Who wouldn’t love to have their own music on the most popular music downloading Web site? Samuel Childs is a very talented young man, who is studying hard in Instrumental Music Education, but still manages to find the time to write his own music and lyrics.

Childs is a 21-year-old junior from Mobile, Ala., and is involved in many ensembles on campus and with his church. These groups include the Auburn University Singers, Auburn University Chamber Choir, Auburn University Marching Band and an acappella group called FOCUS at the Auburn Christian Student Center.

Since Childs does write his own lyrics and music, he says the process is pretty stubborn.

“I guess you could say it’s like riding a bike, once you learn how to do it you don’t have to think about how to stay balanced. Ideas for songs come out all at once, but the process of composing each song is different.” Childs said.

Childs currently has an album on iTunes called “206” and an EP called “The Sounds of the Season”. He claims that getting music on iTunes isn’t as complicated as one might think, but there are a few requirements. These requirements include having a recording and the legal right of the music you are wishing to sell, a Universal Product Code (UPC) and a digital distributor. Childs recorded his music with his own equipment, and acquired a UPC when he made CD’s last summer. After iTunes responded to his application, they suggested Childs use Catapult Distribution. This is digital label who acts as digital distributor to distribute his music to all the major online music stores, such as Napster, Rhapsody, emusic and Zune.

One review on iTunes said “An excellent collection of exciting musical expertise… His creative composing ability is phenomenal.”

Childs is a little intimidated that his own music is on such a popular website since he is limited by a keyboard, instead of a real piano. But all of his tracks have been recorded live with no editing done to them.

“I have to remind myself this is the best I can do and I didn’t put my music on iTunes to beat out John Mayer’s sales for the month. But I did it for my fans.”
Childs feels that there are advantages and disadvantages for having music on iTunes. He now has the ability to give his fans his music. But the one disadvantage is that people may never give his music a chance. Childs doesn’t want people to expect a Warner Brothers recording.

“It’s really humbling to realize that there are people who like what I have to say and what is on my heart,” said Childs.

For the future of his music, Childs is making investments to professionally record his new stuff. He will also be auditioning for America’s Got Talent in Atlanta on Feb. 7.

In the meantime, Childs plays around Auburn at dinners, parties and formals. He is scheduled to play April 6 at the Recital Hall in the Goodwin Music Building at 7:30 p.m. to showcase some songs from his CD “206” and also a few new pieces.

So if you have a couple of dollars, and you want to hear some good, original music, check out Samuel Childs on iTunes.


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