Australian-born, London-based artist Samsara has developed a distinctive pop identity from contradiction. Vulnerability meets bravado, intensely personal songwriting collides with maximalist electronic production, and difficult experiences are transformed into music designed to feel empowering, theatrical and exhilarating.
Her new EP 'Swordfight' brings those different sides of the 22-year-old artist together with greater confidence than ever. Exploring identity, sexuality, transformation and power, the project embraces the complexities of Samsara's experiences rather than attempting to smooth them into a straightforward narrative.
So with the new EP out now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
-
What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I don’t play any instruments bar some piano chords cuz I suck but I remember lying at school that I could play the saxophone because I thought it was cool and they put one in my hand and I was so excited but I flopped so never actually learned.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I went through phases of having a number one favorite pop girl. The first was Selena Gomez because I was a Disney fanatic. Then aggressively on the Ariana Grande stuff and I literally just saw her childhood dream complete and then at about 16/17 I discovered Britney Spears and she’s still my ultimate to this day.
What was the first album you remember owning?
In Hong Kong where I grew up, there’s not SOOOO much like western music stuff. We had this one dvd store in central and I remember praying and praying they’d get Ariana in and l bought everything for her 2nd album on CD.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
One song is hard. Maybe Everything I Wanted by Billie Eilish. Well and truly won her record of the year. No matter where I am when it’s blasting in my ears it just makes me feel things. Great for when I’m dissociating.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
No, I don't understand the writers block thing. I hate ego people but I just have a lot to say. Never shut my mouth. Sometimes I do lyrics first, sometimes melody first. A lot of the time I have a title for a song first. Swordfight was supposed to just be the title for the ep and I was like what if I wrote a song called that and boom, she’s a good song.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Sue me but I like stuff everyone else likes. I like to see a song have hella streams and be like oh yes we like her. I’m for the pop girls, Tate, Billie, Olivia, my creator and other mother Gaga. I’m a weird person who also consistently listens to cupcakke unironically and my one smaller artist I also love be Lozeak, I think she’s so good at making her famous.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I would open for Gaga. I want to steal her gays cuz they’re crazy but also. You get a free concert every night you’re on a tour and her production is just so big and fabulous, you could spot something new every show.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I obviously love making the music but I just wanna play live. I’ve performed in some random places because I’ll take whatever, put me on the stage. I love when people know the words, I love meeting people after and having a Kiki. I love making people feel good about themselves and telling them they look fab. I’m just a people person and you get to be around so many people in the job.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I’m on the come up and the frustrating part is truly budgeting. I think you can make a Grammy winning record from your bedroom with the right talent but everything else needed to compete in a pool of very talented people hemorrhages money. Clothes, promo, equipment, personnel, dancers (bank killer). It’s also not right to have people around you not being paid. I took a year out from my last releases for a few things, a really big neck injury being one but after I put out my third single I just couldn’t afford to do another for a while. That’s the most frustrating.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
That everyone is working on a different clock and no one’s career had the same trajectory. I get stuck on ages and thinking, well Gaga put out Just Dance at 22 and maybe I’m past the point but if my grandmother had wheels I would’ve been a bike. So comparison is truly the killer of joy and if you are the hungriest caterpillar on the plate then eventually you shall eat. And imma eat up this popstar thang.
-
Samsara's new EP 'Swordfight' is out now. Check it out in the player below.