By Bob Makin
originally published: 04/17/2026
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Once I Wake Up" from “The Sting of the Blade,” the recently released sophomore full-length from Central Jersey singer-songwriter Sam Tunkel. PHOTO BY DAN ACOSTA
Since August, young but prolific Central Jersey singer-songwriter Sam Tunkel has released two LPs and an EP.
From the new sophomore full-length, “The Sting of the Blade,” "Once I Wake Up" is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Once I Wake Up” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on April 17 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin, Mixcloud and RadioJersey.net.
“‘Once I Wake Up’ is an ode to the many nights that I stayed up late past my bedtime as a child, listening to music in the darkness of my room,” Sam said. “It was there in that darkness, and through those headphones, that I was able to get a glimpse of a world I felt I connected to. With many nights of laying up in bed, after hard days of school, praying for better friends, better days, better things, these were some of the formative moments that made me want to become a songwriter, and be a part of that world I was hearing through those headphones.”
The song was entirely written, recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered by Sam in his bedroom. The album’s other tracks include the closing single, “Inner City Lullaby.”
Sam preceded the nine-song “The Sting of the Blade” with the debut LP, "Out There,” and the more recently released EP, “The Parade Man.”
Studying music at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, Sam recently was featured on 90.3 FM The Core, one of the campus radio stations, as well as BlowUpRadio.com, hosted by New Jersey Stage’s Lazlo.
Having been exposed early on to live music culture by his father, Makin Waves Award-winning singer-songwriter-producer Bruce Tunkel, Sam attended weekly open mics from a very young age for years. It was there that he first began to hone his craft as a songwriter and musician, and learned what a strong musical community looks like.
Enjoy Sam live April 17, Demarest Hall, New Brunswick; April 18, The Kill Shed, Toms River; April 26, Bar Freda, Ridgewood, N.Y.; May 1, The Barnyard, Glassboro; May 2, Anti-ICE Charity Show, Revilla Grooves, Milltown, where he’ll also play June 12; May 8, The Rock Shack, Somerville; May 9, Symposia Bookstore, Hoboken; May 17, Highland Park Porchfest (afternoon) and 3BR Distillery, Keyport; May 22, Social Club Records; May 29, Madison Community Arts Center; May 31, Coffee Box, Rahway; June 4, Crossroads, Garwood; June 6, Boonton Coffee Co.; June 26, Bliss Coffee Lounge, Somerville, and Jun 26, Pino’s, Highland Park.
You also can enjoy him on Apple Music and Spotify.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].
About the author:
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
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(FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Concerts in the Studio presents Bastards of Fine Arts on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 7:30pm. The band includes Matt Keating, Jason Mercer, Steve Mayone, and Greg Wieczorek. You could say they are a new band with old roots.
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Prudential Center presents Mexican superstar Carín León on June 7th
(NEWARK, NJ) -- Mexican superstar Carín León entered a bold new chapter of his acclaimed career with the release of Muda - his new studio album and one of the most eclectic of his catalog. See for yourself when he performs at the Prudential Center on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Showtime is 8:00pm.
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