Sammy Volkov talks recent collaboration and upcoming album

Like the Edmonton Folk Music Festival (EFMF), musician Sammy Volkov is homegrown. He started his career off in Edmonton and here he remains, a familiar face in Edmonton’s music scene. From the beginning Volkov said he was welcomed into the local music community. 

“When I came back to Edmonton in 2020 some would say that was the worst time ever to start really seriously pursuing music here, but it turned out to be really great.”

EFMF regulars will remember Volkov from the 2023 EFMF, when he was a part of The School of Song. Every year The School of Song brings emerging, often Albertan, talents to the stages of the EFMF. Only a year after his last time playing the EFMF, Volkov didn’t expect to be asked back. He “sincerely thought it was a mistake” when artistic director Terry Wickham reached out to see if he was available.

“And I was like, ‘Yes, of course, no matter what.’”

Volkov added that he’s thrilled to be back.

“I grew up here, and I’ve always had [EFMF] in my mind as the gold standard.”

Album collaboration with Dana Wylie “one of the thrills” of Volkov’s life

In 2022 Volkov released an LP, Be Alright!. The album proved to be a hit with the local music scene, reaching number one on CJSR and debuting at number one on CKUA’s Top 30 Chart. The album landed at 38 for CKUA’s Top 100 Album Chart for 2022.

Since then Volkov has released another album, a collaboration with local musician Dana Wylie. The Day Had to Come released in May 2024. Working with Wylie is “one of the thrills” of Volkov’s life. The two were introduced in 2015 at a Whyte Avenue bar that no longer exists. Having hit it off, the same night Volkov sent Wylie “some homemade, crappy phone demos of some of [his] songs.”

“I remember she was clearly surprised that she actually liked this,” Volkov said. “So that kind of planted the seed.” 

Come 2020 Wylie would do the backup vocals on Volkov’s Be Alright!. 

“We loved singing so much that we thought it would be natural to do a fully collaborative duets album.”

Wylie and Volkov wrote the songs for The Day Had to Come independently. One of the benefits of working with Wylie and producer Harry Gregg was their technical experience, Volkov said.

“If ever there was an issue with harmony or a chord that didn’t quite go with the melody they would fix it. I could just kind of sit there and nod and smile.” 

Wylie, Gregg, recording engineer Scott Franchuk, and contributing musicians made the album “just perfect,” Volkov said. The first track, “Secret Subway Conversations” — one of Volkovs contributions — stands out as a personal favourite.

“That’s weird for me, to listen to something I’ve recorded and really enjoy it. But I really love listening to “Secret Subway Conversations.” So that’s something I’m actually proud of.”

Volkov working on new album Songs from the Goodbye Garden

Currently in the works is Volkov’s sophomore solo album Songs from the Goodbye Garden, for which he received full funding from the Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) to complete. Those familiar with his work thus far should expect an entirely different sound. Volkov has brought in a new team of people — including Renny Wilson of Faith Healer to produce — with the goal of expanding his musical horizons. 

“I wanted to totally change the sound of the album to try and do as much as I can. I love it when artists have a really eclectic discography, so I’m trying to really mix things up, album to album.”

With Songs from the Goodbye Garden, Volkov is getting “pretty ambitious with the arrangements,” aiming for a chamber folk sound, also known as folk baroque. He attributes late 1960s United Kingdom (U.K.) folk and straightforward folk as primary influences. Thanks to the EAC grant Volkov is also achieving a long-time dream: having strings on a sappy ballad. 

“To have strings on a sappy ballad is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m finally gonna have that on this upcoming album,” Volkov said.

“I can’t wait to share it, because I’m really proud of it. I feel like it’s a big change. It’s very ambitious, and it’s really personal. I have really high hopes for it.”