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Sam Welch’s new album, The Republic, puts pop into themes of transcendence and psychology

By Kurt Beyers

Themes of spiritual transcendence and mental dysfunction aren’t usual subjects for popular music, unless you are Boston’s Sam Welch and you put them into the kind of techno music he is known for, or the pop of his new album, The Republic.

The combination pop/alternative pop instrumentation and playful lyrics full of quirky rhymes makes even a song with a title like “My Darling Human Condition,” or “The Tenuous Affair,” a song about the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, not only interesting but fun.

“I had a lot of fun creating it this year,” said Sam, who since 2017 has put out an album a year, mostly in a style he calls “transcendental techno vox.”

The vox is still there in The Republic, in his play with harmonizing vocals, but this year he did something different.

“I wanted to take as organic an approach as possible, trying to create some original instrumentation, combining different instruments and creating a different motif than I’ve done in the past.”

“Linear,” for instance, a song about transcendence, a poppy tune with a swinging, rocking kind of beat with organ, brass, keyboards and something like a marimba or xylophone.

I’m gonna take out a policy

Gonna sail on that shining sea, take out a policy

Ain’t nothing ever free, take out a policy

The wind is blowing to the lee, don’t worry about reality

Four o’clock and it’s time for tea

Take out a policy

“‘Linear’ is a metaphorical thing about transcendence, basically saying that, when you think about death and stuff, it doesn’t make any sense. It’s not a linear progression.”

Or, speaking of death, “My Room,” which he almost titled “The Mausoleum,” since the nominal subject is the decay of the grave. Soft, melodic bass and crooning vocalization turn the lyrics into something to think about rather than a horror movie.

My room is filled with colored light

For this I can’t give up the fight

Mustiness breathes with an ugly snore

There’s more of life lying in store

“I was originally going to call that one ‘The Mausoleum.’ It’s basically about physical decomposition. I figured ‘My Room’ would be a more upbeat title.”

Hobbes, the 17th-century English philosopher whose formulation of life as “nasty, brutish and short,” is the subject of “The Tenuous Affair.”

Old Hobbes was speaking his mind

But he might have been unkind

Pardon me sir, pardon me sir

Your words are making me blind

The intro is a kind of high-church vocalization, as might have been heard in the England of his time, with a swinging piano beat, tambourines and bongos and, lightly, the high notes of an organ, Hobbes’ ghost, perhaps, lurking in the background.

“It feeds into the transcendence thing,” he said. “I’m advocating faith in positive things as opposed to sort of the stuff that Hobbes used to write about.”

“That Cat,” on the other hand, is the psychological side.

“It’s about what it means to have a nervous breakdown, and how there’s really no definition of, or way to categorize a nervous breakdown,” he said. He himself had what was called a nervous breakdown when he was 19 and now works as a psych counselor.

Death in the valley, screaming down the alley

This just ain’t no birth, but it also ain’t no finale

That cat had a nervous breakdown

Set to keyboards and flute to a bump-bounce beat.

That song is basically about just using that term to label any type of problem whatsoever.”

“It’s a very untechno album,” he said, but it still has his vocal harmonization and themes rooted in what he calls the “Venn diagram of spirituality and mental dysfunction.” He has relied on the spirituality and experienced the dysfunction. They inform his music.

The Republic is his experiment in pop, and he says that he probably won’t return to it. His next album will be on the rock end of the spectrum.

“I want to get back to more of an organic rock sound. I want to write more songs that I can perform live and get to a good, solid rock beat. That’s the goal for the next album.”

Live performances are another area in which Sam is advancing his music. He has performed live weekly for about 10 months. He is performing at the Club Passim in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 23, at the Otter River Pub in Baldwinville on July 31, the Harvard General Store in Harvard on August 9.

His other scheduled appearances are on his website (link below).

Another song on The Republic, the upbeat “Still Singing,” with piano, sax and Latin-vibe brass, expresses the transcendence of hope. 

And my ears are ringing

But I’m still singing

To all of my hopes

I’m so desperately clinging

“It’s an important song because it’s about maintaining hope about the future and life and maintaining a positive attitude.”

His philosophy of music includes the idea of growth and positivity, and that includes growing from his audience.

“I’d like more people to listen to my music and give me feedback. I have a website where people can email me, and I’d love to get some criticism, so I can work on my next album and try to create something new down the line.”

Transcend with Sam Welch — Sam Welch from Boston — and connect with him on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

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Kate Monroe Says Bodyman Screening “Raised the Bar” for Her Next Project

At last Monday’s screening of Bodyman, Kate Monroe watched her first feature unfold in front of an audience of more than 300 people, an experience she described as both surreal and grounding. 

