Sam Martin

A chart-topping singer/songwriter, Sam Martin emerged in the 2010s as an in-demand collaborator, scoring hits for Maroon 5, Jason Derulo, David Guetta, and others. His first song with Maroon 5, 2012′s “Daylight,” peaked at number one on the Billboard Top 40, and he picked up the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album alongside Ziggy Marley with 2014′s Fly Rasta. Along with his fruitful studio work, he co-leads the pop/rap band Con Bro Chill, and in 2018 issued his debut EP, Blue Tuesday. Born Samuel Denison Martin in 1983 in New York City, Martin grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon. After high school, he attended Berklee School of Music for two years before dropping out to pursue his music career. In 2009, he joined his brother, Connor Martin, in forming the soulfully cheeky pop, rock, and rap outfit Con Bro Chill. Initially gaining attention for their viral videos, the group morphed into a popular touring band, and in 2012 issued their debut album, 3D Music. Along the way, Martin also signed on as a songwriter with the Warner Music Group. His breakthrough came when Maroon 5 recorded his song “Daylight,” which subsequently appeared on the group’s third album, Overexposed, in 2012. From this experience, Martin’s profile grew and he was soon collaborating with the likes of Ziggy Marley and T.I. In 2014, he co-wrote and sang on David Guetta’s worldwide smash hits “Lovers on the Sun” and “Dangerous.” That same year, he also teamed up with Maroon 5 again for their fifth studio album, V, and contributed two tracks: “It Was Always You” and “Coming Back for You.” More featured tracks followed for Martin, including appearing on Flo Rida’s “Dirty Mind” in 2015, and Steve Angello’s “Nothing Scares Me Anymore” and Armin van Buuren’s “Wild Wild Son,” both in 2018. That same year, Martin issued the EP Blue Tuesday, which included his version of Maroon 5′s “It Was Always You,” as well as covers by U2 and the Beatles. A standalone single, “Long Live the Billionaire,” also appeared in 2018. ~ Aneet Nijjar