Samantha Whates profile picture

Samantha Whates

Dark Nights Make For Brighter Days

About Me

Singer/songwriter and flautist Samantha Whates was born in Bridgnorth, Shropshire and spent her formative years in the Middle East, Scotland, and England. She is now based in London where she is a regular on the singer/songwriter circuit, performing at many of the capital’s top venues, including The Electroacoustic Club, Cargo and the Strongroom Bar. Recently, her demo recordings for NSR have been receiving radio airplay, most notably on ‘New Ground’ for KCRW radio, Southern California’s premier independent station. ******************************** ******************************** Samantha Whates plays geetar and has a pretty voice. She rocks harder than a weeble in a hurricane and has the power to make even goffs smile. Funny, clever and mischievous she is the keeper of kelp and funny flavoured vitamin C drops that make you healthy. She like dinosaurs and candy and has more shoes than feet because she only has two of those. She likes old things and shiny things and stuff of many colours which she wears about her person everyday. Especially green. She likes olop’s and dark chocolate but powers up on Iron Bru like a sugary superhero. Samantha likes beer and Ale and tells us tales of Tatties and Neeps and granny’s house and makes us all want to go the land of the Samantha. By Anna Gonzalez 2007

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/15/2006
Band Website: naturalstudio.co.uk/records/
Band Members: Me:)
Influences: ...and some of the things I like....Catcher in the Rye, Salinger, Radiohead, Keith Jarrett, Iron and Wine, My grandparents, John Coltrane, Kind of Like Spitting, Miles Davis, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Sufjan Stevens, Part- Tabula Rasa, Joanna Newsome, Klimt's 'The Kiss', Wasp Factory, At The Drive-In, Wynton Marsalis, Aimee Mann, Tortoise, Thrill Jockey, Cat Power, Grace, Domino, Joni Mitchell, Mose Allison, Interpol, New Order, Death Cab/Postal Service, Bladerunner, Thelonious Monk, Ralph Towner, Malkmus, David Ward Mclean, Nick Drake, Jam, Lynch, Gorecki- Symph No 3, Matt Kebbell, Bert Jansch, Natural Studio, John Martyn, Carlito's Way, Old Crow Medicine Show, Wayne Shorter, Rachmaninov, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Prince, Depeche Mode, My Flute, What of Love in Time, Elliot Smith, Bjork, Johnny Cash, Napoleon Dynamite, Broken Social Scene, Kings of Convenience, UNKLE/DJ Shadow/Lavelle, Dabrye, The Shins, Marvel, Blue Rose Code, Larry David, Joy Division, Herbie Hancock, Bloc Party, Tori Amos, Elgar, Marvin Gaye, My Friends, Aretha Franklin, Breathe out fully through the Mouth...
Sounds Like: Though based in London’s East End, Samantha’s music has more in common with contemporary Scandinavian music (Rune Grammofon et al.) where a lot of importance is placed upon the subtleties of tone, timbre and atmospherics. Of equal influence is instrumental and so-called ‘absolute’ music which constantly informs her melodic approach.Her songs are typically reflective, always honest – everyday issues dealt with pensive melancholy, nostalgic yearning and a mature insight that belies her years.
Record Label: Natural Studio Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

New Found Friends @ The Strongrooms

I have posted a new recording. A wee while ago the lovely Ian offered to record a song for me at the Strongrooms Studio's. I said yes and here it is! I chose New Found Friends as I thought it was abo...
Posted by Samantha Whates on Sun, 20 May 2007 10:22:00 PST

Different Culture of Listening

Oliver introduced me to some wonderful music. After a discussion of what I am trying to acheive he threw this listening suggestion at me. Susanna & the Magical Orchestra. Her voice is so rich in t...
Posted by Samantha Whates on Sat, 27 Jan 2007 03:31:00 PST

KCRW-renewing my faith

As my month off draws nearer to a close, I feel like I'm looking forward to getting back into everything. I've realised how much my job depresses me when I have nothing else to look forward to (...
Posted by Samantha Whates on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 07:00:00 PST

Gotta Get a Gimmick

You can pull all the stops outTill they call the cops outGrind your behind till you're bend.But you gotta get a gimmickIf you wanna get a hand.You can sacrifice your sacharoWorking in the back row.Bum...
Posted by Samantha Whates on Wed, 13 Sep 2006 07:04:00 PST

Helpless Burdens

Helpless Burdens- This is a recording that I have had knocking around since last summer. It has taken me a while to come to terms with. I'm not used to singing with such 'secret' in my voice; more pro...
Posted by Samantha Whates on Fri, 18 Aug 2006 02:03:00 PST