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.
SAMM! Socials
ON THE RISE
.jpg)
IPSWICH, Mass. — Nov. 10, 2026 – For composer, producer, and musician Chris Florio, making music has always been a process of exploration. More than four decades into his career, the Ipswich, Massachusetts-based artist continues to approach each project with the curiosity of someone discovering new possibilities. His contemporary track “Twinkle” reflects that outlook, bringing together spontaneous songwriting, distinct musical backgrounds, and a collaborative recording process that allowed the song to develop organically.
A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in composition, Florio has built a diverse body of work spanning orchestral music, improvisation, and contemporary forms. His career includes more than 40 orchestral compositions, multimedia collaborations, and 12 albums released through Passion Records. While his formal education helped shape his musicianship, he credits a much wider range of experiences with informing his work.
“Every gig, every musician that you play with, you learn things from,” Florio explained. “I try and play with the best musicians I can, so basically everybody I play with is my teacher.”
That willingness to learn from others was central to the creation of “Twinkle.” The project began with five musicians entering the studio and improvising together throughout the day. During the session, vocalist Aliel and violinist Rob began developing lyrics after discussing a person they both had in mind. They brought their ideas back to the group, and the musicians built the music around the words.
The result brings together Florio's rock influences, Rob's classically trained violin playing, and the rhythmic foundation laid down by Ken and Wes. A violin solo with a rock sensibility adds another dimension to the arrangement, while the song gradually moves from a quiet, stripped-back opening into a fuller, more electric sound.
Rather than having that progression mapped out from the beginning, the musicians found it as the song took shape. As Florio put it, “We started with nothing, and then we improvised and developed it.”
For Florio, the value of working with other musicians lies in what they bring that he might not have imagined on his own. “The joy of making music is interacting with other people,” he said. “I want to hear what they bring to it.”
That philosophy extends beyond familiar musical styles. Florio recently worked with Cambodian musicians and dancers in Ipswich, adapting to different approaches to rhythm, performance, and communication. A trip to China is also in the works for the coming spring to collaborate with local musicians and participate in workshops at music schools in Beijing and Qingdao.
Even after decades of composing and performing, Florio says his appetite for discovery has only grown. “The more music I learn, the more I feel like, 'Wow, I don't know anything,' and there's so much to learn,” he said. “And it gets more exciting, not less exciting.”
Originally conceived as a one-off studio project, the group behind “Twinkle” has since performed and toured together, with hopes of continuing to make music as a band. For Florio, the experience is another reminder of what can happen when musicians bring their individual perspectives into the same room.
Listen to “Twinkle,” which received promotional support from Starlight PR.
Follow Chris Florio:
About Chris Florio
Chris Florio is an adventurous and imaginative composer, producer, and musician based in Ipswich, Massachusetts. With a career spanning more than four decades, he has explored orchestral composition, improvisation, and contemporary musical forms. A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in composition, Florio has written more than 40 orchestral compositions, participated in multimedia collaborations, and released 12 albums through Passion Records. His work reflects an ongoing interest in bringing different musical traditions and artistic perspectives together.
.png)
