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 Choctaw Nation musician, songwriter, singer, and producer. She is known for her unique voice and heartfelt songs. Samantha is signed with Real Kind Records, which is part of Communion Records.
Samantha has won several important awards for her music. In 2009, she received three Native American Music Awards (NAMMYs) for Folk Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. She won another NAMMY in 2022 for her song "Bloomsday." In 2019, she also won the Indigenous Music Award for Best Rock Album.
Her songs have been featured in many popular TV shows and movies. These include 90210, Hung, Barking Water, The Dark Divide, Resident Alien, Reservation Dogs, and Echo. Samantha has also composed music for films like Fancy Dance (2023), Winding Path (2024), and Drowned Land (2024).
In 2017 and 2018, she worked with the Peabody Essex Museum to create music for their special T.C. Cannon art exhibit. She also released a collection of poems called En Masse: A Collection of 30 Sonnets by Samantha Crain in 2018.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Samantha Crain grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and is part of the Choctaw community. She went to Grove School and Dale High School in Oklahoma. When she was younger, Samantha was a strong powerlifter and even held some world and national records!
Before her last year of high school, Samantha taught herself to play guitar. She started writing songs based on her own short stories. She began touring and performing when she was 19 years old. At first, she performed alone or with her friend Beth Bombara. Later, she formed a band called Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers, touring with them until 2009.
Working with Other Artists
Samantha Crain has worked with many other musicians. She has sung on recordings for bands like Murder By Death, Parker Millsap, and First Aid Kit. She even appeared on the TV show Conan with First Aid Kit to perform their song "Stay Gold."
She has also toured with many famous artists and bands. Some of these include the Avett Brothers, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Mountain Goats, Brandi Carlile, and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
Samantha has produced many of her own music recordings. She has also helped other artists produce their albums. In 2014, she produced an album for country singer Kierston White. In 2015, she produced an album for the band Annie Oakley, and in 2022, for Kinsey Charles.
Samantha Crain's Music Albums
Samantha Crain has released several albums and EPs (shorter albums). Each one tells a story and shows her unique musical style.
The Confiscation EP
Samantha's very first recording was an EP called The Confiscation. She released it herself, and it was later re-released by Ramseur Records in 2007. This EP was inspired by five short stories that Samantha wrote.
Songs in the Night
Her first full album, Songs in the Night, came out on April 28, 2009. She recorded it with her band, the Midnight Shivers. The album was praised by music magazines like Paste and Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone described her voice as "gorgeously odd."
You (Understood)
After her band broke up, Samantha released her second album, You (Understood), on June 8, 2010. This album was recorded very quickly, in just seven days! It features different musicians and includes one of her most popular songs, "Santa Fe."
A Simple Jungle
On January 10, 2012, Samantha released a 7-inch vinyl single called A Simple Jungle. It has two songs, "It's Simple" and "Cadwell Jungle." She has shared that these songs were written after a difficult relationship.
Kid Face
Samantha's third album, Kid Face, was released on February 19, 2013. It was produced by John Vanderslice. This album also received high praise from many music magazines, including PASTE Magazine, Rolling Stone, and NME.
Under Branch & Thorn & Tree
Her fourth album, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, came out on July 17, 2015. This album was recorded using old-fashioned analog equipment, which means it has a very warm and natural sound. It also features the Magik*Magik Orchestra.
You Had Me At Goodbye
On March 24, 2017, Samantha released her fifth album, You Had Me At Goodbye. Like her previous album, it was recorded using analog methods. This album includes a special song called "Red Sky, Blue Mountain," which is sung entirely in the Choctaw language.
A Small Death
In 2017, Samantha was in several car accidents that made it hard for her to use her hands. She couldn't play music or write songs for a while. As she recovered, she started to write new songs by speaking them into her phone. These songs became her album A Small Death, which was released on July 17, 2020.
Gumshoe
Samantha Crain's seventh studio album, Gumshoe, was released on May 2, 2025.
