Sam Newton Battenberg Faulkner (born January 11, 1985) is an English singer… Read Full Bio ↴Sam Newton Battenberg Faulkner (born January 11, 1985) is an English singer-songwriter and musician from Reigate, Surrey, UK. Known for his rhythmic guitar playing, Faulkner came to prominence in 2007, with the release of his debut studio album, Hand Built by Robots. The album was certified double platinum in the United Kingdom, and yielded the singles, Dream Catch Me, I Need Something and Teardrop. Following an accident, which resulted in his right wrist shattering, Faulkner released his second studio album, Rebuilt by Humans in 2009 (so called because he broke his hand whilst taking family and friends skiing, though he himself was not skiing he fell and broke his hand. His father flew some of the best surgeons in the world to come and repair it so was literally "Rebuilt by Humans")

Faulkner began playing guitar at the age of 11-12 with session guitarist Bob "crazy guy" Cranham and also attended the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, where he spent 2 years gaining both diploma and the higher diploma award under the tutelage of Eric Roche.

His first band was a Green Day cover band, in which he played bass guitar. His experience on the stage grew as he formed Half a Guy, a funk rock group with a quirky edge, with fellow band mates Matt Buchanan, Dave Elvy and Nicola Crawshaw. Half a Guy recorded two demo CDs and managed 2 years before splitting. He then spent time recording and gigging under the name Newton Battenberg Faulkner, where he played the Lapagestock festival on the 11th June 2005.

Recent appearances on BBC Radio 2 as well as a publishing deal with Peermusic UK compelled the Independent on Sunday to tell its readers to "Watch this face". Faulkner performed at the 2006 South by Southwest music festival and at Guilfest 2007.

In 2006 he had a support slot for Steve Forbert at The Spitz in London, England.

Newton has recently been signed by [labelSony BMG records and on the 30th of July 2007 he released his debut album Hand Built By Robots. He supported James Morrison on his February UK tour as well as Paolo Nutini on his UK tour in April, and also John Mayer on his September dates in the United Kingdom. He also supported The John Butler Trio on a number of European dates.

In June 2007 Newton's second single Dream Catch Me was selected Jo Whiley's 'Pet Sound' on her daily Radio 1 show. This gave the track much exposure and was highly commented on by listeners to Jo's show.

Newton appeared twice at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2007 - once on the Friday on the Acoustic Stage and once on the Sunday on the Leftfield Stage. He appeared at V Festival 2007 in August where he played in the Virgin Mobile Sessions Tent - a venue much too small as people overflowed outside. He also appeared at the Connect Music Festival at the end of August 2007 on the Guitars and Other Machines stage

On July 29, Dream Catch Me entered the UK Singles Chart at number 16. The following week it had risen to number 7 with Hand Built By Robots entering the album charts at number 3. The song rose to #8 on 12 August, the album to number 1 on 26 August.

Eric Roche is undoubtedly one of Newton's biggest influences, both from a stylistic point of view (vis a vis the percussive use of the guitar's body) and through the use of tapping, uncommon tunings and inventive chord changes, such as in I Need Something and Ageing Superhero, from his debut album. This method of playing also shows heavily in the work of Jon Gomm and Pete Wailes, although with a slightly different feel in both.

This Town
Newton Faulkner Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I should know by now
I should see some how
How to bring her round
How to breathe

I don't make a sound
Splinters hit the ground
Silence screams so loud

As see leaves

As the torch light shines
Through the heavy skies
Autumn waves her hand straight at me
See her world fall down
As the trees turn brown
As she drifts away and leaves

As the lights go down
She won't leave this town with me

There's more endless days
Heaven slips away
And I still see her face in broken dreams
Words are left too late
In our last embrace
Pushed until she breaks just like me

As the lights go down
She won't leave this town
She won't leave this town with me

Things I wish she'd say
Just to hear something
Left alone to a fate that we don't yet see
Then the moment fades
The sun turns to slate
Nothing stays the same
She will leave

As the lights go down
She won't leave this town
As the lights go down
She won't leave this town

As the lights go down
She won't leave this town with me

Overall Meaning

In "This Town," Newton Faulkner sings about a woman who is unwilling to leave the town he loves. He acknowledges that he should have more insight into how to change her mind, but he has failed to do so. The silence of the woman he loves is deafening, and it pains him that he can't get through to her. The torchlight symbolizes a sign of hope as autumn waves her hand straight at the man, but it is futile as everything falls apart.

Throughout the song, Faulkner paints a picture of a relationship that has come to an end. He alludes to the fact that words have been left too late and that they were left alone to a fate that they did not yet see. The singer wishes they had more time, but it is too late. The woman is going to leave, and he will be left behind. Despite this, he can't help but hold onto hope, as the song ends with a repeated line admitting that she won't leave the town with him.

One possible interpretation of "This Town" is that it is about unrequited love. The man in the song is hopelessly in love with the woman, but she doesn't return his affections. It is likely that he has been trying to win her over for some time, but she has remained stubborn, unwilling to give him a chance. The torchlight shining through the heavy skies could represent the man's hope that the woman will see the light and finally fall for him. However, it is clear that this isn't going to happen, and he is left alone in the town he loves.

Line by Line Meaning

I should know by now
I am aware of what I should do

I should see some how
I should figure out a way

How to bring her round
How to make her come around

How to breathe
How to cope and keep going

I don't make a sound
I am silent and still

Splinters hit the ground
Something has broken and fallen apart

Silence screams so loud
The quietness is deafening

As see leaves
As she drifts away

As the torch light shines
As a ray of hope appears

Through the heavy skies
Through difficult times

Autumn waves her hand straight at me
The season is changing and time is passing