“Seeing Bodyman with an audience of over 300 people in a theater that big—especially since it wasn’t your typical movie theater—was pretty wild,” Monroe said. “Sitting near the front and hearing the laughter, feeling the scale of it… it kind of brought the whole thing to life for me—took it off the shelf and made it real.” For Monroe, the difference between watching alone and watching with a crowd was immediate. “There’s really nothing like watching your film with a crowd,” she said. “When you watch it by yourself, you tend to be really critical—you’re picking apart your performance, your face, your posture, all those little things we all overthink. But with an audience, they’re just enjoying the movie as it unfolds.” That shift, she added, changed her experience entirely. “It made me think, ‘If I were just sitting in this room as an audience member, would I enjoy this?’ And the answer was absolutely yes. So it really took my enjoyment up a few notches.” 

She also said the audience reaction played a major role in shaping how she viewed the film’s tone and pacing in real time. “A lot of the scenes weren’t strictly written—they were more off the cuff,” she explained. “Once you get to know the actors and you’re spending all day together, some of that naturally starts to bleed into what you see on screen.” One moment in particular stood out. “The spanking scene definitely got a big reaction. People see my character as this strong, alpha woman, so that moment kind of catches them off guard in a fun way. And hearing 100 or 200 people laughing at the same time was really special.” Overall, she said the energy in the room confirmed the film was landing as intended. “The energy in the room was just really good—we got all the right laughs and all the right reactions. You can feel when people are truly paying attention.” 

That response, she added, went beyond polite approval. “I was hoping people wouldn’t just feel like they had to be nice afterward and say, ‘Oh, it was great,’” she said. “A lot of people genuinely went out of their way to tell me how much they enjoyed it. That definitely raised the bar for me. It made me want to chase that feeling again. So you’ll definitely be seeing more of me.” 

Originally, Monroe said, she envisioned something closer to a gritty political thriller. “I think originally, when I wrote the book, I imagined it having more of a Narcos or The Terminal List kind of vibe,” she said. “But it ended up becoming more of a popcorn movie.” That shift, she believes, ultimately strengthened the project. “We’re dealing with really heavy subject

matter—the border, immigration—and if we had told it in a more serious way, people might have felt like they had to take sides. Instead, we leaned into something more fun and stylized—almost Guy Ritchie-esque—with humor and larger-than-life characters.” Even so, she found herself in an unexpectedly intense role. “I actually ended up being the most alpha—and probably the most violent—character in the film,” she said. “I might have gotten a little carried away. I wasn’t exactly play fighting, which is probably why it looks so real.” 

Monroe also credited much of the film’s impact to the cast and how the story evolved once it became personal for them. “Once they realized this story is based on a real person—that Evelyn James is essentially me—it gave everything a different weight,” she said. “Suddenly you’re not just acting—you’re debating with someone who debates, you’re in scenes with someone who’s actually lived it.” Even off-screen dynamics added to the experience. “Even with Tom Arnold… I think he initially assumed I wouldn’t be very likable,” she said. “But after working together, he told me, ‘You’re actually really compassionate—thank you for your service.’” 

Describing the production environment, Monroe called it highly collaborative. “Very collaborative,” she said. “As a Marine Corps veteran, I’d help actors with weapon handling or physicality so it felt real but still safe. Sometimes I was ‘really’ fighting while they were learning the rhythm of it as actors.” She also noted how much of the film came together organically. “The scene where I fire the gun out of the window—that wasn’t originally planned. It just felt right in the moment, so we went with it. I think about 10–15% of every movie ends up being those instinctive decisions.” Even dialogue often shifted on set. “Tom Arnold said, ‘We can’t have a toy soldier playing with real guns, can we?’—that wasn’t in the script,” she recalled. “So later I used that in our scene together. I said, ‘What would a toy soldier know about that?’” 

Some of the film’s most memorable moments, she added, came from pure improvisation. “In the hotel scene, John Sheck said, ‘I feel a calling that my character should pray for your character,’” she said. “That wasn’t written, but it completely changed the tone.” Instead of going in a predictable direction, the scene became something more restrained and emotional. “It ended up becoming a really tender moment,” she said. “It set up the shower scene in a more emotional way—like she’s washing off all of that trauma.” She added, “Actors really do surprise you with how they interpret things.” 

For Monroe, the premiere ultimately reinforced a larger lesson. “The biggest takeaway was that we made something with real heart—and people showed up for it in a big way,” she said. “Some drove three or four hours, others even flew in just to be there.” Moving forward, she said, her mindset is simple: “Keep going. People will show up for you. There are always those ‘what ifs’—but what if it works? What if people love it? I’m always going to lean toward that side of it. We made a real movie that genuinely connected with people, and that’s something I want to keep building on.”

