Samantha Crain Crosses the Pond
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Choctaw singer-songwriter Samantha Crain's latest album of artful and thoughtful Americana tunes, "Kid Face," has been taking hold of ears and hearts across North America since its release last year. As of this month, the album is now available in the UK and lucky Brits are taking notice.
Samantha recently spoke with A Music Blog, Yea? about travel, writing and baking pies:
AMBY: Your new single Somewhere All The Time (taken from the forthcoming LP) sounds lovely. What’s the story behind the track?
Samantha Crain: I love to travel. I was born with the appetite deep in my bones. I am routinely asked if traveling so much and being away from home so often is hard. For some touring musicians, perhaps it is hard, perhaps this lifestyle isn’t something they desire, perhaps they just accept it as part of their lot in order to keep making music. For me, however, it isn’t hard. It is my obsession and my method. I am on the go for the better part of my year even when I’m not playing shows and despite the clunky, high mileage vehicles breaking down every once in awhile. Once in a blue moon though, I do need the rest and familiarity of Oklahoma.
AMBY: Which lyric off of Kid Face is your favourite?
Samantha Crain: I’m not mad, I’m conflicted
You’re not bad, you were lifted
From yourself with your lamb-like heart
And I’m your clone, that’s what makes it hard
—from “We’ve Been Found”
AMBY: What’s the funniest thing to happen to you while at a gig?
Samantha Crain: Once my band at the time played a joke on me where they got a whole bunch of other musicians (string players, horn players, percussionists, etc) like 10 people, to learn the end of this song called “Lions” and without me knowing they just had them all come out at the end for this really triumphant finale from backstage. It was really beautiful and hilarious too. I wish there was video of it.
AMBY: Music stimulates a variety of senses; which senses stand out as triggers to inspire your music?
Samantha Crain: I guess sight plays the biggest part, I’m usually writing about visual observations. But aural senses are huge too, silence is one of the best things for me and can be so inspiring. I need silence to think and create.
AMBY: What’s the best release of the year?
Samantha Crain: “In the Throes” by John Moreland
AMBY: And lastly, what’s something about Samantha Crain that nobody knows yet?
Samantha Crain: I feel like people know enough about me, more than I’d like, so there won’t be any shocking super personal detail here. But I will tell you that I’m awesome at baking pies and I collect thimbles.
Read more: Gimme Your Answers: An Interview w/ Samantha Crain
