By Lara Gerrits The Tri-City News

Jun 13 2007

When Pim Bouwens writes a simple melody, he has an idea of what his song will sound like once it’s completed.

But he can never really know for sure.

That’s because the multi-instrumentalist (he plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, drums “and some things that are laying around”), arranger and producer passes that initial work on to his wife and music partner, Cynthia Hall, who gives his melody meaning through words.

Together, they form Sam’s Falling, which they describe as “subtle, poignant lyrics, striking melodies and gentle vocals with flowing, rhythmic instrumentation.”

With lyrics often inspired by life and nature, Sam’s Falling is easy to listen to and harkens back to the sound of Sarah McLachlan, almost evoking a meditative type of feel.

“I find a lot of answers in the ocean and the sky,” Hall explains during an interview at her Port Coquitlam home, where she teaches voice lessons and where Bouwens runs a recording studio (see www.hallbouwensmusic.com).

But that doesn’t mean she shies away from difficult topics; one song is about drug addiction, and although Hall has never been in that situation, she tried to imagine herself there “to feel what it might be like.”

There are no boundaries or borders, she explains of her inspiration. “We look inward and there’s so much... it’s kind of endless.”

Hall and Bouwens met in 1993 in The Netherlands when Hall, of Dutch-Indonesian heritage, was visiting home (she lived there until she was nine years old).

She met Bouwens, who was born and raised there, when she was in search of a drummer for a gig.

The pair was supposed to perform with one another just that once.

“After a year, Cynthia and I started to write songs together and that developed into a relationship in music [and outside of it],” says Bouwens, who jammed with well-known groups including Metallica and Anthrax during his budding career in The Netherlands.

In 1998, the couple moved to the Lower Mainland and formed Sam’s Falling. Almost a decade later, they’ve produced two albums — Beyond The Rumour’s Edge (2002) and Simplify (2006) — and are in pre-production of their third. Next year, they’ll go on a European tour of England, The Netherlands and Germany.

After that? They hope their music will keep growing and evolving. “I hope it takes people to a place where they can get to that nothingness... to be free in the music, almost empty — but in a good way,” Hall says.

TO LISTEN

Check out Sam’s Falling at www.samsfalling.com or www.myspace.com/samsfalling.

On Friday, June 15, Sam’s Falling — with guest musicians Tony Kerr (bass) and Kelly Stodola (drums) — will play at the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr., Port Moody).

Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $14 and available at the box office, 604-931-2008 or online at www.hallbouwensmusic.com.

A short film by King Anderson — Edge Of The World — will open the concert.

lgerrits@tricitynews.com