Samantha Elin

FOR MY FORAYS INTO FOLK AND COUNTRY, PLEASE CLICK HERE .Food, air, water and music -- all necessary elements of my life for as long as I can remember. In the beginning, my parents thrust folk, musicals and classical on me. I learned to love the first two and tolerate the latter -- 'til I discovered the joys of Vivaldi, Beethoven's 7th, Puccini arias, and "Carmen." Then I hit my preteens, and I entered the world of pop and rock and New Wave. I'd burrow under the covers half the night with headphones on, my parents unknowing, and the sounds of rock radio pummeling my ears. There were seminal moments -- when I first heard Sting's "Fortress Around Your Heart" with Branford Marsalis's lilting soprano sax; or U2's "New Year's Day," whose haunting piano riff gives me goosebumps to this day; and the spare, heartbreaking beauty of Neil Young's guitar on "Harvest Moon," punctuated by his lonesome harmonica and plaintive voice.

Then a few years ago I started writing lyrics. But without music I didn't know what to do with them. So they rested in a folder, collecting dust. On a whim after a concert, I bought a guitar and taught myself some chords. I've been writing music ever since. Musique est mon joie.

**
Try the BEST MySpace Editor and MySpace Backgrounds at MySpace Toolbox !