Samira’s journey from ballet dancer to pop star is a story of passion, resilience, and authenticity. Her latest single, “See Through You,” is a powerful reflection of her growth as an artist and her commitment to addressing important themes in her music. With exciting new projects on the horizon, Samira is set to continue making her mark in the music industry.
Hi Samira! For those who might not be familiar with you, can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your journey into music?
Hi, my name is Samira, and I’m a singer/performer/dancer from London. I initially trained to be a ballet dancer and then moved into musical theatre, appearing in various musicals, including Dreamgirls and Mamma Mia. I always had a passion for creating my own music and art, so while I was doing musicals, I was writing tracks and posting them online. People in the industry started to notice those, and I started getting invited to sessions to work with producers. That eventually led me to concentrate on being an artist full-time, putting out my first solo track in early 2023.
How did music become a significant part of your life? Was there a specific moment or influence that sparked your passion for it?
Growing up, I was always surrounded by different types of music. My mother is a jazz dancer, so I was around a lot of cool music that she played, and my dad was into soul & reggae. I was brought up around loads of incredible musicians. When I was growing up, I was obsessed with MTV and the music channels and would obsessively watch the legends – Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Queen – just totally in awe of their artistry. I’d also watch The Disney Channel – I was completely obsessed with Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana as a child, and at that point, I became singularly focused on wanting to be a pop star.
Your latest track, ‘See Through You,’ has just been released. Can you tell us what inspired this song?
I think being in your 20s and kind of figuring stuff out is a huge theme in my friendship circle at the moment, and that was what mainly informed the writing on this one. Unfortunately, I have lost a few friends to mental health issues, and I kind of wanted to write something from their perspective – that feeling, which I think is really common now – of having to go crazy, go to all these parties, and be really hedonistic every weekend, when in fact, deep down, they’re not good, they’re not in the best place. That extreme hedonism is really just escapism from parts of their life they’re really not happy with.
How did the collaboration with rising electronic producer PALMR come about for ‘See Through You’?
He reached out via his management initially, and I just really liked his vibe when I listened to his reel. Sometimes it can take a while to click with a producer creatively, but he understood my vision straight away. He knew that I wanted something different and edgier. He completely bodied my vision, and I loved working with him.
You mentioned that this track marks a new chapter for you as an artist. How would you describe this new direction?
It’s probably a little darker, a little less bubblegum than some of the stuff on my previous EP. The writing definitely feels a little more accomplished, a little more mature. I feel like the more you do this, the more you understand the type of music you want to make. This new era is so much more ‘me’, and I think that the writing this time around really has me at the center of it all rather than being about boys or relationships or whatnot. The sound is a lot more confident this time around.
The lyrics in ‘See Through You’ explore the darker side of hedonism. What message are you hoping to convey with this song?
Maybe just to keep an eye on your friends. Intervene if you think they’re partying too hard or going off the rails a little. And I suppose if you’re the person partying hard, make sure you look after yourself. I feel like everyone has been in those moments where you need to take a little break in the bathroom. Maybe you’re at a party that you don’t want to be at, but you push yourself to go, and then you need to take a breather. You need that moment to look in that mirror and think, ‘oh my gosh, this isn’t you’ – in that respect, more than anything, I just hope I’ve written something that most young people can relate to.
Who would you say is your biggest influence in music, and how have they shaped your sound and career?
It’s mainly the people that I’ve grown up watching. One of my biggest influences is Britney Spears; I absolutely love her. I think she is incredible. I’m a performer, so I’m really drawn to artists that marry performance with their music, people like Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson – these are the people that have shaped the type of artist that I am. I love Freddie Mercury, Amy Winehouse – artists who weren’t afraid to be who they are, and obviously legends like Rihanna and Beyoncé – their work ethic is unbelievable, they’ve really hustled to get to where they are, and I’m so inspired by that.
Many people know you from your time on Love Island. How did that experience impact your life and career?
I think people expect me to talk negatively about Love Island, but genuinely, being on the show was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. People obviously have preconceptions of you when you’ve done a show like that, and I know that it often means I have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously as an artist. But you know, I went on as a single 22-year-old, ready to have fun, not knowing what doors it might open – it’s benefited me in ways that I couldn’t have even imagined, so I’ll be forever grateful for that opportunity.
How have you managed to navigate the fame that came with Love Island? Has it been challenging to balance your personal and professional life?
