Samia has released a video for “Milk,” her latest single for Grand Jury. The clip was directed by Tess Lafia. 21-year-old New York native Samia draws from the same well of sharp-witted lyricism as forebears old and new — from Liz Phair to Patti Smith to Josh Tillman.

21-year-old New York native Samia draws from the same well of sharp-witted lyricism as forebears old and new — from Liz Phair to Patti Smith to Josh Tillman.

Samia on “Milk”:

“I was dealing with an eating disorder while my grandmother/family’s matriarch was dying. I was so mad at myself; it felt hypocritical to be encouraging someone else to fight for her life while i was willfully taking years off of my own. A lot of people have eating disorders and everybody’s grandparents die so i didn’t feel entitled to the deep sadness i felt. I do now! In the video, I’m really attached to these balloons which sort of represent the part of my identity that was emaciated and dealing with loss. The simplicity of the video reflects my grief; there was something comfortably uncomplicated about being totally sad.”

Samia’s knack is unique to her 21 years: that ability to tap into youthful angst with a precocious wisdom we seem to lose as we get older. Take for example, “Django,” a tongue-in-cheek ode to the depth and fleeting nature of teenage sorrow, both drop-dead serious and total farce.

“I wrote most of Django at 17, crying in the bathtub, looking down at myself from above my body and finding the scene to be hilarious,” says Samia. “I had to use the humor in my sorrow; there was a lot of it. I’m not sure how much it comes through on the record but I really was trying to make fun of myself.”

But while self-deprecation runs rampant through her slowly growing catalog of a half-dozen songs, her lyrics absolutely singe when they find targets worthy of their fire. “Someone Tell The Boys” is a timely anthem and a blistering takedown of the mindlessness of macho mansplainers. “I have anecdotes to offer, they won’t do much for this gentleman, cause his every thought’s a sacrament and his every word’s been said,” she seethes in one verse. “Someone tell the boys they’re not important anymore,” goes the chorus.

Samia
TOUR DATES:

8/27 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (early show)
9/27 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade *
9/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle *
9/29 – Washington, DC @ DC 9 *
10/1 – Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub *
10/2 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas *
10/4 – Toronto, ON @ Monarch Tavern *
10/5 – Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo *
10/6 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott *

* w/ Active Bird Community