Sam Roberts Mixes It Up At The End Of The World

Sam Roberts pulled influences from an eclectic mix of experiences for his new album, Love At the End Of The World.

One song comes from a trip to the Kalahari Desert and the birth of his daughter. Another was spawned from his position as a semi-technological luddite and an observation that today's kids are wound a little tight.

"You put a lot of yourself into making a record," Roberts says. "Or you should, and we did on this one.

"I am grateful for having had the opportunity to do that. To dig around inside myself… to express my feelings about life with music. If you come out of making a record feeling like you did that to the fullest, you'll be happy with what you made."

Roberts has plenty of reasons to be happy with this record. The wide range of songs stands out among his previous two full-length releases. "Them Kids," the catchy first single, has already gained adoration and airplay. It appears that even the cell phone-toting teens who Roberts playfully rails against in the track have given it a prominent place on iPods.

"A good deal of what that song is about is an existential crisis every musician experiences in their career, where they don't know why what they're doing isn't appealing to everybody," explains Roberts. "Whims of 13- and 14-year-old kids determine your future. We sit around and talk about it all the time."

But Roberts isn't in the music industry to find fame. In fact, he says he thoroughly enjoys performing in the U.S. where he and his band are far less known than in Canada.

"We've spent a hell of a lot of time down there. We don't occupy nearly as much space in the media. We play in smaller venues, but we have a passionate following down there born out of the music and not out of any hype. Whoever comes out is there because they really want to be there, not because they were brainwashed into being there."

Canadian fans needn't worry, though. Roberts promises to embark on an extensive national tour after hitting the summer festival circuit. But it will be more difficult with a young child at home.

"There's going to be times — and many at that — where I'll have to be away, and hopefully that fuels the shows and gives them a purpose," says Roberts.

Well, someone has to teach the kids how to rock 'n' roll.

Here are Sam Roberts' Canadian dates:

July 12 Toronto, ON @ Downsview Park (Edgefest)
July 13 Ottawa, ON @ LeBreton Flats (Bluesfest)
July 26 Pemberton, BC @ Pemberton Festival