On September 9, I had the privilege of attending Samia’s concert in Birmingham, AL. I had never been to Birmingham before so, the concert venue, Saturn, was a charming first glimpse into the quaint city. During the day it serves as a café, and at night, it transforms into a comfortable space-themed bar and concert venue. The exposed brick and colorful, psychedelic lights create a very unique atmosphere that makes it hard not to want to come back for more.
I arrived at this concert perhaps more curious than any other concert I’ve been to because of a video that came across my feed a few months ago. Samia recorded a Tiny Desk concert with NPR almost two years ago, and it recently went viral across social platforms. Samia has now become a familiar name in the indie community, arguably thanks to the raw and emotional NPR Tiny Desk concert that made everyone turn their listening ears on. That performance, as unfiltered and tear-jerking, introduced audiences to Samia’s live sound, rather than her polished recordings available for streaming.
The difference is notable, and many new fans prefer the live rendition, prompting Samia to release a stripped version of the song “Pool” this year, which can be heard in the Tiny Desk clip that went viral. Going to this concert was a unique opportunity to compare Samia’s produced and polished tracks to her live ones, and understand how live music brings a new perspective and audience to her band.
Going into the concert I was expecting something similar to the Tiny Desk Concert, yet my expectations were far surpassed, to say the least. The band plays different tones; sometimes somber, sometimes invigorated. Though Samia produces indie pop music, her and her band express a far more rock-adjacent genre when live. Every preconceived notion was but a mere preview of the beautiful quality of their live music.
Samia’s interactions with her band showed a close relationship and playful camaraderie that added a beautiful connection to the show and crowd. She wore bright red lipstick and nail polish and showed off seductive and charismatic dancing throughout her more upbeat songs. Her coordination, movement, and stage usage were phenomenal. Samia is truly a performer and not just a musician.
Samia has a rave-worthy voice that I’ve heard very few people match when it comes to technique, clarity, and range. Her soprano notes rang so clearly through the room and through our hearts. She boasts a beautiful belt as well, but the most notable quality of her voice is how easily she conveys emotion. The slightly whiny tone and controlled vocal flips are so genuine, they put me on the edge of tears. Her lyrics are deep, cutting, and masterful; they deserve the flourish her emotional voice can provide.
Samia’s recorded tracks on her current touring album, Bloodless, released this year in April, often have a sense of feeling hollow or light. This texture appears throughout the entire album and certainly supports the indie feel of her songs. That carved out texture, however, is absent from her live performance, and its absence is a major strength. This is not to imply Samia’s recorded music is lacking, but to emphasize the difference in quality from Spotify track to live set. The sound of her beautiful vocals over physically resounding instrumentals in person is unmistakably preferable, and a must-see, must-hear concert. My advice to her fans: hear Samia live.
