NORWAY CALLING: SAMSAYA PUMPS UP MERCURY LOUNGE

Sometimes an artist just does it for you, captures you with bouncing melodies, and the beat makes your body move. Norwegian pop… what would you call her? Even though she “only” counts 7.6 K likes on Facebook, Samsaya can already be called a star. You see her perform, and you know; Yup. She’s going to be big.

Back at SXSW in March was when I saw her the first time, at Stubb’s BBQ, and she tore up the venue like she did the Mercury lounge Monday night. NY Times’ Jon Pareles was there, and noticed she “hit the indoor stage at Stubb’s as if she were working an arena, with a cheerleader energy somewhere between peak No Doubt and Lady Gaga.” I disagree on the part about Mother Monster, to me Samsaya is more like Gwen Stefani and a more accessible M.I.A. (Ms. Maya is pretty cool, but most of her shit is just out there and weird.), but with the heart painted around her left eye, I can see where he’s coming from. “This is how I see you!’’ Samsaya shouts to the crowd. “I see you in my heart!”

Fronting a 3 piece band, Samsaya enters the stage in a Football jersey and amazing banana-print leggins, and immediately takes charge of the room. She opens with “Bombay Calling,” a driven beat-infused track off of her self-titled EP, that was just released this past November. Immediately there is movement in the crowd – no one is standing still. She guides us through the night, setting an example; Her energy on stage is intoxicating, never gasping for air while she sings, and jumps around on stage, gesturing wildly. Her passion is infections – after only 30 seconds she has the crowd dancing. For her NYC-inspired song “Jaywalking” she splits the crowd and has them sing the choruses with her. She closes with her single “Stereotype” – jumping from her drummer’s bass drum, the audience joins in and bounces and pounces along to the beat.

After a good 45 minutes of jumping and moving, we’re drenched in sweat. Samsaya helps her band pack up, but still find the time to talk to the people in the crowd. Fan time. And she’s exactly as sweet and charming as she is on stage. Mark my words; This one we will hear of. This one will be big.

Article by: Julia Maehner

Photos by: Michael DiGiovanni