Samia is a 28 year old singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, California introducing herself in the summer of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic by signing with the Fat Possum Records subsidiary Grand Jury Music for her acclaimed full-length debut The Baby for it’s take on singer/songwriter, bedroom pop, indie folk & indie rock. Her sophomore effort Honey later came out at the start of 2023 to more moderate reception in comparison to The Baby although the alt-pop & ambient pop influences were a nice change of pace, coming back almost 2 & a half years later for her 3rd studio LP.

The first song “Bovine Excision” after the “Biscuits” intro was a great choice of a single from it’s singer/songwriter, indie rock, alt-country & indie folk sound to the lyrics expressing her desire to be untouchable whereas “Hole in a Frame” sings about a fascination with disappearing & the power of absence. “Lizard” describes wanting to live up to the person she became in someone’s head until “Dare” finding this person’s intentions unclear.

“Fair Game” promises that said individual won’t get their blood back regardless if they can go outside on a hot night & clap, but then “Spine Oil” sings about coming to terms with her joy constantly being mistaken for weakness & everything not coming down easy whatsoever. “Craziest Person” admits to always trying to find anyone who sticks out as being the most unhinged whenever she steps in a room while “Sacred” sings about an ex never losing her the way he hates her presently.

Meanwhile on “Carousel”, we have Samia blending indie rock, art rock, neo-psychedelia slacker rock, neo-psychedelia & singer/songwriter showing a cathartic side to her songwriting abilities while “Proof” is an apology to those she’s pushed away as soon as they started to know me. “North Poles” takes inspiration from her close friend & collaborator Raffaella that is until “Pants” delves into the endless often fruitless search for a version of ourselves.

Almost 2 & a half years later, Samia endeavors to disinter the self buried beneath these carefully constructed personas by reaching a place of acceptance for her whole & imperfect being. She confronts the person she became in order to impress this imagined figure inseparable from who she is today displaying influences of singer-songwriter, indie folk, indie rock, indie pop, bedroom pop, indie rock & alt-country.

Score: 4.5/5

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