Samantha Marie – Live at Clearlake Studios

By starrymag | January 25, 2024

By: Alejandra Gil M.

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) It took a full year of experimenting, although I had an idea of what my sound was, I couldn’t fully lock in what that was in terms of “what did I like performing?”, “what felt most comfortable to me?” and “what felt most like me and the sound I wanted people to think of when they thought of me?” My music for next year might resemble a mix of Lizzy McAlpine and Boy Genius and, while experimenting this year, some said I was a “female Smashing Pumpkins.”

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) To name a few, briefly, John Prine, Lana Del Rey, Lizzy McAlpine, Joni Mitchell, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ariel Pink….

 

Q) Your new EP called Live at Clearlake Studios is out now. What made you decide to do an album that featured your live performances?

 

A) Live music is incredibly important, and some of my favorite songs are actually live versions of the originals. It gives it this new light, like you’re experiencing the performance in your living room, through your phone, it’s less lonely.

 

Q) When it comes to your music, what is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can come up with the lyrics?

 

A) It’s different every single time, some written in ten minutes from a single phrase, and then “freestyled” over an instrumental track or chord progression from piano or guitar. No, I don’t need music before writing. I would say I’m a writer before I am a musician, and most often, words come first. Sometimes it’s a melody that comes out of nowhere, and I need to record it on my phone, in gibberish, then put words into that melody later on.

 

Q) Was there a song from Live at Clearlake Studios that was more emotional for you to record or maybe challenging for you in some way?

 

A) I would definitely say that recording “Beaches” as a live piano version was really emotional, as the song itself is quite sad and played like that, really breaks it down.

 

Q) Before releasing this album you toured extensively in 2023, performing at venues such as Bar Lubitsch and Madame Siam. What was your favorite part of playing live?

 

A) My absolute part of playing live was learning from each experience, connecting with someone new in the audience that may not have heard the music before and playing the music with my friends, who made up the band during the performances. Sorry, that was three favorite things!

 

Q) The EP reimagines five songs from Summers in a live studio setting, which includes tracks like “Heaven,” “Your Phone,” my favorite “Strawberry Sensation,” “Elizabeth,” and “Beaches,” with the latter two being bonus tracks recorded at Hotel Cafe and Eric’s Studio. Do you have a personal favorite and what makes it so significant for you?

 

A) My personal favorite is the live recorded version of “Elizabeth” performed at Hotel Cafe, as it was one of my favorite venues to play this year, had amazing sound and the song live featured harmonies from my friends, Rebecca Mallen and Catherine Glasgow. My band added in guitar riffs, bass notes and drums that lets you experience the song in a new way and really embraces and respects the live version of that song, and how special it is to perform it every single time.

 

Q) This EP offers a new, more intimate dimension to your music. What do you hope people take away from it?

 

A) I hope people can take away that within music, to me at least, the imperfections make it interesting, fun and personal. That’s why the vocals were left raw and certain mistakes were kept because live music becomes more intimate when we aren’t focusing on perfection.

 

Q) You also have a few music videos out such as “When You’re Not There” directed by Matthew Rawlston and “Strawberry Sensation” directed by Michela Maria. How involved were you in developing the art behind it?

 

A) I co-directed both, and each director was also incredibly gracious with their talents in each video and I wouldn’t have seen my vision, otherwise. I developed both concepts, themes, settings, and important details were also added by each director that made each video what it is. Collaboration is so important.

 

Q) Your debut EP Running in Place set the tone for your career, showcasing distinctive song structures and earning praise from notable publications like EarMilk and Metal Magazine. Your debut album, Summers, further solidified your place in the music world, with Office Magazine lauding it as a reflective exploration of life’s complexities.  What does it mean to get more and more recognition of your music?

 

A) I think when your art is recognized, it’s always a really special feeling, especially if others are feeling connected to it and can resonate with it. Music is a connection and that’s what I want to do, connect with people.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) I would love to collaborate with so many artists! Wow, this is definitely a tough question, but some dream artists are Lana Del Rey, Lizzy McAlpine, Carol Ades, Sadie Jean and Fox Academy.

 

Q) What album/group are you currently listening to and why do you like it?

 

A) I would say, right now, I’m listening to a ton of singer-songwriter and indie music. So many artists put out incredible work this year, including close friends. I like singer-songwriters because the writing was written by the artist, which I really appreciate. I like indie, as it means “independent,” I really like supporting indie musicians, and I end up finding the best hidden gems.

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of you and your music? 

 

A) I sometimes don’t know what to say because it’s always so special to me that I am getting to build such an incredible community of people who are so kind as to have given my music a chance, stay for the ride and listen to my art. Thank you times a million. I cannot wait for what I’m working on for the new year, and getting to create art, and have you listen is something I will never forget.