Today we’d like to introduce you to Sammm.
Hi Sammm, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up with an incredible love for music. I grew up playing piano with my grandma, making home made music videos on the family recorder, putting on makeshift concerts, and always singing around the house.
I have been through a lot in my life and the one thing that has always gotten me through everything – is music. Whether that be me writing the music or listening to it.
I was born with a very rare condition that has put me in situations unimaginably difficult growing up, and i’m incredibly blessed to be here. Every odd that was ever thrown against me, I have thrown back, and will continue to. I want to show others, especially the younger generation in similar situations as me, that if you have a dream, you can do it, despite your circumstances and what anyone tells you. Don’t give up on it, it’s up to you to make it happen.
In 2020, during Covid lockdown, I wrote my first released song called “magic.” I was going through a rough time emotionally with the person I wrote it about. I sat down at the piano and just let my heart pour out. I wrote all the lyrics and melody myself in one night. I recorded myself singing it and posted it on Tiktok. It got quite a bit of attention, people really liked it. The one problem i faced was – how do i get this produced and brought to life? I researched local producers in the area and found Levi Bennington. Amazing producer, one of my favorites i’ve ever worked with! He did an incredible job with “magic.” Shortly after we recorded it, I released it into the world and it did pretty well for my first single. It won a contest and was played on a few radio stations. It’s my most streamed song to this day. Since then, I’ve released 6 more singles and played my first live show in 2024.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. With that being said, it’s not supposed to be easy. Nothing in life that is worth it, is easy. Life as an indie artist alone is difficult for many reasons, but trying to balance that with my personal life and health has been very challenging. I had a health scare pop up in 2022 and have had 4 surgeries related to that, up until the end of 2024. I actually took a year off of music in 2023, to focus on health and because of that I wasn’t financially able to pour into my music during that time. In 2024, I was able to release 1 single and this year I released 2 so far. The biggest struggle has been production costs. It has been what’s holding me back from being able to record and release as much as I want to.
Another struggle I face as a songwriter is not being able to play instruments. Due to the rare skin condition that I live with, I don’t have full use of all my fingers from the scarring that has formed over time on my hands. I write all my own lyrics, melodies, and sing. It can be really frustrating at times when I want to get a guitar or sit at the piano and play to the lyrics I just wrote, but I can’t. That is why I rely heavily on the producers I work with to help me make each track for my songs sound exactly what I envision in my head and bring my songs to life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I make indie pop music! My songs range from soft pop to alt pop. My sound is very honest, raw, and expressive. I think what sets me apart from others the most is my voice and my ability to pour feeling into the air, not just tell a story. I create from my heart and I think you can really feel that. I turn vulnerability into my biggest superpower. I write about my own life experiences and people that have impacted my life in a way worth writing about.
I have 7 singles released. I released my first single “magic” in 2020. It did pretty well and got played on Indie Music radio USA, WFMC Jams, and Monies New Music in theUK. In April 2024, I played my first live show at The Vinyl Lounge in Nashville with Raynes and Hooked Like Helen. My most recent single releases are “legos to the moon” and “you’Re nOt soRrY (it will haunt you).” Both very different vibes about the same person haha. The first release of the two, “you’Re nOt soRrY (it will haunt you),” is about what it feels like to give your heart to someone that has no intentions on handling it with care. It has a very alt, dark pop vibe to it. At the beginning of June this year, I was in America’s Next Top Hitmaker contest for Rolling Stone. I placed 4th in the group rounds and the only reason I made it that far was because the person I wrote those two songs about, donated 250 votes and put me in 1st place for a while. The funny thing is, only “you’Re Not soRrY (it will haunt you)” was released at the time and we weren’t on speaking terms. “Legos to the moon,” the love song, was released in late July but was actually written first. The verses, first pre-chorus, and outro of the song are written based on actual events in our relationship. The chorus is based on a brief text conversation I had with that person and what they feel like to me. It has more of an indie folk feel to it.
I will be playing my second live show in February 2026 and I’m super excited about that!! I will be opening for one of my favorite bands/friends in Nashville. Stay tuned for the date and location, I would love to see you there!!
What matters most to you?
Connecting with people through my music. When I write my music, it means something to me. It’s my way of saying things that couldn’t be said with words. It’s my way of processing emotional events in my life. It’s how I turn my pain into art. It’s a little part of me that will exist forever. When I release my music into the world, it is for my listeners. It is for them to resonate with and relate to in their own way. I want them to find their own meaning in my songs. To know that we share similar experiences, to know that they connect with my music in that way is what matters most to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/sammm.xxo
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammm.xxo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1F5xoTRepk/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sammm_xxo
