Invercargill-raised pop rocker Sam Cullen has released his EP ‘Run’ today. 

Cullen was named Southland’s Junior Entertainer of the Year in 2017 and has since achieved mainstream success in the New Zealand music scene, playing the main stage at Rhythm & Vines festival, selling out several shows on his first nationwide tour, and playing alongside popular dance duo Sweet Mix Kids. 

While now based in Auckland, Cullen maintains strong ties to the South and says a lot of the EP is inspired by growing up in Invercargill 

“I was born and raised in Invercargill. I’m a Verdon College kid.”

“I went through primary and high school as the kid that plays the guitar. From a young age I was playing gigs down home, doing covers and originals. My first regular gig was at Speights Alehouse on a Friday night,” he says. 

“I love Southland to bits, even though I live up north now. I love visiting, seeing my family and friends.” 

Cullen says he has a few shows lined up in Auckland but will wait for more certainty around the Covid-19 situation before planning a tour. 

He says we would love to tour Southland when the future of live gigs is more secure. 

“We’ll play it by ear and organise shows once we know what the timeframes might look like. It would be awesome to get out and tour the road with the EP. I would absolutely love coming south to play. It’s the best thing in the world being down there.”  

Cullen says that while playing lives shows has definitely been impacted by Covid-19, lockdowns have also increased the amount of new music being released. 

“Playing shows has been impossible with lockdowns, but people can still release music easily. A whole lot of music is being released, a lot more than usual, because people have been locked down and had the time to make it.”

“I’m really hoping to do a few more live shows, to get out there and give it a crack. There are heaps of New Zealand artists who have announced tours for this year, so it’s looking hopeful.” 

The ‘Run’ EP is released today along with its final single, The Main Drag; described as a hard-hitting, 80s rock-inspired anthem. 

“I just love that it's a rock song. It’s the heaviest I’ve ever gone with a track, and I’m stoked that I stuck to my guns with it.” 

“It’s also really nice as a writer-producer when you can start to hear your childhood influences trickle through into your own work. For me it’s so easy to hear them on this song,” says Cullen.