All this month we are speaking to musician Sam Mulligan who this year released the album Pizza Forever. From Western Massachusetts, the singer creates music with a rock and comedic tone. This week we talk all about the album Pizza Forever.
Tell us about your new album Pizza Forever ?
My new album, Pizza Forever, is a collection of pizza songs. None of the songs are really about pizza, per se, though. They are about life through the lens of pizza. It’s a catchy, eclectic mix of chiptune, rock, and pop with fun wordplay and clever lyrics. It’s got Gameboys, guitars, little synthesizers, pizza puns, and big choruses. It’s a little ‘out there’, but in a really fun way.
Where did the inspiration for the name come from?
I was originally going to call it Pizza Songs or The Pizza Album. Then I rewrote one line about a pizza shaped rocketship and liked that imagery, so I thought Infinite Pizza would be the name for a bit. But I kept thinking about it and Pizza Forever felt better to say. It had a similar feeling to me, so I went with it.
How long did it take to write and record ?
I first started working on it in 2018, but did not work on it non-stop. Most of the songs started as demos that year and I didn’t spend more than a week on any one song initially. It took longer to edit and rewrite the songs that I thought had the most potential. I worked on that on and off from 2018 to 2026. But yeah, I was also working the whole time, wrote and released other songs, played a bunch of shows, was in other bands, and played a lot of video games.
What is the main theme of the album?
To me, the main theme of the album is that you can write a song about anything. The obvious overarching theme is pizza, but none of the songs are really “about” pizza, you know? That’s just what ties all the songs together. I realized pretty early on that a pizza-themed album could easily end up just a boring novelty album, and I really didn’t want it to be that, so I wrote these songs to be good songs that just happen to all have a pizza element.
I didn’t like the idea of writing a song that was just about pizza, why it’s good, or why I like pizza. I just didn’t find that to be interesting. The song that is the closest to a throwaway novelty ‘I LIKE PIZZA’ track is probably “Pizza Every Day”, but the themes of that one to me are free will, obsession, and having fun with words, so I think there’s more to it than that.
I hope I was successful, but that’s ultimately up to everyone else’s ears.
What was the most tricky thing about recording the track?
The trickiest thing about recording for me is getting the vocals how I want them. I want people to be able to hear every word, and I want the delivery to match the song’s energy level. It’s not easy to get it right, AND record it properly.
How do you feel on the release day of a new album?
The feelings I’m feeling on release day are usually a mix of excitement and relief. I get excited for people to hear it, and to hear what they think of it. Then I feel relieved that it’s out there in the world, and then I get excited to start work on the next project. I’m psyched to start working on new songs that don’t have anything to do with pizza!
Which song are you most looking forward to performing live?
I’m looking forward to performing “MT BXZ” the most. It’s got the heaviest guitar on the album, and I get to really lay into the vocals at the end. It’s just really fun to play, and takes people on a journey, ya know?
How do you think your fans are going to react to the album?
Thankfully I’ve seen the reactions at a couple shows already! So far so good, they love it. I love hearing about the parts that stand out to them and I love that different folks have different favorite songs from the album!
What is your favourite lyric on the album?
There are a lot of lyrics that I’m really proud of on this album so it’s really hard to choose! Right now it’s “I can’t quite describe the feelings I feel / Like being sliced right in the back but with a pizza cutter wheel.”
For those who are new to your music, where can they find you on social media?
I am @sammulliganmusic most places, and I have a full list on www.sammulligan.com. I’m most active on Patreon, Instagram, and YouTube!
Finally three words why people should listen to your new album?
Gameboy. Pizza. Songs.
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