NYC-born Samantha Leah brings a new and vibrant energy into the music scene, as a divinely inspired, genre-bending lyricist and vocalist. Bursting onto the scene, Samantha has found ways to bridge the gap between various genres of music and is well-known for her creativity, both in songwriting skill and unique vocal variations. She grew up performing in musical theater shows, while simultaneously dipping her toes into the R&B world. Passionate in learning more about the evolution of humanity and consciousness, Samantha Leah is devoted to bringing a higher energetic frequency to the music industry. She does this by expressing herself unapologetically and encouraging others to do the same. After being told she must dress a certain way or stick to a certain type of sound, Samantha decided to part ways with many people in her past and fully invest in herself, and has since become a huge proponent of self-discovery, self-expression, authenticity, and sovereignty.
Getting to know Samantha
If you were to write an autobiography, what would the title be?
“How To Function in This World When You’re Not of It”
What would be the ideal food for you to have cooked on a date night?
Vegan tacos
If you had to describe yourself as a flavour, what would it be?
I’d be Sour Patch flavored—”first they’re sour… then they’re sweet.” That is literally me.
What’s your least favourite personality trait you like about yourself?
I’m a control freak.
If you were talking to a younger version of you, what advice would you give yourself?
People staring at you like your weird is a wonderful thing. You’re inspiring them to step into their authenticity.
What is one message you would like to give to your fans?
It’s never too late to follow your dreams. Everything you have experienced up until now MATTERS, and nothing you’ve done has been pointless. You’ve learned important skills that will help you manifest your dream life, whether you’ve been a dishwasher at your local restaurant or a financial adviser on Wall Street. USE your life experience to your advantage.
What lead you to become a music artist and what advice can you give to others aspiring to make a hit?
I grew up loving musical theater and performing in shows at a very young age. I think I would sing around the house and my mom quickly realized I loved to perform, so she brought me to auditions and that’s how it all began. My father is also a bass musician, so I would spend time writing songs with him once I got a little older. The greatest advice I can give to any aspiring artist is to follow your heart. No one else in the entire universe can do what you can do, because you are uniquely YOU. If you have a lyric or idea that seems a bit far out, just go for it. You may not become an overnight sensation (although you might!), but, eventually, your authenticity will shine through all the monotony of the same style of music being pumped out over and over again, and your voice will be heard.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
If I could change anything about the industry, I would make the music be of the utmost importance. I definitely understand that an artist’s image and social media traction is a part of this industry, but I feel that we keep gravitating further away from the purpose of making music, which is to create healing medicine for our audience. Luckily, there are many artists now revolutionizing the industry by going against the norm and bringing meaning back into mainstream music.
What sets your music apart? What is unique, or at least uncommon?
I consider myself genreless, and I feel that is how I stand out. Honestly, I am inspired by so many different types of music that sticking to one genre isn’t even an option. I think that intertwining 2 or 3 genres into one song (just like I did in my most recent release) makes my music very creative and, therefore, unique.
If we were to look at artists you are listening to, who would be on your playlist?
Let me look at what I have listening to on Spotify for the last week. For the last few days, I have been listening to a late 90’s/early 2000’s r&b playlist (with artists like 702, Mya, Ashanti, and Destiny’s Child, etc). I was also listening to a Bachata Classics playlist and a Dancehall playlist over the weekend. I seriously listen to everything. I listen to music from all over the world and I’m inspired by it all.
What has been the most challenge aspect of your current release?
Like lots of my other songs, it has been challenging to figure out where this song “fits” amongst all of the other music out there. Pitching to playlists and blogs is hard sometimes when the song touches on multiple genres and cannot really be boxed into one type of sound. I’d say that has been the most difficult thing about releasing ‘fly with you.’
If we were to peak over your shoulder, what does your studio look like? What gear do you typically use?
My recording process is very low maintenance. I record myself on Ableton. I use an Aston microphone and Focusrite Scarlett interface, with my pop filter, mic stand, and isolation shield.
Do you have any advice for would-be artists or songwriters wanting to follow in your footsteps?
I just happened to walk out of a coffee shop that had this quote by Thomas Edison written on the wall: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” …I’ll leave it at that!
Samantha has released her carefree euphoric single “Fly With You” produced with Broman Dude. A crossover blend of pop with EDM influences in hook, “Fly With You” highlights Samantha Leah’s lush R&B-infused vocals with her signature melodies and catchy lyrics.
