Samia (musician)

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Samia
Samia performing in 2019
Samia performing in 2019
Background information
Birth nameSamia Najimy Finnerty
Born (1996-12-12) December 12, 1996 (age 27)[1]
Los Angeles, California, U.S [2]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • actress
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
Years active2017–present
LabelsGrand Jury
Member ofPeach Fuzz[3]
Websitesamiaband.com

Samia Najimy Finnerty (born December 12, 1996) is an American singer-songwriter from New York City.

Early life[edit]

Finnerty was born in Los Angeles to actress Kathy Najimy and actor Dan Finnerty. She was named after her maternal grandmother, Samia Najimy (née Massery; 1928–2015), who is of Lebanese origin.[2][4][5] She moved to New York City when she was fifteen and attended York Preparatory School,[6] and studied at The New School, where she formed a short-lived band.[7][8][9]

Career[edit]

2017–2019: Early singles[edit]

Finnerty is a co-recipient of the 2017 Obie Award for Best Ensemble for her performance in Sarah DeLappe's play The Wolves.[10]

Finnerty's debut single "Someone Tell The Boys" was released in 2017 and quickly gained traction on Spotify after appearing on the Discover Weekly Playlist.[11]

Following her debut, she released singles "Milk", "Django", "Welcome to Eden", and "The Night Josh Tillman Listened to My Song" throughout 2017 and 2018 before releasing a two-track EP Lasting Friend & Paris. Finnerty listed her inspiration for the EP as "a revelation about the way that humor and levity and pain can coexist and be linked".[12]

She also released singles "Ode to Artifice" and a cover of Liz Phair's "Never Said" in 2019.[13][14]

2020: The Baby[edit]

Finnerty released a new song in April 2020 titled "Is There Something in the Movies?"[15] In June 2020, Finnerty announced her debut studio album alongside a new song titled "Fit n Full".[16][17] Two more songs from the album, "Big Wheel" and "Stellate," were released together in July 2020,[18] preceding the release of "Triptych" in August 2020. Finnerty released her debut studio album The Baby to positive reviews on August 28, 2020.[19][5][20] The first track on the album, "Pool", begins with the last voicemail Finnerty's grandmother left before passing away, where she is singing a Lebanese lullaby.[21] Finnerty described the concept of the album as "emotionally accepting that I need people" and that "I am the baby".[9]

Later in 2021 she would release The Baby Reimagined, a collection of covers and remixes of songs from her debut album by artists including Briston Maroney, Anjimile, Charlie Hickey, Field Medic, Christian Lee Hutson, Bartees Strange, and more.[22][23]

Finnerty appeared briefly in the comedy drama film Let Them All Talk (2020).[24]

2021–2022: Scout and Peach Fuzz[edit]

In 2021, Finnerty released the extended play Scout, containing three original songs: "As You Are", "Show Up" and "Elephant" as well as a cover of When In Rome's' "The Promise", which featured Jelani Aryeh. The EP released to generally positive reviews.[25]

Finnerty attended the European leg of Maggie Rogers' Feral Joy Tour as a "special guest" in 2022.[26]

Also in 2022, Samia formed the supergroup Peach Fuzz with artists Rafaella, Sara L'Abriola (who uses artist name Hank), and Victoria Zaro (who uses artist name Ryann). They released a 4-track debut EP on July 22, Can Mary Dood the Moon?, with lead single "Hey Dood".[27][28][29][30]

2022–2023: Honey[edit]

In September 2022, Finnerty released the single "Kill Her Freak Out" and announced her upcoming second album, Honey.[31][32] Subsequent singles from the album include "Mad At Me" with Papa Mbye in November[33] and a double release in December, "Pink Balloon/Sea Lions."[34] Honey released on January 27, 2023 to positive reviews.[35][36][37] When speaking about the album, Finnerty said "Optimism is the saddest thing in the world to me and I have a lot of it", referencing the dichotomy between sad and happy songs on the album.[38]

On April 12, 2023, Finnerty released two singles, covers of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps" and Porches' "Country".[39][40]

On June 2, 2023, Finnerty was featured on a version of "The Weakness" by Ruston Kelly.[41]

Personal life[edit]

Finnerty began her career in New York City working in the DIY scene, but moved to Nashville in 2021 for a "less chaotic" environment.[42][38] As of 2023, she has been dating artist Briston Maroney for two years.[43]

Finnerty states that her parents raised her as a feminist and that it is a "deeply embedded part of her identity". However, she also states that feminist themes in her songwriting are not intentional and that she feels that feminist ideals are inherently part of the female experience. She criticizes the labeling of her music as "feminist", stating "A lot of the time, everything [women write] is categorized or reframed as empowerment, and I don’t often write from a place of empowerment. Usually, when I’m writing it’s from a place of desperation and pain" and that labeling of music as "feminist" "dilutes the significance of art with stereotypes".[9][12]

Musical style and influences[edit]

Finnerty's musical style has typically been defined as indie-rock[38][44] and indie-pop.[45][46]

She has cited a range of musical influences including Lana Del Rey, FKA Twigs,[38] The National,[47] Nirvana, Elliott Smith, Liz Phair,[48] Father John Misty, Angel Olsen, Brittany Howard and Okay Kaya.[49]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Title Details
The Baby
Honey
  • Released: January 27, 2023
  • Label: Grand Jury
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, vinyl, CD

Remix albums[edit]

Title Details
The Baby Reimagined
  • Released: January 15, 2021
  • Label: Grand Jury
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, vinyl, CD

Extended plays[edit]

Title Details
Scout
  • Released: July 23, 2021
  • Label: Grand Jury
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, vinyl, CD

Singles[edit]

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
AAA
[50]
"Welcome to Eden" 2017 — Non-album singles
"Someone Tell the Boys" —
"The Night Josh Tillman Listened to My Song" —
"Django" 2018 —
"21" —
"Milk" —
"Lasting Friend" 2019 —
"Paris" —
"Ode to Artifice" —
"Never Said" —
"Is There Something in the Movies?" 2020 — The Baby
"Fit n Full" —
"Big Wheel" —
"Stellate" —
"Triptych" —
"Show Up" 2021 — Scout
"As You Are" —
"Desperado" 2022 — Non-album singles
"Born on a Train"
(with Rachel Jenkins) 		—
"Kill Her Freak Out" — Honey
"Mad at Me"
(with Papa Mbye) 		—
"Pink Balloon" —
"Sea Lions" —
"Breathing Song" 2023 —
"Honey" 27
"Maps" 2023 — Non-album singles
"Country" —

Acting career[edit]

List of acting performances in film and television
Title Year Role Notes
Gotham 2017 Grace Blomdhal Television series
Let Them All Talk 2020 Samia Film
Italian Studies 2021 Concert Performer Film
The Wolves 2021 #14 Television film
Along for the Ride 2022 Esther Film

Tours[edit]

Headlining[edit]

  • Honey (2023)
  • Loving You Thanking You Tour (2021)

Supporting[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kathy Najimy on Instagram: "Happy birthday light of my life! I love you 💕"". Instagram.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b Greenwood, Douglas (12 August 2020). "How Samia wrote her bruising and brilliant debut album". i-D. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Samia on Twitter: "i am in the band peach fuzz !"". Twitter.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  4. ^ "New York songwriter Samia Finnerty proves that no one puts baby in the corner". Thelineofbestfit.com.
  5. ^ a b Bardhan, Ashley. "Samia: The Baby". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  6. ^ "York Prep Winter 2014 Newsletter, page 20". Issuu. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Samia Finnerty". WayUp. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  8. ^ Manno, Lizzie (18 September 2020). "Samia: The Best of What's Next". Paste. Paste Media Group. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Greenwood, Douglas (12 August 2020). "How Samia wrote her bruising and brilliant debut album". i-d.vice.com. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  10. ^ Cox, Gordon (22 May 2017). "'Oslo,' 'The Band's Visit' Score 2017 Obie Awards (Full List)". Variety. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  11. ^ Amour, Cheri (18 August 2020). "Samia is on the rise | Interview". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  12. ^ a b Le, Vivian (2019-04-29). "Samia: An Emerging Singer Songwriter with a Message for the Boys". Fools Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  13. ^ Newcomb, Ming Lee (2019-05-20). "Samia shares Origins of new single "Ode to Artifice": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  14. ^ Graver, David (2019-09-26). "Samia: Never Said". Cool Hunting. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  15. ^ Murray, Robin (29 April 2020). "Samia's 'Is There Something In The Movies?' Carries A Profound Poignancy". Clash. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  16. ^ DeVille, Chris (24 June 2020). "Samia – "Fit N Full"". Stereogum. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  17. ^ Yoo, Noah (24 June 2020). "Samia Announces Debut Album The Baby, Shares Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  18. ^ Maicki, Salvatore. "Hear two assertive new singles from Samia". The Fader. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  19. ^ O'Reilly, Caitlin (28 August 2020). "Samia – 'The Baby' review: an exhilarating soundtrack to young adulthood's existential angst". NME. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  20. ^ Manno, Lizzie (31 August 2020). "Samia's The Baby is a Celebration of Fears". Paste. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  21. ^ Robinson, Kristin. "SAMIA | 'The Baby Reimagined'". flaunt.com. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  22. ^ Rosenthal, Paris (1 December 2020). "Samia Announces Covers Album The Baby Reimagined, Shares "Is There Something in the Movies?" (Briston Maroney Version)". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  23. ^ "Grand Jury Music - News - Samia releases collaborative album The Baby Reimagined". Grand Jury Music. 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  24. ^ Samia Finnerty [@samiatheband] (December 11, 2020). "me and fred talking to lucas in Let Them All Talk which apparently is out now on HBO" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 August 2021 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "Scout [EP] by Samia". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  26. ^ "Tour dates of the Feral Joy Tour". Maggierogers.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  27. ^ Graves, Wren (2022-06-28). "Samia, Raffaella form supergroup Peach Fuzz, announce Can Mary Dood the Moon? EP". Consequence. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  28. ^ Deville, Chris (2022-06-28). "Peach Fuzz Announce Debut EP 'Can Mary Dood The Moon?'". Stereogum. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  29. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (2022-06-28). "Peach Fuzz (New Group Featuring Raffaella and Samia) Announce Debut EP, Share New Song". Our Culture. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  30. ^ Silver, Ariana (2022-07-23). "Hey Dood, Peach Fuzz's debut EP just dropped - Edge of the Crowd". edgeofthecrowd.com. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  31. ^ Elyasi, Nasim (2022-10-26). "Samia Returns on Angel Wings with "Kill Her Freak Out"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  32. ^ "Samia announces Honey, shares video starring Oscar-nominee Lucas Hedges". The FADER. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  33. ^ Anderson, Carys (2022-11-01). "Samia hopes you're not "Mad at Me" on new song featuring Papa Mbye: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  34. ^ "Samia's "Sea Lions" and "Pink Balloon" Capture Different Vantage Points of a Fractured Relationship". FLOOD. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  35. ^ Haile, Heven (2023-01-30). "Samia : Honey". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  36. ^ Kemp, Ella (2023-01-26). "Samia – 'Honey' review: astute reflections on mid-20s malaise". NME. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  37. ^ Cragg, Michael (2023-01-20). "Samia: Honey review – blackly comic indie-rock confessionals". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  38. ^ a b c d D'Souza, Shaad (2023-01-04). "Samia: the singer-songwriter with violent hooks, famous parents and a sensational second album". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  39. ^ Deville, Chris (2023-04-12). "Samia Covers Yeah Yeah Yeahs & Porches On New 7": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  40. ^ "Grand Jury Music - News - Samia releases Maps / Country covers single & limited edition 7". Grand Jury Music. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  41. ^ Fu, Eddie (2023-06-02). "Ruston Kelly and Samia stand strong on new version of "The Weakness": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  42. ^ Macie, Rasmussen (27 January 2023). "Samia comes back blunt, raw, and vulnerable on 'Honey'". www.thecurrent.org. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  43. ^ Motycka, Eli (2023-01-24). "Samia Turns the Page With 'Honey'". Nashville Scene. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  44. ^ "Samia". Deezer. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  45. ^ "Samia Announces 'Honey' Covers Series, Models Free People Capsule Celebrating Indie Music". Stereogum. 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  46. ^ "Samia: Honey (Album Review)". PopMatters. 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  47. ^ O'Reilly, Caitlin (2020-08-31). "Samia: New Yorker's debut is the summer's defining indie album". NME. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  48. ^ Norman, Avery (2021-08-02). "Samia finds a sense of calm on new EP 'Scout'". Document Journal. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  49. ^ Wallock, Matt (2020-08-25). "Samia Talks 'The Baby,' Francis Bacon, and Booking Gigs Through a Fake Manager". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  50. ^ "Adult Alternative Airplay - Week of March 4, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2023.

External links[edit]

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