By Penny Brand – yelo.live

After putting his guitar down for 20 years, Sam Holden experienced an epiphany that led to the creation of his band 3 Year Project. Now Sam wants to give his dream of becoming a world-class musician one final shot. 

Sam Holden has a three-year goal: to play in his band 3 Year Project at the Glastonbury Festival.

The 42-year-old Baringa father-of-three is giving music one last go after a 20-year hiatus.

“Life just sort of got in the way,” Sam says.

“I’d always known my songs were too good to just be in a cupboard. I put so much time and effort and energy and passion into them when I was younger for them to just turn to dust.

“Music was always on my mind. I knew when I had more time, I’d try again.”

The hard-working principal engineer put down his guitar to focus on his career and family.

“It’s hard to focus on your aspirations when you have a young family and bills to pay.”

Sam became a specialist in the field of process safety, where he regularly presents at conferences, writes international engineering standards, and assesses major oil and gas facilities

“The guitars were left at home gathering dust after we went travelling around the world.”

Trip to major music festival rouses talent

His first trip to Glastonbury when he was 18 set off a music writing frenzy.

“I wrote probably 150 songs in that time and can probably still remember 70 of them,” he said.

“Music was absolutely everything to me when until I was 22. I got burnout.

“I was basically devoted to it. I’d write and write and write. The way I expressed myself was to just write songs.

“I used to really listen to all songs and understand the magic.

“I’d deep-dive into its meaning, like try and figure out how they got those lyrics. And just dissect the song. It was more like listening to a recipe than a song.”

Sam printed 500 copies of his second album and sold them in his local music store.

However, he never got the opportunity to perform his songs live.

Not only did his career get in the way, but like many musicians, Sam also suffered from debilitating stage fright, making his dream even more impossible.

“Things are different now. I feel like on one hand I have lost that creative essence, but I have grown in confidence and public speaking.

“I am a different person now I have more self-assurance and belief in myself and my abilities.”

A project, not a band

Sam is treating the 3 Year Project as an experimental project instead of a conventional band.

“We are using session musicians to learn the songs and perform them live. We are rehearsing in a studio to get the best sound we can.

“We’re also recording every rehearsal and documenting the progress.”

Sam is working with a mentalist and vocal coach to help him with confidence and stage presence.

“The aim is to document our journey and then make a documentary about it. We aim to find the blueprint to get to play at Glastonbury.”

Sam says all is not lost if he doesn’t fulfil his Glastonbury dream.

“If it doesn’t work out, at least I can say I gave it my all.

“When I’m 65 I will know I gave it my best, which is far better than not ever trying.

“I can also say I raised awareness, and hopefully a lot of funds, for charity. And hopefully inspired some people along the way.”

He says the project is more than achieving his dream of being a star.

“It’s a testament to the power of music to build and gives back to its local community. It serves as a reminder to all of us that it’s never too late to fulfil our aspirations.”

The first gig is being finalised and will be announced on socials soon.

The 3 Year Project will have their first single by February, and an album by the end of 2025.

You can follow the journey, be inspired, and give 3 Year Project a cheer along the way on the following platforms:

Website: https://3yearproject.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AfSQktSV8/?mibextid=wwXIfr