BACKGROUND
Sam Subar, a seasoned drummer based in Chicago, can be found performing at local venues, touring, recording, and sharing his rhythmic expertise through private lessons across the Chicagoland. His musical journey began during his childhood in Highland Park, IL, where early exposure to live concerts, his parents' music collection, a piano at home gifted by his great aunt, and the realization as a toddler that board game boxes could be turned into percussive devices proved formative. He found his true north at the drum set rather instantly upon his first encounters with the instrument at a close friend's home in grade school and shortly after taking advantage of a set gifted to his older brother which became a permanent fixture in his parents' basement. As a pre-teen, in his first two years behind the drum set, Sam immersed himself in self-instruction: actively listening to, experimenting with, and playing along to his favorite classic rock albums. Once in high school, Sam further immersed himself in music. He found immense joy in playing in ensembles settings including his school's marching band, wind ensemble, honors jazz band, and through finding peers of common musical interest with whom he formed a band that played school assemblies, local festivals, philanthropic events and recorded an EP and a full length album. The band received several newspaper write-ups via various publications throughout the Chicago area and also appeared on WGN Radio. Post high school and prior to college, Sam performed locally and toured internationally with acclaimed R&B vocalist/singer-songwriter Caroline Baran (KAEYRA). Throughout this time he also studied at the Music Institute of Chicago where he strengthened his understanding of Jazz music.
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In 2016, Sam accepted admission with scholarship to the Berklee College of Music where he later graduated with honors in 2019. There he studied performance and music business. His time there was immensely enriching. Some highlights of his time there included performing with The Bob Marley Ensemble, The Berklee Turntable Ensemble, Boston based Afro-Pop group Kina Zore, guitarist Hans Kristian Nordin, piano extraordinaire Jesus Javier Molina and a variety of singer songwriters. He also spent time outside of class as a chosen accompanist for various ensembles. The privilege to deepen his studies in a variety of styles and strengthen his application of them resulted in indispensable development. Furthermore, finding community with talented artists and individuals from all over the world greatly impacted Sam's identity both on and off the drum set. During the summer of 2018, Sam traveled to Kenya with the non-for-profit organization Global Youth Groove along side a small group of Berklee students and faculty. There he engaged in a cultural exchange both musically and personally. His time there was spent both as an educator and learner, conducting workshops in grade schools while learning from most everyone he was lucky enough to cross paths. He was welcomed by a level of generosity and community there which resulted in enriching experiences musically, personally, and spiritually. In the spring semester of 2019, Sam received Berklee's Pro Music Academic & Performance Scholarship Award in recognition of his outstanding work within his studies and involvement on and off campus musically. His experience culminated as a selected performer in the 2019 Berklee Commencement Concert at The Agganis Arena where he had the immense privilege of performing in front of students and their families, faculty, professors, and honorary doctorates Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott, and Alex Lacamoire. After graduating, Sam moved back to his hometown of Chicago where he currently pursues a freelance career in drum performance, production and instruction. Since moving back he has performed live with and recorded for Chicago based musical artists such as Minor Moon, Andrew Sa, Maiden King, Sarah Weddle, Reno Cruz, Da$htone and his brother, Max Subar (with whom he has had the gift of performing with since college). He has played various Chicago venues like Thalia Hall, The Metro, Schubas, Constellation, The Empty Bottle, The Park West, and Sleeping Village, performed at various street festivals, toured nationally, and performed at SXSW in Austin, Texas. He is also a skillful private instructor, with experience teaching both drums and piano all across the Chicago area, and currently teaching around 20 students a week. Additionally, he self produces drum tracks. Today his pocket centric style behind the kit roots itself in a fusion of rock, folk, funk, jazz, and r&b styles.
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