A Debut Album That Feels Like Home: Aotearoa’s Sam Cullen is Coming into his Own

To celebrate the release of Sam Cullen’s debut self-titled album, we sat down together at The Royston in Richmond — to split the G and dive into the stories behind it all, opening for Keli Holiday, rugby clubroom cover gigs, and the NZ summer tour that’s about to take him across the country. 

The album arrives as the culmination of six years of writing, learning, and coming of age — a 10-track body of work that sits somewhere between rock-’n’-roll honesty and pop sensibilities. It’s a record stitched together across university halls, Wellington flats, and borrowed studios; a personal map of the places and people that have shaped him. It’s testament to growing up, growing through, and finding your footing in the noise.

His love for ‘80s sparkly guitars, Americana road-movie textures, and New Zealand storytelling runs right through. Singles like Home To You featuring Brody Leigh, Don’t Leave Me Alone, and That Somebody’s You have already carved out their own lane in the Aotearoa music scene — with That Somebody’s You spending five weeks on the Hot NZ Singles Chart.

What makes Sam special is how proud he is of where he comes from. The album honours that while stepping confidently into something bigger. With its release comes a six-date NZ tour, kicking off in Arrowtown and finishing in Christchurch — a full-circle celebration for an artist whose music carries the weight of home while pushing him far beyond it.

Watch our full interview at The Royston — now live on our YouTube.