Introducing Britain’s New Rising Popstar… Samira

Rising pop star Samira is ready to take the music world by storm. Hailing from West London, the young talent first got her start in the music sphere at an early age. Studying at the Millennium Performing Arts College, Samira immersed herself in everything dance, singing and showmanship. After years of honing her talent, the emerging singer-songwriter began to show off her skills on the West End stage in productions like Mamma Mia! and Dreamgirls. However in 2022, Samira stepped into her solo music spotlight after collaborating with W.D.C on the cover of Shanice’s hit single ‘I Love Your Smile.’

Following the track’s release, the triple-threat entertainer hunkered down in the studio to write with some of the biggest hitmakers in the music sphere – resulting in her debut solo single ‘Like This, Like That.’ Described as “dark, sexy, and mysterious,” the single showcases the singer’s sultry vocal prowess while also setting the stage for her promising career in the industry. With her music video for ‘Like This, Like That’ currently in the works and more dynamic singles set to be released, Samira is showing no signs of slowing down. We were able to chat with the talented singer about her music beginnings, career goals, and so much more.

Heya Samira! Thanks for sitting down with SPINDLE. How has February been treating you? 

Hey! thanks for having me! February is treating me well so far! It’s been a super busy, exciting month for me, gearing up for the release of my new single, ‘Like This, Like That’!

Congratulations on your debut solo single ‘Like This, Like That.’ Can you take us through the creative process for this record? What type of vibe or theme did you want to explore?

Thank you! I am absolutely thrilled it’s out! I wanted to my debut solo release to be dark, sexy and dramatic. I think it’s such a contrast to “I love your smile “, the track I did with WDC. The process of writing and recording the track was so amazing – I flew over to Copenhagen to work with Cutfather and his team, and I really wanted to create a track that made you want to dance and get lost in the music. I think it’s a perfect debut solo song for me – it’s got a cool vibe and really takes you on a journey.

For the dance-pop record, you worked with esteemed producer, Cutfather – who’s worked with Kylie Minogue and The Pussycat Dolls. What was it like collaborating with the music veteran? Did you two have the same idea in mind regarding the track? 

Cutfather and his team are brilliant! They just live and breathe pop music. I absolutely love their work ethic and dedication to making the perfect record, and it was so inspiring to walk into the studio and see all the records he’s done – that’s how I knew this track was going to be brilliant. I love him! We were just all really in the moment and managed to create such a cool, mysterious track from thin air. From the moment I walked in the studio, I just knew I was working with the best people. 

Before releasing ‘Like This, Like That,’ you worked with W.D.C on ‘I Love Your Smile.’ How does your solo debut differ from the collaboration, and what can fans expect from your future releases? 

I love that it is really different from ‘I Love Your Smile’ – I really want to show versatility. That track was the perfect song to debut with, especially coming out of lockdown – it’s such a happy and fun track. ‘Like This, Like That’ is much more indicative of my personality and who I am as an artist. In terms of future releases, fans can expect is a lot of dancing and catchy songs that you can listen to over and over. I have so many different tracks with different vibes, every single track has its own story and identity. 

Will we be getting a visual for ‘Like This, Like That’? 

Oh yes! We filmed the music video earlier this week. I’m a trained professional dancer, and it feels so good to dance again! I love that I’ve had visuals in my head, and now I’m able to recreate and present them in a music video. I want to wow everyone with this video and give them a taste of what I can do!

Let’s take a break from the present and journey to the past. When did you first fall in love with the idea of pursuing music?

When I was younger, I always knew I wanted to be on stage. I was always a theatrical kid with so much creativity! I grew up in a house surrounded by great music – soul, funk, pop, R&B. As I was training to be a professional ballet dancer, I discovered that my mind would go elsewhere, and I didn’t want to just focus on ballet. I was completely inspired by the Disney channel era – Hannah Montana, and Demi Lovato – I just wanted to sing and dance and make music! In my spare time, I began to write songs – writing lyrics and coming up with melodies, and very quickly, I knew it was something I wanted to do. I’ve always dreamt of having my own concert, filming music videos and releasing my own songs, and now my dreams are becoming a reality! 

Is there an artist or an album that you continuously look toward for inspiration? 

I love Rihanna’s ‘Rated R’, Britney’s ‘My Prerogative’ hits collection and Lady Gaga ‘Artpop’. I just think the songs are so cleverly done and so strong. I love a pop queen! Rihanna’s songs tell stories, and she has such a bad girl vibe, Britney is such a great performer, giving me full choreography and popstar energy! And Lady Gaga gives me creativity and inspires me not to be afraid to be out of the box!

You’ve appeared in some of the biggest musicals like Mamma Mia and Dreamgirls. What are some of the lessons you learned from your West End days, and how have you applied them to your journey as a solo music artist? 

I absolutely loved being in the West End – it was one of my life goals, and I did it at such a young age. I think one huge thing it teaches you is discipline and work ethic. In musical theatre, you have to give your all and always give 100 percent, and if you want to be in a show, you have to push yourself so that you will get the job. I know that the music industry can be tough, but I think it’s prepared me and been a good stepping stone. It’s also given me the experience to be the best performer I can be, and I wouldn’t be there without my dance training. I want people to come and see me perform and be wowed and leave feeling like they’ve seen a show! 

What are your top five goals that you want to achieve within your career?

I’m really looking forward to getting out there and performing live. I’d love a number one single – who wouldn’t?! I really want to collaborate more and work with lots of different people. I’d love to really make it worldwide, and winning a few awards along the way would be quite nice as well!

Looking ahead, what else can music listeners expect from Samira this year? 

A lot of bangers, a lot of different styles and a lot of dancing! And lots of really hooky, infectious music! I’m so excited to share it all! 

Make sure to listen to Samira’s new track, ‘Like This, Like That’ here or below.