Samia hosts the first performance in newly opened Rough Trade Below ahead of ‘Bloodless’ album release
Words and Photos by Julia Norton
Celebrating the upcoming release of her new album ‘Bloodless’, indie artist Samia had a special performance and signing at Rough Trade NYC on Friday, April 18th. Rough Trade, a popular record store amongst avid music lovers and vinyl collectors based in Rockefeller Center, just expanded the possibilities for artists to connect with their fans with the opening of their new Rough Trade Below space. Decked out with a designated stage for performances and more space to hold guests, Rough Trade Below is New York’s newest intimate venue curated to promote album releases. The new addition to the store, which lies on the shopping and dining level below 30 Rock, has so many charming qualities. The floor was designed with album covers from iconic releases over the last decade, and even recent albums like Charli xcx’s ‘Brat’ and Chappell Roan’s ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’. The store also includes several new and used records, large posters, and even an A24 collection! If you’re a music lover, you have to check it out (don’t forget to take a picture in their brand new color photo booth!)
I had the incredible opportunity to attend Samia’s Rough Trade event, which happened to include the first ever performance held in Rough Trade Below! Samia’s third studio album has an official release date of April 25th, but fans in attendance were able to take home their purchased copy of the record a whole week in advance. I had never attended an album signing before, and I was elated to have received a spot to take photos of the event.
Samia performed some pre-released songs from ‘Bloodless’, kicking it off with “Bovine Excision”, as well as “Lizard” and “Hole In A Frame”. She was accompanied by frequent collaborators Noah Rauchwerk, Ned Steves, Boone Wallace, Darryl Rahn, and Samuel Calvo Rosenstone onstage, allowing her songs to be heard with the support of a full band. She also performed an unreleased track “Dare”, and ended with a cover of Wilco’s “Heavy Metal Drummer”. It was so special to hear these songs live in such an intimate performance space surrounded by her biggest New York based fans, as well as some of her friends and family who came out to show support.
It’s clear that Samia treats every song she puts out in the world with such intense care and intention. She does not write music for the sake of trying to make catchy pop music, and her heart-wrenching poetry has a way to stick with listeners regardless. Samia’s music feels deeper with each listen, and the tracklist of ‘Bloodless’ contains some of her most introspective storytelling yet. One of my favorite aspects of the new album is her ability to combine up-tempo tracks with devastating lyrics, as heard on tracks like “Lizard” and “Spine Oil”. The sound Samia has experimented with since the start of her music career has reached a this is it moment with ‘Bloodless’, each track is pure perfection in an unapologetically honest way. I know that Samia’s fans since the beginning will love this record, and that it has strong potential to pull in new listeners.
Overall, Samia’s performance at Rough Trade Below was one of the most unique concert experiences I’ve ever had the privilege of attending. I loved talking to Samia fans who were also thrilled to be meeting such a beloved artist, and the smiles across the crowd while she was performing with her band were incredibly sweet. Meeting Samia at the end of the event was such a gift. There's nothing better than connecting with an artist you’ve been listening to for years as they found their voice, and getting to tell them how much their art means to you.
‘Bloodless’ by Samia is out everywhere on April 25th, and Rough Trade Below is now open for regular store hours as well as special performance and signing events.
