#12 - Samfire

From London, discover an emerging singer-songwriter that has everything to be the next artist featured on your radio.

After travelling back from vacation, I received an email from one of my subscribers who recommended to me an artist. He wrote me about an emerging artist he discovered through Instagram which I had the pleasure to interview.

Samfire, from her real name Phoebe, is a singer-songwriter from London with a lot of potential in both her lyrics and music composition. Drawing her inspiration from a wide range of artists, her alternative songs will probably stick in your mind for a long time. Let’s hear about her now!

Can you present yourself in a few words? Where is your artist name coming from?

Hey! I’m Samfire - yes, the name is derived from a type of edible seaweed (salty and delicious). I chose it because it’s evocative of the Suffolk coast in the UK - moody, salty, dramatic and delicious. And that sums up my sound pretty well. I’m an alternative artist and producer who writes songs designed to draw out emotion.

How do you start your day?

This is gonna sound so Gen Z of me, but I usually do a lil bit of exercise (nothing mega, but something like yoga) and listen to music - either a new album, or something I’m obsessing over, or my discover weekly

 When did you start your musical career? What motivated you to start it?

I guess I started about 2 years ago - that’s when I began producing and for the first time could actually lay down songs I had written. But I’ve been doing my music my whole life. My mum works in classical music, so pretty extraordinary sounds were always ringing through the walls of my house. And I was a keen singer in choir and violinist growing up. 

What genre of music do you play?

Alternative

Is there an event, an artist or a band that inspired you?

So many - it’s always artists for me (Kate Bush, Tame Impala, Lana Del Rey, Cults, Mitski, FKA Twigs, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, Frank Ocean, Caroline Rose, Labrinth, Dave, Billie Eilish, Fiona Apple - the list goes on an on. These are just some of the ones that will be a consistent obsession for me). The ones in bold are Dessert Island Disks material for me

What is the process behind your mind while creating a new piece of music?

Songs tend to come from poems for me. When there’s something on my mind that I’m trying to communicate, I’ll always put it into words first. That’s because they’re the tricky part. Once or twice I’ve done it the other way round, but generally I find melodies very flexible, so I like to design them around the feeling my words create. 

Where do you perform most of the time? On which platform is your music available?

I am just about to come to the end of my residency at the Camden Club in London. But - don’t stress - I’m taking some studying leave to work on a new show, bigger and better than my one before. My music is on all platforms - Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon etc. 

Where is THE place or country you would like to perform?

Glastonbury Festival, UK

What are the songs you want to share with people that don’t know your music?

I have a new single which I’m sitting on and dying to share. But I will be patient and wait for that to release. 

Any from my EP ’Time’ are very special to me

To Those Who Wait - if you’re a fan of pop

Restless - if you love rocky guitars and have an experimental ear

Waiting For Summer - if you’re a wistful dreamer

This Time - if you like all of the above

Which artists do you listen to when you are composing or playing your music?

For every body of work I make I have a playlist. It tends to feature a lot of Tame Impala because I am obsessed with the creativity of Kevin Parker’s production.

Was there a moment you wanted to give up on music?

I’ve never wanted to give up but there are definitely some tough times. Sort of in one at the moment - when the exhaustion kicks in and everything you’ve got to do feels a bit daunting. 

Is there an artist you would like to make a song with?

Arctic Monkeys - I’d just love to sit in the room and see how Alex Turner writes his lyrics. 

What is the song you are the most proud of?

That’s like asking which child I’m most proud of - I just can’t! Though there are some I’m less proud of, so I guess I do play favourites. I think I’m always growing, so the stuff I haven’t released yet is the stuff I’m most proud of. 

What are you using to record your performance ? Are you doing everything by yourself ?

Me and my co-producer (Q Torra) do everything together. For the EP we did it in my tiny home studio that I built during lockdown. The only other person who features on it is my guitarist Chet Jogia who lives round the corner from me.

If you could recommend a small group or artist to people, which one would it be and why?

Finn Doherty is sick - he’s a friend of mine that I met through performing live and he is such a great showman. Reckon he has a bright future. 

Do you have any new songs in preparation? If so, can you give us a little hint about it?

Yes I have an EP I’m currently working on (releasing March 2023). But my next single will be out sooner and is just the loveliest, most uplifting song. It’s called My Potential and the lyrics are my stream of consciousness from a morning that I was doubting myself. I literally wrote it in the shower. It’s such an organic song. And I really think it can carry people though moments of self-doubt. 

What are the places where people can follow you ?

On Instagram, TikTok and Facebook I am @soundofsamfire

I also do LOTS on YouTube so worth checking that out!

Please please follow - it makes a difference.

NB: She also have a website here : https://soundofsamfire.com/

Thanks again Phoebe for this great interview, we can’t wait to see what’s next for you! Small Ears will surely continue to follow your career and hope to hear about your next EP in March!

Thanks also to Tim, which is also a writer here on Substack, for this amazing recommendation!

To all of you, thanks for your continuous follow of my writing! See you next week!

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