By Emily Moffitt
Sam & Illia are not your average cover duo. Based out of Columbia, the two talented musicians met up through a mutual association with the local music instruction school Freeway Music and decided to form a performing duo with Sam playing bass or guitar and Illia on vocals. Both of them have been around music for most of their lives, with Sam picking up the guitar in college after playing piano as a child, and Illia participating in theater groups while taking voice lessons since the age of 4. Falling in love with the idea of musical performance was what set them on the track to pursue music as a career.
There is no preferred genre of the duo; rather, they perform everything they love to hear from soul and jazz to punk rock. Both musicians developed their craft on their own at first; Sam learned to utilize one of the most powerful tools a musician can use: his own ears. “I love bands like Pink Floyd, and drew a lot of bass specific influence from Flea,” he says. “What was big for me in learning to play would be putting on some recordings of my favorite songs and just listening to the bass lines by ear, or I would just have to learn the song by ear entirely.”
Illia herself grew up through an emo phase with the music she listened to, finding Paramore to be heavily influential. She eventually got into the R&B scene, citing Bruno Mars and Kehlani as two beacons of inspiration for forming her own lyrical style. Her secret weapon to developing her voice and deciding what style works for what song is repetition. “I try to get creative with runs when I’m singing, and repetition helps a lot with that. I try to do something different every time I record, so I can go back and pick out something I like, then try to repeat what I did that sounded the best.”
Sam and Illia each have their own creative techniques when it comes to creating the duo's distinct sound. Sam’s own guitar playing is heavily influenced by guitarists like John Mayer, and the desire for the cleanest sound. Illia’s solo sound is rooted in a balance between punk or soul. For Illia, her goal is to be a true individual; “I don’t want to sound like anyone else,” she states. “I really want my voice to be my own.” Put them together, and the duo accomplishes beautiful covers of everything they touch, from jazz pieces to pop music.
The duo appreciates how great the music scene of Columbia is for anyone wanting to kick off their career; “The scene in Greenville was extremely competitive, and in Columbia I’ve never had an easier time getting gigs for us than now,” Sam states. The two value the business side of the music scene highly, something that both musicians believe other musicians should take into consideration when they’re starting their own careers. “It matters a lot more than some realize,” Sam and Illia say. “Learning marketing and how to make the money work for your gigs is super important.”
Illia’s biggest piece of advice for other musicians emphasizes both talent and persistence; “It really matters how much you pursue it. You could be the best musician ever but if you don’t put yourself forward, you’re not going to get to the place you want to get, which I’ve learned even more since we started working together.”
Sam & Illia can be found on Instagram (@samandillia), Facebook (@samandillia), and their personal website (https://www.samandillia.com/). Upcoming performances include a show at Gardeners’ Outpost on Franklin Street on June 24, Lexington Farmer’s Market on June 25, Steel Hands Brewing on July 17, and more!