I think it’s taken me quite a few years to learn how to navigate the kind of attention that I got. Obviously, my year was really massive, and I really wasn’t prepared for how big a deal it would be when I came out. People recognizing you in the street, the type of attention you get on social media – it’s a lot to get used to. But I do think it’s been really great preparation for launching a music career; it forces you to develop a really thick skin. It’s a lot to get used to, but I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.
How has your music evolved since the release of your debut EP, “Dancefloors & Drama Vol. 1”?
My music has changed so much, I think over the next few releases, you’ll really see a step change in the writing and what I’m bringing to the table sonically. I love my first EP and think it was perfect as an introduction to me as an artist, but the writing was definitely a little safer, much cuter. I’m much more willing to take risks now, and there’s more bite in the package as a whole. These next songs are so strong, I feel so confident about them – they are proper superstar songs.
You’ve worked with some big names in the industry like Cutfather, Tre-Jean Marie, and Kal Lavelle. How have these collaborations influenced your music?
As a writer and an artist, you pick up something from each person you work with, and obviously working with people that have had huge hits, you just want to be a sponge and take in as much as you can. I’m always so grateful to be in the room with all these incredible people, and as things go along, I have to pinch myself more and more at who I’m getting to collaborate with.
Last year, you released several singles that received a lot of attention. Which of those tracks are you most proud of and why?
My songs are like my babies – each of them is such an integral part of my journey. I do really love the last track I released from my EP, ‘Broke Me Good’. I wrote that a little while ago in Copenhagen, and it’s one that is really personal to me from a lyrical perspective. It seemed to be one that a lot of people connected with across social media, and as a writer, having people really connect with the story you’re telling is a really special feeling.
Your collaboration with WDC on the club remake of ‘I Love Your Smile’ earned you a UK Top 5 Club Chart placement. How did that success impact your career?
It was the first time a lot of people had actually heard my voice, and even though I’d been working on music for a little while at that point, I think it was the first time people had really started taking me seriously as an artist. To have your very first release do over 10 million streams – it just really helped kick things off and opened lots of doors for me in terms of working with other producers.
You’ve been involved in the UK dance music scene quite a bit. How does that influence your pop music style?
I called my EP ‘Dancefloors & Drama’ because pretty much everything I do is influenced by dancing and dance music in some way. I love clubbing and club culture as much as I love pop music, and I think marrying those two things is what really motors my sound. I really want to keep straddling both genres, with those big dance collaborations happening alongside my own solo stuff, which leans ever so slightly more pop.
Can you give us a sneak peek into what we can expect from your next EP?
We’re pulling that together now – I’ve got so many songs that it’s now a case of trying to lock down the final tracklist and working out what fits together the best. I can say that the music we have is sexy, fun, and very in-your-face. Very unapologetic, and quite cunty, for want of a better word! I can’t wait to get it out there and start sharing the music and putting visuals together for it all.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected part of your music career so far?
I think just the people who I get to work with. Who I’ve managed to get in the room with so early on has been amazing, and every week one of my heroes will reach out or follow me on socials or whatever – it’s always mad to think they’re listening to my music. It’s always scary going into a new industry, especially one like the music industry, so it’s just been amazing how so many influential people have really embraced me and what I do.
How do you approach the songwriting process? Do you have any rituals or routines that help you stay creative?
I tend not to overplan before a session – I write my music based on how I’m feeling in the room with the producers and the writers at that particular time. Quite often it will begin almost like a therapy session, where everyone is sharing and talking about their experiences and how they feel, and that will often be the jump-off point for what we end up with. I always have an idea sonically of what I want to do, but the rest kind of just happens in the moment.
Can you share a bit about your experience working with other artists and producers in the industry? How do these collaborations typically come together?
I mean, each one is so different. Sometimes they’re set up by management, sometimes I’ll meet someone at an event or whatever, we’ll vibe and get something in. Sometimes I’ll hear something I love and then reach out to the producer. And in the room, those collaborations can be different too – sometimes it’s more of a really relaxed jamming type of situation. Whereas, for example, if you head over to Copenhagen, it’s not uncommon that you’ll cram in three sessions in a day with different people, writing really quickly. I really like just having to adapt to different ways of writing.
Finally, what message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music, especially with your latest track ‘See Through You’?
I mean, from this song in particular, I’d really love the lyrics to resonate with people in the same way ‘Broke Me Good’ did. I think this song tells a really important story. But I think, from a wider perspective, just to follow your dreams and trust your gut. It’s six years this week that I left Love Island – I always wanted to do music, and a lot of people tried to dissuade me and told me to stick to influencing and reality TV. But I’m so glad that I’m actively building a career and an audience for myself doing what I really love.
