• A Light in the Dark: My Songwriting Journey - The Litter Bug - Debut Book for Children
    Apr 28 2022

    On FRIDAY 3rd JUNE, 2022, I will publish my first book for children entitled, The Litter Bug. I believe the book would be perfect for both primary and secondary students in Hong Kong and beyond and essential reading for any child who enjoys reading stories about nature, magic and adventure!

    My sincere hope is that students of all ages can enjoy and relate to the adventures of Bud the Litter Bug and feel inspired to continue their studies in English and develop a greater love of reading. Furthermore, it is hoped that the book can raise children’s awareness of the critical issues of littering and environmental protection.

    I am also available for bookshop / school / library workshops, visits, readings via zoom or in-person at your convenience. 

    You may contact me at samuelbarbour@hotmail.com for bookings.

    I unreservedly commend The Litter Bug to you!

    The Litter Bug - DETAILS:

    -Published on FRIDAY 3rd JUNE, 2022

    -Available in both paperback (A5 size - 210 x 148 mm) and ebook format

    -104 pages in length including 16 beautiful full page colour illustrations designed by local Hong Kong artist, Kay Wong. 

    -Available on all major online retailers (Amazon etc) & also www.browndogbooks.uk in association with SSP Publishing, UK.


    Follow Online:
    DEBUT EP:
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/hope-love-never-dies

    DEBUT ALBUM:
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/lets-join-hands

    www.sambarbour.com

    www.youtube.com/c/TeacherHam

    Thank you.
    Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/samuelbarbour)

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    Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/samuelbarbour)

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    11 mins
  • A Light in the Dark: My Songwriting Journey - Season 2 Episode 2
    Mar 20 2022

    A Light in the Dark is an honest account of my songwriting journey from the very beginning as a young man with nothing but an old guitar and a fistful of half-baked songs to performing live on TV & radio in Hong Kong & securing national press in both the UK & Hong Kong,  receiving BBC Radio airplay & releasing my debut album, Let's Join Hands on the 30th April, 2021.

    In today’s episode, I am going to share some stories about the recording process of some other songs from Let's Join Hands and collaboration with other musicians.

    As with all previous episodes, I hope you can take away useful information about the process of writing a song, working with other musicians, preparing your song for a professional recording, working with a producer in a studio, releasing your first song online and much more...

    Of course, I made lots of mistakes along the way but I see these all as useful signposts to becoming a professional songwriter – something that I continue to strive towards and I sincerely hope they can aid you too. As they say, failure is the mother of success. Let’s start.

    Follow Online:
    DEBUT EP:
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/hope-love-never-dies

    DEBUT ALBUM:
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/lets-join-hands

    www.sambarbour.com

    www.youtube.com/c/TeacherHam

    Thank you.
    Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/samuelbarbour)

    Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
    Start for FREE

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    Support the show
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    15 mins
  • A Light in the Dark: My Songwriting Journey-Season 2 Episode 1
    Jan 21 2022
    A Light in the Dark is an honest account of my songwriting journey from the very beginning as a young man with nothing but an old guitar and a fistful of half-baked songs to performing live on TV & radio in Hong Kong & securing national press in both the UK & Hong Kong,  receiving BBC Radio airplay & releasing my debut album, Let's Join Hands on the 30th April, 2021.

    DEBUT EP:
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/hope-love-never-dies

    DEBUT ALBUM:
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/lets-join-hands

    In today’s episode, I am going to look at the same processes and story behind my song, Let's Join Hands - the title track of my debut album.

    As with all previous episodes, I hope you can take away useful information about the process of writing a song, preparing your song for a professional recording, working with a producer in a studio and releasing your first song online.

    Of course, I made lots of mistakes along the way but I see these all as useful signposts to becoming a professional songwriter – something that I continue to strive towards and I sincerely hope they can aid you too. As they say, failure is the mother of success. Let’s start.

    Thank you.
    Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/samuelbarbour)


    Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
    Start for FREE

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    Support the show
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    15 mins
  • A Light in the Dark: My Songwriting Journey - Episode 6
    Sep 5 2021

    A Light in the Dark is an honest account of my songwriting journey from the very beginning as a young man with nothing but an old guitar and a fistful of half-baked songs to performing live on TV & radio in Hong Kong & securing national press in both the UK & Hong Kong,  receiving BBC Radio airplay & releasing my debut album, Let's Join Hands on the 30th April, 2021.

    DEBUT EP:
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/hope-love-never-dies

    DEBUT ALBUM:
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/lets-join-hands

    In today’s episode, I am going to look at the same processes and story behind my charity song for the homeless - Streetsleeper.

    Support charities for the homeless:
    https://impacthk.org/
    https://social-bite.co.uk/

    As with all previous episodes, I hope you can take away useful information about the process of writing a song, preparing your song for a professional recording, working with a producer in a studio and releasing your first song online. 

    Of course, I made lots of mistakes along the way but I see these all as useful signposts to becoming a professional songwriter – something that I continue to strive towards and I sincerely hope they can aid you too. As they say, failure is the mother of success. Let’s start.

    Thank you.

    Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/samuelbarbour)

    Support the show
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    20 mins
  • A Light in the Dark: My Songwriting Journey - Episode 5
    Jul 10 2021

    A Light in the Dark is an honest account of my songwriting journey from the very beginning as a young man with nothing but an old guitar and a fistful of half-baked songs to performing live on TV & radio in Hong Kong & securing national press in both the UK & Hong Kong,  receiving BBC Radio airplay & releasing my debut album, Let's Join Hands on the 30th April, 2021.

    DEBUT EP: 
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/hope-love-never-dies

    DEBUT ALBUM: 
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/lets-join-hands

    In today’s episode, I am going to look at the same processes and story behind Timecatcher & Freefalling - songs four and five from the EP - Hope (Love Never Dies).

    As with all previous episodes, I hope you can take away useful information about the process of writing a song, preparing your song for a professional recording, working with a producer in a studio and releasing your first song online. 

    Of course, I made lots of mistakes along the way but I see these all as useful signposts to becoming a professional songwriter – something that I continue to strive towards and I sincerely hope they can aid you too. As they say, failure is the mother of success. Let’s start.

    Thank you.

    Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/samuelbarbour)

    Support the show
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    14 mins
  • A Light in the Dark: My Songwriting Journey - Episode 4
    Jun 1 2021

    A Light in the Dark is an honest account of my songwriting journey from the very beginning as a young man with nothing but an old guitar and a fistful of half-baked songs to performing live on TV & radio & securing national press in both the UK & Hong Kong,  receiving BBC Radio airplay & releasing my debut album, Let's Join Hands on the 30th April, 2021.

    DEBUT EP: 
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/hope-love-never-dies

    DEBUT ALBUM: 
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/lets-join-hands

    In today’s episode, I am going to look at the same processes and story behind song three from the EP - Hope (Love Never Dies) which, like Caledonia Dreaming is highly personal in nature. 

    Although this song has not done as well as other songs in a commercial / radio sense, it has been played on radio and was the first song I ever performed live on radio: The RTHK3 Morning Brew show in Hong Kong on the 30th August, 2017. 

    As with Episode 3, I hope you can take away useful information about the process of writing a song, preparing your song for a professional recording, working with a producer in a studio and releasing your first song online. 

    Of course, I made lots of mistakes along the way but I see these all as useful signposts to becoming a professional songwriter – something that I continue to strive towards and I sincerely hope they can aid you too. As they say, failure is the mother of success. Let’s start.

    Thank you.

    Support the show!
    (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/samuelbarbour)

    Support the show
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    13 mins
  • A Light in the Dark: My Songwriting Journey - Episode 3
    May 4 2021

    A Light in the Dark is an honest account of my songwriting journey from the very beginning as a young man with nothing but an old guitar and a fistful of half-baked songs to performing live on TV & radio & securing national press in both the UK & Hong Kong,  receiving BBC Radio airplay & releasing my debut album, Let's Join Hands on the 30th April, 2021.

    DEBUT EP: 
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/hope-love-never-dies

    DEBUT ALBUM: 
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/lets-join-hands

    In today’s episode, I am going to look at the same processes and story behind song two from the EP - Caledonia Dreaming which is a highly personal song and marks a clear turning point in my approach to songwriting.  Caledonia Dreaming was the first of my songs to gain radio play in the UK and also the first song to be downloaded by a paying customer. It also went on to win the best singer-songwriter song award at the 2020 Spring Clouzine International Awards and stayed in the Hotdisc Top 40 Country Charts for twelve weeks peaking at no. 23. As with Episode 2, I hope you can take away useful information about the process of writing a song, preparing your song for a professional recording, working with a producer in a studio and releasing your first song online. 

    Of course, I made lots of mistakes along the way but I see these all as useful signposts to becoming a professional songwriter – something that I continue to strive towards and I sincerely hope they can aid you too. As they say, failure is the mother of success. Let’s start.

    Thank you.

    Support the show!
    (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/samuelbarbour)








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    15 mins
  • A Light in the Dark: My Songwriting Journey - Episode 2
    Apr 16 2021

    A Light in the Dark is an honest account of my songwriting journey from the very beginning as a young man with nothing but an old guitar and a fistful of half-baked songs to performing live on TV & radio & securing national press in both the UK & Hong Kong,  receiving BBC Radio airplay & releasing my debut album, Let's Join Hands on the 30th April, 2021.

    DEBUT EP:
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/hope-love-never-dies

    DEBUT ALBUM:
    https://sambarbour.hearnow.com/lets-join-hands

    In this episode, I am going to look at the songwriting process and story behind my song - Far Across the Night Sky, track one from my debut 5-song EP Hope (Love Never Dies). I hope you can take away useful information about the process of writing a song, preparing your song for a professional recording, working with a producer in a studio and releasing your first song online.

    Of course, I made lots of mistakes along the way but I see these all as useful signposts to becoming a professional songwriter – something that I continue to strive towards and I sincerely hope they can aid you too. As they say, failure is the mother of success. Let’s start.

    Thank you.

    Support the show!
    (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/samuelbarbour)

    Support the show
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins