Samia (musician)

Last updated
Samia
Samia 03 29 2019 -1 (40546010683).jpg
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]
Website samiaband.com

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

Contents

Early life

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

2017–2019: Early singles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Studio albums

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

Remix albums

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

Extended plays

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

Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
AAA

[50]
"Welcome to Eden"2017Non-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?"2020The Baby
"Fit n Full"
"Big Wheel"
"Stellate"
"Triptych"
"Show Up"2021Scout
"As You Are"
"Desperado"2022Non-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"2023Non-album singles
"Country"

Acting career

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2020 Let Them All Talk Samia
2021 Italian Studies Concert Performer
2022 Along for the Ride Esther

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2017 Gotham Grace BlomdhalEpisode: "A Dark Knight: A Day in the Narrows"
2021The Wolves#14TV movie

Theater

YearTitleRoleVenueNotes
2013 SLUT Sylvie New York Fringe Festival World premiere
2016 The Wolves #14The Duke on 42nd Street
2017-2018 Lincoln Center Theater Off-Broadway

Tours

Headlining

Supporting

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peaches (musician)</span> Canadian electroclash musician

Merrill Nisker, better known by her stage name Peaches, is a Canadian electroclash musician and producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathy Najimy</span> American actress and activist (born 1957)

Kathy Ann Najimy is an American actress and activist. She was first nationally known for her feminist play The Kathy and Mo Show, which she wrote and performed with Mo Gaffney. On film, she is best known for her roles in Soapdish (1991), Sister Act (1992) and its sequel (1993), Hocus Pocus (1993) and its sequel (2022), Hope Floats (1998), The Wedding Planner (2001), Rat Race (2001), WALL-E (2008), Step Up 3D (2010), The Guilt Trip (2012), Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas (2013), A Christmas Melody (2015), Dumplin' (2018), Music (2021), and Single All the Way (2021). On television, she is best known for her portrayal of Olive Massery on the NBC sitcom Veronica's Closet (1997–2000) and for voicing Peggy Hill on the animated television series King of the Hill (1997–2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Finnerty</span> American actor, comedian and singer

Dan Finnerty is an American actor and singer.

<i>Is Is</i> 2007 EP by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Is Is is Yeah Yeah Yeahs' third EP released on July 24, 2007. Songs for the EP were written in 2004 in between touring behind the band's first record Fever to Tell. The song "Down Boy" was No. 61 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muni Long</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1988)

Priscilla Renea Hamilton, known professionally as Muni Long, is an American singer and songwriter from Gifford, Florida. Under her birth name, she signed with Capitol Records to release her debut studio album Jukebox (2009), which was met with positive critical reception despite failing to chart. She then spent the following decade co-writing songs for other artists, including the hit singles "Promise This" for Cheryl, "California King Bed" for Rihanna, "Worth It" for Fifth Harmony, "Love So Soft" for Kelly Clarkson, "Imagine" for Ariana Grande, "Who Says" for Selena Gomez & the Scene, and the global hit "Timber" for Pitbull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dum Dum Girls</span> American rock band

Dum Dum Girls was an American rock band, formed in 2008. It began as the bedroom recording project of singer and songwriter Dee Dee. She is currently based in Los Angeles. The name is a double homage to the Vaselines' album Dum Dum and the Iggy Pop song "Dum Dum Boys".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elle King</span> American musician (born 1989)

Tanner Elle Schneider, known professionally by her stage name Elle King, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and actress. Her musical style is influenced by country, rock, and blues.

<i>Cry Baby</i> (Melanie Martinez album) 2015 album by Melanie Martinez

Cry Baby is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Melanie Martinez, released on August 14, 2015, through Atlantic Records. Between September and December 2012, Martinez rose to prominence upon participating in the third season of the American edition of The Voice. After the show's completion, the singer began working independently on original material, which she says she spent the majority of 2013 writing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Lee Hutson</span> American musician

Christian Lee Hutson is an American singer, musician and songwriter. He began his career as a member of The Driftwood Singers, before signing to ANTI‐ as a solo artist in 2019. Hutson has since released two full-length albums: Beginners (2020) and Quitters (2022). Both records were co-produced by his friend and fellow musician, Phoebe Bridgers.

Lucki Camel Jr., known mononymously as LUCKI, is an American rapper and record producer from Chicago, Illinois. Regarded as an influential figure in underground hip-hop, he initially came to public attention in 2013 after releasing his debut mixtape, Alternative Trap. He followed with a number of projects, including his debut studio album Freewave 3 (2019); he later followed with the mixtapes Days B4 III (2019) and Almost There (2020) after signing to record label Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebe Ryan</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1990)

Phoebe Holiday Ryan is an American singer and songwriter. In 2015, she released a mashup of R. Kelly's "Ignition" and Miguel's "Do You", followed by her first single "Mine" from her debut EP of the same name. She signed with Columbia Records in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qveen Herby</span> American rapper and singer

Amy Renee HeidemannNoonan, better known professionally as Qveen Herby, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Seward, Nebraska, she first gained fame as part of the music duo Karmin, with which she released two studio albums. Following the duo's hiatus in 2017, she began the solo project, Qveen Herby, which incorporated R&B and hip hop influences. She released her first solo extended play, EP 1 on June 2, 2017. She released her debut album, A Woman, on May 21, 2021.

Caamp is an American folk band from Upper Arlington, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Briston Maroney</span> Musical artist

Briston Lee Maroney is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Knoxville, Tennessee who is signed to Canvasback Music and Atlantic Records. He has released two EPs through the labels, including his most recent collection, "Sunflower” which was partially released and the full album was released April 9, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beabadoobee</span> Filipino-English singer-songwriter (born 2000)

Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus, known professionally as Beabadoobee, is a Filipino-born English singer and songwriter. From 2018 to 2021, she released five extended plays under the independent label Dirty Hit: Lice (2018), Patched Up (2018), Loveworm (2019), Space Cadet (2019) and Our Extended Play (2021). Her debut studio album, Fake It Flowers, was released in October 2020 and received critical acclaim. Her second studio album, Beatopia, was released on July 15, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjimile</span> American folk musician

Anjimile Chithambo, better known under the mononym Anjimile, is an American folk musician from Boston, Massachusetts.

Tiffany Majette, known professionally as Orion Sun, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer based in Philadelphia.

<i>The Baby</i> (Samia album) 2020 studio album by Samia

The Baby is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Samia. It was released on August 28, 2020, via Grand Jury Music.

<i>Honey</i> (Samia album) 2023 album by American musician Samia

Honey is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Samia. It was released on January 27, 2023, via Grand Jury Music. It serves as the follow-up to her debut album The Baby (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ego Ella May</span> British-Nigerian musician

Ego Ella May is an R&B, neo-soul, and contemporary jazz musician from South London, England.

References

  1. "Kathy Najimy on Instagram: "Happy birthday light of my life! I love you 💕"". Instagram.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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] (10 December 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. 1 2 3 4 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.