Issue 7 – UP NEXT, singer-songwriter Samira

Dream pop with unmanufactured sentiment and rich, slightly husky vocals. Yes please. Words: Ngaire Ruth

Singer-songwriter Samira arrived at ACM to take a 2-year accelerated ACM degree with her own agenda, having already played big stages and TV shows in Sweden. She’s just signed a distribution deal with Pharoah Records UK and marketing agency Nordic Bridge Music, but there’s no time to celebrate.

What’s next, Samira: ‘Reach out to new people, book more sessions, what was it we learnt last week? That the strongest connections are often the weakest ties.’

Growing up in Malmo, near one of the few forests of the south in an otherwise agricultural landscape, Samira would sing out at the end of the garden with all her heart towards the woods, hoping that some record executive would walk by.

Luckily, even though living in the middle of nowhere, she still had access to the Swedish municipal music school initiative, separate from the local school and accessible to all. She took three or four music lessons a week. Played cello for ten years, then piano, and writes on the guitar to produce music that is radio-pop song-perfect, striking that balance between elusive and interesting. These days she even plays the guitar at some live acoustic sessions.

The single House We Built is reviewed in this issue’s SINGLES REVIEWS section; follow-up release Surprisingly It Don’t (see below) reflects the same qualities: intimate storytelling, unique vocals, uncomplicated pitch and tone, and arrangement, with a warming production outro. Songs are accessible; everyone can put their own spin on it. The fact we can’t keep up with Samira at Buzz HQ demonstrates her work ethic and prolific songwriting.

The music video for House We Built reflects a sense of being on the outside looking in. Is that a theme?

     ‘I think when I first started writing at 17, I built my identity on my voice and lyrics. And now I’ve gone through something that I had to let go of (seven years at Swedish major indie label Cardiac).

      ‘That’s super big – starting anew in a different country, and thoughts and feelings about relationships have resonated too.’

For Samira, less is more.

       ‘I write acoustically because every small bit you add has a much bigger impact. I’m almost afraid of drums because for me the lyrics, the songwriter and the story and the voice is what it’s about – not something that steals attention or focus away and if it does it has to have a good reason.

‘What I struggle with is that it’s all about myself, and trying to engage others is important. Emotion is what drives me as a songwriter, so, for example, I’ll watch a TV programme and get inspired; it’s evoked a feeling. Additionally, I try to write every day, and I write for others too.’

Samira’s creative output is 50:50 her own brand, songwriting as collaborative work, and an ACM focus.   

      ‘From my experience, I think it can become more about numbers; statistics and comparisons when you focus on one thing. And if that comes crashing down…’

See you next time, Samira.

More Samira