A singer-songwriter on her record shop roots.
By FP contributor, Gwen Attridge.
Let’s set the scene: it’s 1990. You just got paid. Your favorite artist just dropped their new album. Right after work, you hop in your car and head to your local record store. And there it is, in all its beauty: a disc that will spin around thousands of times, playing songs that will become attached to some of your favorite memories.
Fast forward to now, and we have this whole process at our fingertips. However, nothing can replace the special feeling of having a physical copy of those defining songs. That’s why we decided it was time to shed some light on those places that have been so essential to the music industry, and the communities that have come to fruition around it. Record stores and labels have seen friendships form, connections made, and careers blossom. They’ve ignited a passion in so many individuals who we now see performing all across the country. Singer-songwriter Samia can speak to this, growing up in LA with trips to Amoeba Music comprising a core memory of her childhood. As the face of our new We The Free Record Shop capsule, which highlights four iconic record stores and labels – Righteous Babe Records, Repo Records, Easy Street Records, and Amoeba Music Hollywood – Samia speaks to her roots, inspirations, and her life as a performer:
From where do you draw inspiration for your lyrics, and how do you get past writer's block when inspiration doesn’t hit?
“A lot of my lyrics come from stream of consciousness and poems that I've written when inspiration strikes, and then I just sort of try to Tetris them into songs that rhyme later. And writer's block. Yeah. I try to go do something else and have experiences so that there's something to write about.”
What made you make the move from the DIY-NYC scene to Nashville?
“My boyfriend lived there, and I wanted to spend time with him during the pandemic and also be somewhere where there were trees, so I could, like, walk around outside and be in nature. So yeah, I went to Nashville and then just fell in love with the feeling of stillness there.”
You’ve seen many parts of the entertainment industry, having actor parents, growing up doing theater, etc. What made you fall in love with indie-rock?
“I just fell in love with really good writing, because I discovered a passion for writing in early elementary school or something like that. So I think I probably gravitated towards indie rock music because of the specific indie rock bands with great lyrics that I fell in love with.”
Who’s your dream collaborator?
“This author, magazine writer named John Jeremiah Sullivan.”
How would you describe your style? Is it different when you’re not performing?
“I actually just got a DM from one of my closest childhood friends that said, ‘It's so hilarious that you think you can dress cool now.’ I have no sense of style and I just am really lucky to have friends who have good taste who put clothes on me.”
How did the local music scene (record stores, small venues, etc.) shape you into the performer you are today?
“I loved going to Amoeba as a kid growing up in LA. It was the most fun thing to do on the weekends, and I would go to the dollar section and pick out whatever record that had a cool cover and take it home and listen to it on repeat. I discovered so many of my favorite bands that way.”
What makes you feel the most free?
“Riding my bike makes me feel the most free.”
If you could have dinner with 3 people, living or dead, who would it be and why?
“Father John Misty because he's my favorite songwriter, Lana Del Rey, and Brittany Howard because they are my other favorites. I would just try to absorb as much wisdom as I possibly can.”
Describe your music in 3 words.
“Desperate, yodeling, sorry.”
What’s your favorite song you’ve written? What’s your favorite song to perform?
“I think my favorite song I've written is the song called Winnebago. And my favorite one to perform is called “Sea Lions” – it has a big dance break.”
Let’s set the scene: it’s 1990. You just got paid. Your favorite artist just dropped their new album. Right after work, you hop in your car and head to your local record store. And there it is, in all its beauty: a disc that will spin around thousands of times, playing songs that will become attached to some of your favorite memories.
Fast forward to now, and we have this whole process at our fingertips. However, nothing can replace the special feeling of having a physical copy of those defining songs. That’s why we decided it was time to shed some light on those places that have been so essential to the music industry, and the communities that have come to fruition around it. Record stores and labels have seen friendships form, connections made, and careers blossom. They’ve ignited a passion in so many individuals who we now see performing all across the country. Singer-songwriter Samia can speak to this, growing up in LA with trips to Amoeba Music comprising a core memory of her childhood. As the face of our new We The Free Record Shop capsule, which highlights four iconic record stores and labels – Righteous Babe Records, Repo Records, Easy Street Records, and Amoeba Music Hollywood – Samia speaks to her roots, inspirations, and her life as a performer:
From where do you draw inspiration for your lyrics, and how do you get past writer's block when inspiration doesn’t hit?
“A lot of my lyrics come from stream of consciousness and poems that I've written when inspiration strikes, and then I just sort of try to Tetris them into songs that rhyme later. And writer's block. Yeah. I try to go do something else and have experiences so that there's something to write about.”
What made you make the move from the DIY-NYC scene to Nashville?
“My boyfriend lived there, and I wanted to spend time with him during the pandemic and also be somewhere where there were trees, so I could, like, walk around outside and be in nature. So yeah, I went to Nashville and then just fell in love with the feeling of stillness there.”
You’ve seen many parts of the entertainment industry, having actor parents, growing up doing theater, etc. What made you fall in love with indie-rock?
“I just fell in love with really good writing, because I discovered a passion for writing in early elementary school or something like that. So I think I probably gravitated towards indie rock music because of the specific indie rock bands with great lyrics that I fell in love with.”
Who’s your dream collaborator?
“This author, magazine writer named John Jeremiah Sullivan.”
How would you describe your style? Is it different when you’re not performing?
“I actually just got a DM from one of my closest childhood friends that said, ‘It's so hilarious that you think you can dress cool now.’ I have no sense of style and I just am really lucky to have friends who have good taste who put clothes on me.”
How did the local music scene (record stores, small venues, etc.) shape you into the performer you are today?
“I loved going to Amoeba as a kid growing up in LA. It was the most fun thing to do on the weekends, and I would go to the dollar section and pick out whatever record that had a cool cover and take it home and listen to it on repeat. I discovered so many of my favorite bands that way.”
What makes you feel the most free?
“Riding my bike makes me feel the most free.”
If you could have dinner with 3 people, living or dead, who would it be and why?
“Father John Misty because he's my favorite songwriter, Lana Del Rey, and Brittany Howard because they are my other favorites. I would just try to absorb as much wisdom as I possibly can.”
Describe your music in 3 words.
“Desperate, yodeling, sorry.”
What’s your favorite song you’ve written? What’s your favorite song to perform?
“I think my favorite song I've written is the song called Winnebago. And my favorite one to perform is called “Sea Lions” – it has a big dance break.”
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