Written in partnership with Tom White

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The Future of Performance: Why the Dance World is Watching Quinn Fieldstone

In the high-stakes world of professional dance, the transition from principal artist to industry architect is a leap few execute with true technical authority. Quinn Fieldstone is delivering a masterclass in that evolution. She is not simply teaching choreography. She is redefining the standard of how elite dancers are trained, developed, and prepared for the professional stage.

Fieldstone’s authority is not theoretical. It was forged under the demands of the world’s most rigorous performance environments. She launched her career at just 14 as a principal dancer with Jeunesse Classique Ballet, performing leading roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Swanhilda in Coppélia, and Myrtha in Giselle. This was not simply an early start, but the beginning of a career defined by sustained excellence. Her trajectory continued through her work as a leading soloist with Ballet Ouest and her distinguished tenure with the Virginia National Ballet, where her refined artistry and leadership earned her the role of Assistant Ballet Master, a position reserved for artists with exceptional technical command and professional insight.

What sets Fieldstone apart on a national level is the extraordinary refinement and versatility of her technique across all styles of dance. Her foundation in classical ballet is marked by precision, control, and purity of line, while her fluency in contemporary, jazz, and commercial styles reflects a rare adaptability and depth of movement quality. This seamless command across disciplines allows her to move effortlessly between the structure of classical technique and the dynamic, expressive demands of modern choreography. As a result, she has become a highly sought-after performer and choreographer, trusted to deliver work that is both technically rigorous and artistically compelling.

Fieldstone’s choreography is distinguished by its ability to merge technical integrity with emotional resonance. Her work bridges classical structure with contemporary innovation, creating movement that is both disciplined and powerfully expressive. This unique voice has led to widespread recognition, including numerous top placements at premier regional and national competitions, as well as multiple awards for choreography. Her pieces consistently stand out for their clarity, musicality, and ability to connect with audiences on a profound level.

To observe Fieldstone in the studio is to witness a master of both technique and communication. She possesses a rare ability to translate complex movement into accessible, actionable instruction, elevating dancers from foundational training to professional caliber performance. Her teaching emphasizes not only technical excellence but also anatomical awareness, injury prevention, and longevity, ensuring that dancers are equipped for sustainable careers in the performing arts.

Fieldstone’s impact extends beyond performance and choreography. She represents a new standard of leadership within the dance industry, one that prioritizes both artistic excellence and the holistic development of the dancer. Her ability to integrate discipline, versatility, and innovation has positioned her as a leading figure in shaping the next generation of performers.

Quinn Fieldstone is not simply participating in the evolution of dance. She is actively defining it.

Written in partnership with Tom White

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Crypto

The Real Story Behind teemchase’s Real Estate, Music, and Crypto Empire

teemchase is the founder of ITTO Productions, an artist development company. He is also an investor in real estate, music, and crypto. His journey has been one of overcoming obstacles, including homelessness, to reach financial independence.

A Difficult Start to His Future Success

At eighteen, teemchase began his journey toward future success by choosing not to attend college and instead pursue real estate. This decision led him to live in his car, but he did not let that setback discourage him from his goal. Without family support, he continued pursuing his dream of becoming a real estate entrepreneur.

He studied for the real estate exam while homeless and invested nearly one thousand dollars in taking it eleven times. Instead of giving up, he took the test a twelfth time and finally passed. That victory became the foundation for his capital building journey. Without outside support or investors, he built his portfolio over time through discipline, persistence, and reinvestment.

He built a brand, grew his team, and reinvested profits into acquiring affordable housing and Section 8 properties. Later, he expanded into large scale private real estate investing. Through discipline, long term strategy, and aggressive reinvestment, he evolved from agent to investor.

It was this same strategy that he later applied to his ventures in crypto and music.

Long Term Positioning and Growth

In the summer of 2025, teemchase formally retired from all active executive operations. He sold his controlling interests and transitioned into a fully passive income structure fueled by consulting, real estate cash flow, and digital asset holdings.

In 2018, teemchase became an early investor in XRP, a cryptocurrency developed by Ripple Labs for rapid, low cost international payments. He has grown his original investment more than ten times and continues to trade actively.

He also entered the music industry through organic beginnings that started with informal freestyle sessions with friends. This experience later led him to found ITTO Productions.

Empowering Creators

teemchase describes himself as operating at the intersection of capital and culture. ITTO Productions was designed to empower artists by providing the infrastructure typically associated with major labels, including production and lifestyle resources. He has also ensured that artists retain ownership of their creative works.

Looking ahead, teemchase plans to scale his passive investments and expand ITTO Productions. The creator first artist development house reflects his personal priorities of ownership, fairness, and long term sustainability.

teemchase is an inspirational yet grounded investor who has built an impressive brand across multiple fields using his high school nickname. Over the years, he has blended his desire for social impact with a scalable investment strategy. His perseverance, discipline, and creativity have been the foundation of his success and will power his future endeavors.

Written in partnership with Tom White

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