a new country, as there is a great deal of hoops to jump through but everything worthwhile is difficult. I think the biggest lesson I’ve taken away from everything is to stay true to what you do and to be persistent in it, and the results follow suit.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
By default, I have an affinity for hanging around on the sunset strip at iconic rock clubs such as the Whisky or the Viper Room. They have a rich history in rock music and house some pretty interesting characters. However, the greatest and my favorite place to catch live music is The Baked Potato. It’s a completely intimate experience showcasing truly some of the world’s finest musicians about 2 feet away from your face! I have met many of my musical heroes there, and I feel that the type of experience it provides is probably one of the last of its kind. And besides, they serve the best baked potatoes!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve had so much support and encouragement from my family, I couldn’t ask for better parents, a sister, and grandparents. In the guitar sphere, one of my great mentors who has pushed me and expanded my view of the fretboard is my teacher at Musician’s Institute, Dan Gilbert. Another person who really pushed the needle for me is my good friend Luca Martina. One of the sickest players I know, I learn so much from him and it’s such a privilege to be able to play with him so often.

Instagram: @fairless.sam

Image Credits
Mathias Fau