A Journey Through “Paper Planes” with &Tilly and Patrick Sampson

By FusioNostalgia

&Tilly and Patrick Sampson, two remarkably talented musicians, have come together to create something truly unique. Their collaboration, rooted in their personal experiences and artistic journeys, has resulted in a project that defies easy categorization. &Tilly describes themselves as an under-the-radar, international, genre-bending project that began with an end. Both introverted individuals, they found each other through their personal struggles and created something greater than themselves. Over time, they connected with various artists worldwide, adding new dimensions to their music. At the heart of &Tilly’s music is the unique voice and mellow style of singer and songwriter, Tilly. Their music is characterized by profound lyrics, powerful melodies, and haunting soundscapes, capturing the beauty of inner sadness and the depth of unanswered questions. Their genre-blending sound spans alternative dream pop, folk, singer-songwriter, country, synthpop, and electronic vibes.

Patrick Sampson, a singer-songwriter-guitarist in his early 20s, has been writing songs since he was 15. Despite his youth, Patrick’s lyrics and storytelling abilities reflect a maturity beyond his years. His debut album, “Altrove” (Italian for “somewhere else”), recorded in his home studio and released in 2020, showcases his natural knack for melody, a smooth voice, guitar-playing ability, and poetic, sometimes cinematic style. The album, inspired by different parts of his life over four years, takes listeners on a journey to various places, both real and imagined.

Their latest single, “Paper Planes,” is a beautiful collaboration born from a simple conversation. When asked, “What are you thinking about?”, the response, “Paper planes,” became the seed for a song that took shape through voice memos and messages exchanged over Whatsapp. The song, both grey and colorful, is a testament to being there for someone despite the heaviness of their sadness. It carries a message of enduring hope and the promise of sending “paper planes” to remind them they are not alone, even when they feel lost. The song’s lyrics and vocal treatments reflect this duality, with Tilly’s voice embodying the foggy, layered softness of sadness and Patrick’s voice representing the bright, clear hope.

“Paper Planes” is a deeply personal song about loving someone who is lost in their sadness. It speaks to the struggle of feeling useless when a loved one is struggling and the importance of reminding them that they are not alone. Tilly’s haunting, ethereal vocals and Patrick’s distinct, melodic voice create a dynamic contrast that mirrors the song’s lyrical themes. The climactic last chorus reminds us that roles can switch, and sometimes the one who was okay before will need the reminder of being loved and waited for when they fall into the fog of sadness.

Creating “Paper Planes” was a healing process for Tilly, who was in a grey state during its creation. The song helped her navigate her feelings of being a burden while also healing her. For Patrick, the experience of writing most of the lyrics through messages and creating a song from different parts of the world was unique and special. The song’s dynamic nature, with Tilly’s beautiful and delicate layered vocals and Patrick’s clear and distinct melody, captures the essence of their collaboration. Most of the song was recorded at Brown Shanty Studios in Oneida, NY, with Vince Brown capturing the vocals and guitars. The main progression was recorded with Patrick’s father’s old Fender acoustic dreadnought guitar, which has a huge sound that was beautifully captured. Patrick also used his favorite Gretsch Guitar model, the G5420T, adding a signature sound to his otherwise acoustic songs.

“Paper Planes” is a song that resonates with anyone who has experienced the duality of sadness and hope. It is a testament to the power of music to connect and heal, reminding us that we are never truly alone, even in our darkest moments.