I recently caught up with Sam Russo to talk about his new record Hold You Hard, which dropped earlier this August on Red Scare Industries. Sam’s been busy with release shows in the UK and dates across Canada and the U.S. alongside Brendan Kelly of The Lawrence Arms and Teenage Bottlerocket, so it felt like the perfect time to chat before he dives deep into tour mode. In honor of Sam’s release and our conversation, the dish for this feature is Huevos Rancheros. Check out the recipe below! 

If you know Sam, you’re familiar with his distinctive voice and sharp songwriting. His fourth album, Hold You Hard, marks a new phase, featuring a full band with Chris Stockings (guitar), Josh Hurrell (bass), and Matt Walrond (drums). They explore themes of distance, desire, and dislocation, creating images that shift between East Anglia and the faded romance of American coastlines. The album balances full-band tracks with solo, stripped-down acoustic songs. It explores how love evolves, wanes, and changes through themes of relationships, family, heartbreak, friendship, memory, and place—highlighting both the joys and pains of loving someone. Some songs are simple and folky, while others feel like punk love letters from Hermosa Beach. It’s an album for those who hold on, let go, or try to do both simultaneously. The contrast between energetic, punk-inspired band tracks and raw, intimate acoustic songs makes the record feel expansive yet personal. Hold You Hard reflects Sam’s love of music, blending punk grit, folk storytelling, country influences, and references to artists like Fleetwood Mac, Waxahatchee, and Everclear (yes, Everclear—you’ll recognize it). One track even injects some old-school death metal energy. Lyrically, it’s about love in all its forms—relationships, family, heartbreak, memory, and place—embracing both the joy and pain of fully loving others.

 

 

Sam’s been at this a long time. He first picked up a bass at 15, playing in scrappy local punk bands before finding his voice as a songwriter around 20 years old. By 2011, he’d linked up with Red Scare founder Toby Jeg (another Lhyme Featured artist ) —who first noticed Sam after he toured with Brendan Kelly and Dan Andriano—and that partnership has carried through to this day. Unlike the road-warrior bands that log 300 shows a year, Sam chooses his tours carefully, preferring to hit the road with artists he truly admires. That’s led him to share stages with the likes of Tim Barry, Lucero, The Lawrence Arms, and more, building a loyal following along the way.

The goal is simple for Sam: keep writing, playing, and connecting. He’s grateful for the fantastic, unique opportunity to travel halfway around the world, perform his songs, and have real conversations with people who connect with them. As long as Red Scare allows him to do it his way, he’s happy. Sam Russo has no interest in chasing trends—he simply wants to keep things honest, personal, and true to himself. That’s part of what makes his partnership with Red Scare Industries such a natural fit. He still performs in some truly great venues on both sides of the Atlantic—from the Yucca Tap Room in Tempe to Nashville’s Springwater Supper Club—and that speaks volumes about the caliber of musician he is. These venues have soul, the kind that makes you feel the music as much as you hear it.

For Sam, however, it’s never about telling people what they should take away from his songs. Instead, he hopes the music fosters a sense of intimacy—something that feels empathetic, celebratory, and honest, even when it draws from moments of struggle. What listeners discover in Sam’s music is often more meaningful than what he initially aimed to create, and that’s exactly how he prefers it. After all, music is about capturing moments—raw, fleeting, and real. That’s the heart of Sam Russo’s craft. His songs are intimate because they’re true to who he is—honest, heartfelt, and unflinching. Hold You Hard captures that spirit beautifully, blending full-band energy with stripped-back vulnerability in a way that feels both timeless and current.

Be sure to check out Sam’s tour dates below and give Hold You Hard a spin—it’s streaming everywhere now.

Sam Russo Music Linktree

 

 

 

When it comes to food, Sam Russo doesn’t have many hard “no’s”—but he does stick to being vegetarian and gluten-free. His partner has celiac disease, so naturally, many of their meals are gluten-free as well. Still, when he can, Sam loves buying delicious bread from local farmers’ markets, a far cry from the processed loaves on shelves that are filled with chemical ingredients. Food and family have always played a big role in Sam’s life. Growing up with strong Italian influences, he was spoiled with incredible red sauce dishes made by his mom, whom he says is a phenomenal cook. These days, one of his favorite family traditions is cooking huevos rancheros for his mom on special occasions—birthdays, Mother’s Day, holidays. It’s not exactly traditional, but it’s evolved over the years into their own family version. For Sam, it’s a way to give back the love after years of being nourished by her cooking.

Day to day, Sam keeps his meals simple and healthy. Working from home means he’s more sedentary, so breakfast is usually steamed kale, a boiled egg, and toast. Lunch is often leftovers, or, if he’s feeling indulgent, a quesadilla. In the summer, it’s lighter foods, such as big salad bowls; in winter, it’s heartier soups and stews. He’s not shy about his love of greens either—spinach, kale, chard, lettuce—he’ll tell you proudly he’s the “world’s biggest leaf fan.”

Touring, of course, is a different story. He does his best to stick to healthy habits, but sometimes you just have to embrace diner life. Sam loves an American diner breakfast—hash browns, eggs, toast—the whole spread. He times meals carefully so he’s fueled up before shows, since he usually plays earlier in the evening. He’s also known to get teased by Red Scare’s Toby Jeg for ordering salads on the road—sometimes they’re great, sometimes they’re just a soggy bag of lettuce.

When it comes to sweets, Sam’s a coffee fanatic. He loves anything coffee-flavored, from tiramisu (which he’s even made gluten-free for his partner’s birthday) to a good slice of pie. His friend owns Idle Hands Coffee in Manchester, and Sam’s especially fond of the pies there—banoffee, cream pies, and key lime. Banana desserts are another weakness: banana splits, banana cream pie, and even banana tea before bed. For snacks, he’s a grazer. A jar of nuts sits on the counter at home, and he’s always grabbing handfuls. His guilty pleasures? Chips and donuts—two things he’ll never turn down. He also enjoys hunting down chip flavors in the U.S. that you just can’t find in the UK, like zesty lime Lay’s.

To celebrate Sam’s nostalgic side—and since it hasn’t been featured on the site yet—I’ve put together a delicious huevos rancheros recipe in his honor. Imagine a corn tostada topped with sunny-side-up eggs, creamy avocado, crumbled cotija cheese, and a vibrant, fresh salsa. It’s such a versatile dish, perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—and pairs beautifully with Sam’s music. Check out the recipe below!

 

 

Huevos Rancheros with Corn Tostadas

Ingredients

  •  4 small corn tostadas
  •  4 large eggs (sunny-side up or over-easy, whichever you prefer)
  •  1 cup refried pinto beans (warmed)
  •  1 avocado, sliced
  •  ½ cup cotija cheese (crumbled)
  • 1 cup red salsa
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste
  •  Optional one jalapeño, thinly sliced for heat or hot sauce and crema

Directions

  1. In a nonstick pan, fry the eggs sunny-side up or over-easy, if you prefer a runny yolk. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if desired.
  2. Spread a layer of warm refried beans onto each crispy tostada.
  3. Place a fried egg on top, then spoon over the salsa generously.
  4. Add avocado slices, crumbled cotija, and cilantro.
  5. Serve immediately while hot and crispy, optionally topped with jalapeño slices, crema, or hot sauce. Enjoy!