In a wierd transfer for me, I began listening to Samia a number of months in the past, solely after shopping for tickets to her live performance.
One in every of my favourite bands, Tommy Lefroy, is opening for Samia on her upcoming “Honey” tour. As quickly as I noticed the announcement, I snagged tickets for the Boston date with out listening to a single Samia tune.
As an excellent concert-goer — I made a decision to do my due diligence and be taught each phrase of Samia’s music. Dipping into her 2020 debut album “The Child,” I discovered myself transfixed — mesmerized by Samia’s beautiful voice and dreamy various manufacturing. All through my total pay attention, I used to be kicking myself for locating Samia so late.
“The Child” left me hungry for extra. It was an especially stable debut. However I used to be curious to see the place Samia would go subsequent.
“Honey” lived as much as, and even exceeded, my expectations. All through the course of her 11-song sophomore album, Samia transported me to a world of her expertly made coupling of heart-shattering lyricism and beautiful instrumentals.
My favourite tune on the album, “Appeal You,” sees Samia reject the impulse to cowl up her true self to impress a possible love. She acknowledges that permitting somebody to fall in love with a facade will solely result in heartbreak.
“You might be so disarming along with your sincere smile, tepidly confessing that you simply swallowed a fly,” she sings. “I simply noticed my entire life flash earlier than your eyes, and I don’t wish to attraction anybody this time.”
In such a brief and vivid picture, Samia permits us to really feel the tenderness for this particular person and the way she strives to be genuine to keep away from a false “attraction.” The observe is painfully relatable, and Samia’s stunning vocal harmonies mesh with an upbeat manufacturing that really feel each gritty and polished.
“To Me It Was” is a beautiful testomony to the ability of nostalgia. Samia displays on the previous with a easy acoustic manufacturing and acknowledges that wanting again invitations romanticization, which isn’t all the time a nasty factor.
“And the way a lot better can something get than sitting in your porch remembering it?” Samia sings.
I couldn’t assist however smile at this picture. Someday sooner or later, I may see myself reminiscing on the previous, rose-colored lenses over my eyes — not caring. This tune shall be working by way of my thoughts, reminding me that “to me, it was an excellent time,” whereas I shut my eyes, buzzing the calming melody.
Virtually like a lullaby, “Nanana” is reassuring and candy. Samia sings in regards to the distinctive perspective her important different has, despite the fact that each are considerably cussed.
“Some individuals see a cobweb hanging within the window, however you see a constellation,” she sings.
It’s an intimate picture conveying Samia’s surprise and look after her important different. Nonetheless, within the refrain, she acknowledges that “nothing’s gonna change your thoughts” and “nothing’s gonna change my thoughts.” The sweetness of the observe overpowers this sentiment, leaving the listener unable to do something however sway and smile.
“Honey” sees Samia embrace a sound that invitations contemplation. Lots of the tracks could also be seen as boring upon the primary listening, however the easy preparations of many songs draw consideration to the intentionality of Samia’s lyricism and imagery.
Many songs cope with heavy subjects like sexual assault. The album isn’t a light-weight pay attention, however it’s value your time. Samia is younger, however she has confirmed that she is aware of her sound and viewers. She’s delivered, yet one more, stunning and susceptible album.
