Samantha Crain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samantha Crain
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Crain in concert in LA at the Wiltern
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Samantha Jo Crain |
| Born | August 15, 1986 Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Genres | Americana, Singer-Songwriter, Folk rock, indie |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, singer, producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Real Kind Records/Communion Music in London, UK and Ramseur Records in Concord, North Carolina and Full Time Hobby in London, UK |
Samantha Crain (born August 15, 1986) is a talented musician, songwriter, and singer from the Choctaw Nation. She creates music that blends different styles like folk, rock, and Americana. Samantha is signed with several record labels, including Ramseur Records and Real Kind Records.
Samantha has won several important awards for her music. In 2009, she won three Native American Music Awards for Folk Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. She won another NAMMY in 2022 for her song "Bloomsday." She also received the Indigenous Music Award for Best Rock Album in 2019. Her songs have been featured in many popular TV shows and movies, such as 90210, Reservation Dogs, and Echo. In 2022, she even composed the music for the film Fancy Dance. Samantha has also worked with the Peabody Essex Museum to create music for an art exhibit. In 2018, she released a collection of poems called En Masse: A Collection of 30 Sonnets by Samantha Crain.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Samantha Crain was born and grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma. She is proud of her Choctaw heritage. As a child and teenager, Samantha was very active and even competed in powerlifting!
Before her last year of high school, Samantha taught herself to play the guitar. She started writing songs based on short stories she had written. When she was 19, Samantha began touring and performing her music. At first, she performed alone or with her friend Beth Bombara. Later, she formed a band called Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers. They toured together until 2009.
Working with Other Artists
Samantha Crain has worked with many other musicians. She has sung on recordings for artists like Murder By Death and Parker Millsap. She even appeared on the TV show Conan to perform with the band First Aid Kit.
Samantha has also toured with many well-known bands and singers. Some of these include the Avett Brothers, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Mountain Goats, Brandi Carlile, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. She has shared the stage with a wide variety of artists.
Besides performing, Samantha has also produced music for other artists. She helped create albums for Oklahoma-based singers Kierston White and Kinsey Charles. She also produced an album for the band Annie Oakley.
Her Music Albums
Samantha Crain has released several albums throughout her career. Each one tells a unique story through her songs.
The Confiscation EP
Samantha's very first recording was an EP (a shorter album) called The Confiscation. She released it herself, and it was later re-released by Ramseur Records in 2007. This EP was special because its songs were based on five short stories Samantha had written.
Songs in the Night
In 2009, Samantha released her first full-length album, Songs in the Night, with her band, the Midnight Shivers. This album was recorded in North Carolina. It featured Samantha on guitar and vocals, along with her bandmates playing drums, bass, and other instruments. The album received great reviews from magazines like Paste and Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone described her voice as "gorgeously odd" and "billowing like fog."
You (Understood)
After her band broke up, Samantha released her second album, You (Understood), in 2010. This album was recorded quickly, in just seven days! It featured Samantha on various instruments and included guest musicians. The song "Santa Fe" from this album became one of her most popular songs.
A Simple Jungle
In 2012, Samantha released a special 7-inch vinyl record called A Simple Jungle. It had two songs that she said were inspired by a past relationship.
Kid Face
Samantha's third album, Kid Face, came out in 2013. It was produced by John Vanderslice. Many other musicians helped create this album. It was highly praised by music magazines like PASTE Magazine, Rolling Stone, and the Guardian. Samantha mentioned that the song "For the Miner" was written for another musician, Jason Molina, shortly before he passed away.
Under Branch & Thorn & Tree
In 2015, Samantha released her fourth album, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree. She worked with producer John Vanderslice again. This album was special because it was recorded using old-fashioned analog equipment, which gives the music a unique sound. It also featured an orchestra! Critics loved this album, and it received praise from many music publications.
You Had Me At Goodbye
Samantha's fifth album, You Had Me At Goodbye, was released in 2017. It was also recorded using analog methods. This album included special arrangements for clarinets and strings. One unique song on this album is "Red Sky, Blue Mountain," which is entirely written and sung in the Choctaw language.
A Small Death
In 2020, Samantha released her album A Small Death. This album was created during a challenging time for Samantha. After a series of car accidents, she was unable to use her hands to write or play music for a while. During her recovery, she dictated song ideas into her phone. As she slowly healed, she began to write and play the songs that would become this album.
