Sam Stoane has been discovering and molding her sound for over 8 and a half years since she's arrived in Nashville. In recent years, the Californian has done some major soul searching and has leaned on her experiences and heritage to create the most immaculate, ear-catching music that is filled with magic. As many in Nashville and the country music industry are chasing the mainstream sound and success, Stoane has realized her goals and vision are bigger than the fame and commercial success, and are more about building a fanbase and audience who resonate with her unique and powerful sound. Sam has beautifully blended the Folk and Americana sound with a western flare, while still having appeal to country music fans. As it hasn't been announced, why not spread the good news! Sam Stoane is an artist we are very high on over at UPstar Music and she will be featured as one of our "Artists To Watch" in the Class of 2025, alongside other notable artists like Shaboozey, Morgan Wade, The Castellows, and Wyatt Flores. With her mesmerizing sound and bold confidence, Sam Stoane is definitely an artist you need to keep an eye on and will be around the genre for a while.
I sat down with Sam Stoane and talked about her single "Coyote Cries,” how horses and music go hand in hand for her, and how Eminem has had an impact on her music career. Take a look into the life and music of Sam and how the California native navigates life in Nashville.
Get To Know Sam
"Originally from Southern California, I was born in Anaheim. I spent time riding and training horses everywhere, San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, Chino Hills, Temecula... all over the place. I spent a lot of time with horses growing up. Horses are still heavily involved in my life. When I'm not doing that, I'm writing songs and playing shows. I believe that music and horses go hand and hand with me. The time in the saddle gives me a good headspace to fuel the fire for songwriting and my music.
I didn't get into songwriting or singing until middle or late high school. I started taking guitar lessons and I was noisy in guitar class so they kicked me out, like every time. I loved poetry growing up, Eminem was a musical influence for me because I loved and was drawn to him for his poetic nature. I loved Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert, but other than that, older country really influenced me like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn. I really loved poetry and I really loved music. I played classical piano for 5 or 6 years and wanted to put it all together so I started writing songs. I started to write songs when I was 16 or 17 years old. I graduated high school and went and studied in Australia for a year. I studied theology and songwriting and after that year was up, I realized that I needed to move to Nashville. I moved to Nashville almost 8 and a half years ago."
Western Flare + Authenticity + Breathtaking Vocals And Songwriting = Damn Good Music
In a world of copy-and-paste artists and so many chasing the mainstream sound, Sam Stoane is anything but that. A real life cowgirl who's bringing her experiences and the beautiful history and lifestyle of the west to life with unique and booming vocals with incredible emotion and imagery in her songwriting. Truly the full package, Stoane has a rare ability to bring a story to life and paints a picture in a few minutes as if you were watching it unfold on the big screen. Her music makes you stop in your place and appreciate every line and verse. No matter how many times you hear a song from Sam Stoane, it feels like you are hearing and experiencing it for the first time... a true gift.
"Coyote Cries" is a gut wrenching and deeply poetic track that takes you out west. The production by Patrick Lyons is simple yet sophisticated, masterfully done. The arrangement in the production intertwines beautifully with Sam's vocals to tell a story of lonesomeness and learning to be on your own and put your best foot forward. A western masterpiece that has all the layers of a hit. Making the legends proud with this one.
Inspiration Behind "Coyote Cries"
Written By: Austin Plaine & Sam Stoane, Produced By: Patrick Lyons
"I wrote it with Austin Plaine who is another folk artist who's awesome. He brought the concept in a couple years ago. I think it was this poetic thing, there wasn't this crazy storyline behind it, it took me back to where I'm from and the desert scenery and where I'm from. The imagery in my mind was if I was alone in the desert with nothing or nobody, and I'm just listening to the sound of a coyote cry, and one day it just stops. And one day you just have to learn to live with the silence... It's kind of dark. The song is applicable to life and loneliness. It's really a poetic song that's supposed to kickstart my debut record."
Q & A with Sam Stoane
Q: What was that "light bulb" moment that made you want to pursue a career in music?
A: "I think when I started writing songs and putting pen to paper and then putting a vocal over it, and seeing how it would impact people, it reflected back on me. Seeing people being encouraged or having an emotional response from my songs, it opened doors for deeper conversations, even with strangers, it bridges the gap and finds people's common ground. That also was fueling my fire or wanting to do music, in a way, it can bridge a really big gap with someone that without music wouldn't be there... it's a way to bring people together and I wanted to do more of it."
Q: Over the years of your career, what has the process and experience been like crafting and honing in your sound, style and authenticity?
A: "8 years ago, I thought there was only one way to do country music. I didn't recognize that the music I gravitated toward was more Americana, Tyler Childers, Colter Wall would have been coming up around then. Even traditional country hit differently than mainstream/commercial country. With my heritage and where I'm from, my family is Greek and my dad's family migrated here. That never resonated with me, and all the songs I wrote were very cheesy and gimmicky and it wasn't me.
It was real life experiences, I had been married and went through a divorce, and did a lot of soul searching on who I am and how I want that to come through in my music and my sound. I think I want my music to have a foot in country where it's relevant, but my sound leaning more Americana. The goal is to be able to do both, but my sound organically is not commercial country. Lainey Wilson says it often, it's really important to know your brand and nail it down. I have a mentor that has really helped me figure out all of that. It's about asking "who am I?" and where does it fit. When you aren't trying to be something or someone else it's easier to find your sound and it comes through and is effortless."
Q: As we live in a world of instant gratification, how do you navigate the music industry and stay true to your artistry and vision?
A: "Staying true to who I am is what keeps the momentum for me. I don't want to be like anyone else, I have my inspirations who are the classics like Loretta (Lynn) and artists like that. With her, it even goes down to the way she carried herself. As far as the industry and where it's at now that I want to be like them, I just want to be me and write songs that are different and may not be for everyone, but fit in a universal way. When you've been in town long enough you get a taste in your mouth of "I don't want to do this" or "I don't want to be like them.” To be blunt, I don't care to sound or be like anyone else and stay in my lane."
Q: Who are some of your biggest musical influences who have helped you form your identity? Inspiration for songwriting?
A: "I would say the most impactful, sound-wise I'd say, sonically, Tyler Childers and Colter Wall. I often tell people what to expect of my music. I say a female version of them and put it out west and I don't think there's a lot of that right now. Also Loretta (Lynn), but also Patsy Cline. I think they were class acts who never get old in my opinion. Loretta has a ton of grit to her; she's a "I'm not going to take any shit" kind of woman.
It's a culmination of my life experiences that I want to share with others whether it's heartache or lifestyle similarities. It's cool to see how people can relate when you may not have much in common. I love telling stories about the history of where I'm from, being from California. The history of the west is really cool and fascinating that you may not hear a lot. I'd say history inspires me and life experiences people can relate to."
If you are just discovering Sam Stoane check her out on Apple Music, Spotify, Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook
Comments