S
amarah spent her formative years learning classical piano, singing alto in choir, playing oboe, and getting her kicks from all that magical 80's music. One year there was a Yamaha VSS-30 synthesizer under the Christmas tree...
It wasn't long before Samarah knew she wanted to write her own music and it started in solitude sitting at her upright piano late at night in her bedroom inspired from her growing musical taste with influences like Nine Inch Nails, Michael Jackson, Tori Amos, Aphex Twin, Pink Floyd, Twin Peaks, Jazz and the burgeoning dance culture. At fifteen she joined a band with some friends in High School and played her first gig singing Liz Phair covers in a dive bar for a couple hundred people which gave her a taste for the stage. She kept testing out original material with rock bands at open jams and house parties but it wasn't allowing her the creative freedom she longed for.
In the late 90's Samarah became immersed in the midwest EDM scene; attending raves and hearing techno, garage, ambient and drum n' bass for the first time. You just don't hear that kind of bass in Rock n' Roll...
In an effort to dissect the electronic sounds, and study the production techniques of different genres, she started spinning vinyl and losing herself in the break downs, the intros and everything in between the beat.
In 1999 she bough her first computer and installed as much music production software she could get her hands on. A rotating collection of synthesizers, drum machines and samplers ensued. After a couple years of experimentation with meshing her musical backgrounds, a unique array of elegant, swirling compositions with minimal beat structures emerged that floated between trip hop, IDM, ambient, and techno. Hesitantly she started handing out demo tapes at raves and the feedback was always consistent; "I've never heard anything like this before, it's strange...I like it." She knew she was on to something and packed up her bags and headed to nearby Madison, WI which had a thriving and progressive music scene.
After moving to Madison in 2000, Samarah began getting involved with the local EDM scene promoting ambient and IDM events and playing out when time allowed in between going to school full-time, working and raising her daughter. Never the less, in 2003 she released her first ep "So Lovely". The title track was picked up by Minneapolis Ltd Records for a compilation and the EP made its way to many online play lists and local radio stations. In 2004 she followed up with a downtempo ep, "What is Beautiful", and in 2005 released her most experimental ep "These Things" showcased a more solidified style and refined production skills. The disc was carried by multiple netlabels and generated a good buzz, local media interest, more bookings and a demand for a full-length album from her listeners.
In 2006, Samarah proudly released her first full-length album "Falling Away" as a co-release with the Milwaukee based label Zod Records who's roster included emerging artists like Venetian Snares, Doormouse and Emotional Joystick at the time. That year she was asked to compose an accompaniment track for "For the Beauty of the Earth" being performed by the Madison Boys Choir at the Madison Area Music Awards (MAMAs) which resulted in an unexpected collaboration of electronic music and Chorale. In 2007 "Falling Away" was nominated and won a MAMA award and received high praise for it's unique sound and production. She started to perform more frequently throughout the Midwest in cafes, clubs, house parties and raves alongside artists such as Andreas Tilliander, Cepia, Landau, Pressboard, Tiki Obmar and The Flashbulb.
After the five year whirlwind, Samarah took a much needed break to concentrate on her graphic design career and family. Lately she continues to pursue new sounds, imaginative rhythms and a music styling that only exists in hazy dreams and her notebooks. After a few years of absorbing new music, changing up software and hardware and doodling endless lyrics and staves Samarah is ready to hit the studio once again. The anticipated full-length follow up is titled "Matters of the Heart" and is expected to be released in 2010.
