New Jersey Stage Issue 62 | Page 18

Photo by Daniella Heminghaus SAMMY KAY Through Hell & Back by Gary Wien Morris County native Sammy Kay didn’t think he had any- thing left after his third album, Untitled. He was battling men- tal health issues and substance abuse. He was tired of touring and didn’t know what his future would hold, but he still believed. In fact, he ended Untitled with the song “I Believe.” It’s good that he kept the flame NJ STAGE - ISSUE 62 burning because the recently turned thirty year old has got an absolutely brilliant album called Civil/War coming out in Octo- ber. The folk/Americana styled album focuses on five aspects of mental health: depression, anxi- ety, addiction, and the themes of empathy and understanding. The songs sound confessional, but Kay swears they aren’t. INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 18