Sasha Samara is an exciting new voice in pop music. The self-described ‘friendly neighbourhood popstar’ threads her stories together with heartfelt observations, underlined by unabashed specificity. Her endearing honesty is delivered through open and soaring vocals reminiscent of Hayley Williams and characterful lyricism, drawing from her Taylor Swift and RAYE influences.
With support from the PRSF funded ‘Scratch My Progress’ programme, and a Northern Irish Music Prize for Best New Artist in 2020, she graced the stages of the Northern Irish Music Prize ceremony in 2021, and Other Voices Cardigan in 2022 with her trademark jubilant performance style. In May 2023, she released her debut EP ‘Why Am I Still Here, I Never Learn’ to Irish acclaim. The lead single, ‘Sobering Up’, was selected by RTÉ 2FM’s Tracy Clifford as ‘Track of the Week’ and remained on 2FM playlists throughout the summer. Other support included features from Nialler9, Hot Press, BBC Across the Line, KFM Radio and Cork’s 96fm.
Simmer joyfully hails a new era in Samara’s music, seeing in a new collaboration with producer Daniel Morgan Ball (Blue Americans, Ciaran Lavery) and weaving her love of indie pop music and dance music into a shimmering, summery anthem. Written during a long, dreary winter in Belfast, Samara asserts that she longed for escapism, trying to bring light and excitement back into her life through her lyrics.
“Dua Lipa once said in an interview that she viewed her music as a form of manifestation – that if she were trying to find a particular feeling in life, she would write about it as if it had already happened to her. I found that really inspiring during my writing process, as the debut EP I released last year was very reflective and dealt with themes of heartbreak. I wanted to open my heart to the possibility of joy and excitement, paving the way through this song.”
Watch the video for ‘Simmer’ – BELOW:
Be the first to comment