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Australian-born singer-songwriter SAMM! is carving out a unique space in the alt-pop landscape—one built on radical honesty, emotional depth, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. With her debut single "In My Feelings" just released last week and an EP in the vault, she's proving that vulnerability isn't a weakness, but a powerful form of connection.

"In My Feelings" represents SAMM!'s playful, confident side—a song about desire that she describes as capturing "the thrill and chaos" of wanting something and getting it. Recorded in Los Angeles and accompanied by a visually striking music video filmed in Medellín, Colombia, the track showcases her ability to blend fun, sexy energy with thoughtful artistic vision. "I wanted to make sure it was a fun song that people could vibe to," she explains, noting that recording it in less than two sessions at NRG Recording Studios, keeping it accessible rather than overly personal.

But beneath the surface-level confidence lies an artist shaped by profound loss and resilience. SAMM! lost her older brother before he even reached the age of 18, under tragic circumstances when she was just a child. Shortly after, her mother moved away, unable to cope with the grief. Raised primarily by her father and brothers in a household where affection wasn't freely expressed, SAMM! found her emotional outlet in music.

"Music has always been something that I could turn to feel something, whether to relate to something or just escape," she reflects. From childhood performances of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion ballads to discovering hip-hop through her brother's collection, music became her language for understanding love, loss, and heartbreak before she experienced them firsthand.

That early heartbreak instilled in SAMM! both a deep empathy and an understanding of life's fragility. "I had to learn to understand why," she says of her brother's passing. "I had to learn to be strong from such a young age." Her brother's advice to "never be a sheep" continues to guide her—she doesn't conform to what society may tell us who to be or what to do but rather paving her own way through, truly understanding, learning, caring amongst many other traits SAMM! embodies.

This philosophy extends to her current independent status. Fresh to the music world, an unsigned artist without management, SAMM! has worked so passionately having her hand in all things creative that are attached to her as an Artist. "I'm okay with being uncomfortable to make others feel comfortable," she explains. "I'm okay to possibly be judged for what I'm saying or showing." She describes herself as "unafraid"—willing to explore themes of heartbreak, self-reflection, and strength with unflinching honesty.

Despite her confident exterior, SAMM! admits to being naturally introverted. A Lone Ranger, reflecting her comfort with solitude. "I'm usually by myself, I'm always kind of doing my own thing," she notes. But this introversion fuels her artistry, allowing her the space for deep self-reflection.

With an unreleased EP of 5 soul-touching, rabbit hole-peeking, love and heartbreak songs in the vault. SAMM! is focused on connecting with listeners who might feel similarly isolated. Her greatest fear isn't failure—it's reaching the end of her life and asking "what if." "If I can be kind of a voice to people who are afraid to speak up," she says, "that is where it stems from—wanting to be able to know that you aren't alone."

For SAMM!, success isn't measured by fame, but in genuine human connection. "If there's one, two, three people that can relate to that, where I made them feel less lonely, that would mean more to me than anything." It's this authentic approach that positions her as an artist to watch—someone unafraid to bring her whole self to the music, imperfections and all.

“In My Feelings” music video

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Marla Lewis might not be a name that everyone immediately recognizes, but she has spent years building a remarkable career that has earned her a loyal global fan base, countless streams, and even a Grammy Award for Best Children’s CD. Today, Music-News had the chance to talk with Marla about her new single “Kill The Lights,” a smooth, feel-good jazz track that captures the magic of walking through New York City in winter with a warm smile on your face.




Tell us about Marla Lewis?
Born in New Jersey, wrote my first song at the tender age of 12 called “Hopeless Love” (LOL). From the time I could talk, music has always been my closest friend. I sang and played guitar in clubs, got disenchanted, went back to school for my Masters, and became an English as a Second Language teacher in a Harlem elementary school for 23 years. That’s when I started writing songs for kids, to help them learn English. I released two children’s albums, WE ALL LAUGH IN THE SAME LANGUAGE and I LOVE TO TALK TO PLANTS. One tune from PLANTS, called “Leap of Faith,” appears on a Grammy-winning Children’s CD called ALL ABOUT BULLIES... BIG AND SMALL, with my incredible friend and producer, Bob Stander.

Who are some of your musical influences? What else inspires you?
Ella Fitzgerald, the Beatles, Michael Franks, Phoebe Snow, Carole King, to name a few. My mom aspired to be a jazz singer, so we had lots of Big Band music playing in the house. Besides music, the rhythm of conversation inspires me.

Congrats on the release of “Kill the Lights”! We love it. What’s the story behind the song?
Thanks so much! Bob (my producer) said to me, “We need another R&B flavored song with a catchy chorus.” So, I played around with a new idea about love on the rebound. I wrote the lyrics first, a very rough draft, and put music to it - that’s how songs usually evolve for me. I was really “in the zone” when I was working on this one, fiddling around with it until it felt complete. The song went through many incarnations before I got the “actors in a play” metaphor right. I don’t think it’s autobiographical – unless it’s about an affair that I’ve totally forgotten about!

Who is one artist you’d love to tour with?
Nora Jones! Oh, yes!

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not doing music?
Walking the dogs, hanging out with friends, watching a great TV series.

What's the 2022 plans for your musical journey?
I want to continue live streaming - it’s fun! My show is called “Marla in La La Land.” You can tune in every Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM Eastern. I already have enough songs for my next smooth jazz album, and I’m calling it, “Livin’ the Dream.” The songs are very socially conscious – I can’t write in a bubble any longer, with what’s going on in the world. I hope to record and release that album in 2022. And perhaps, I’ll muster the courage to do live shows!

How can our readers find you online?
Lots of places! First, my website: www.marlalewis.com
My Facebook group: MarlaTheMuse
My YouTube channels: Smooth Jazz I Children’s

Twitch I LinkedIn I Twitter I Instagram I Spotify I Apple Music
 
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