By Selina Mao
Music, of any kind and of any type, is arguably the most powerful conductor of emotions. Samantha Loren, sometimes known as Sam, was “at a young age—…bit by the acting and music bug”. Born in West Vancouver, she was a “lifer” at Collingwood and is currently studying Finance at Dalhousie University.
Sam has been to many places: Quebec, New York, San Francisco, Cuba, Oxford, Malaga, Halifax and most recently, Israel. Many of these places have inspired her song writing, “Some of my favourite, most heartfelt lyrics were written while I was away at university in Halifax. Some of my favourite drum lines were influenced by what I heard in South America and Israel”. She claims that, “no particular place has influenced my art – rather, they all have”.
Sam does not limit herself to one area of art, instead maintaining an affinity for them all—“ from music, to acting and theatre, to photography, to creative writing, I always surround myself with different art forms.” She does disclose that the one form to which she is most attentive is music. She started singing when she was in grade four when her choir teacher, Lynn Brown, encouraged her to strive within the discipline. At the time she was still focused on theatre but eventually became “captivated by music”. After that, she began singing outside of school and took up many musical instruments (mainly guitar). “I started writing songs when I was twelve and began recording when I was thirteen,” she says, and added that at the time it was still a hobby.
After starting at Dalhousie, Sam was disappointed to find that she could not remain as involved in elite music ensembles because she was in the Commerce program. Later, she took up the opportunity to be a part of The University of King’s College Chapel Choir, a very prestigious group “directed by six-time Grammy Award Winner Paul Halley, who is internationally acclaimed”.
In addition, Sam has “launch[ed] a SoundCloud profile for [her] music, and has since garnered over 56,000 listens,” where she has recordings of both covers and original works.
Sam claims that most of her hobbies “revolve around art in some way, shape, or form. Different kinds of art, sure, but always art.” She does mention that she enjoys travelling, snowboarding, and golfing.
When inquired about what art means to her, Sam answered: “Everything” and “It has all the personal significance I think anything could ever have”. Every single one of her pieces is integral to the person she is, her heart, and her head. She divulges that, “It’s like an audio-diary to me, but just a song to others. And I kind of like that. I like that I can write a song that can mean one thing to me, and something completely different to other listeners.”
The advice which she would like to share with fellow artists is that: “Every piece of art is valid, and every piece of art is relevant”. She further elaborates that the “beauty of art and music” is that it is, in some way or form, relevant to someone, in some way. It can never be insignificant. To further her point, she adds, “Besides, any true artist will tell you the same thing: we make art for ourselves, not for others.”
Sam does not have a particularly favourite music style or form— she loves them all. She does state that her favourite form to perform is “Musical Theatre, or anything with big orchestras and grandeur and drama – hands down”. Sam reveals that she couldn't possibly ever bore of music, whether it is getting up at the crack of dawn to practise vocals or singing for hours and hours in possibly uncomfortable settings. It is both her passion and her escape.
She reveals that she plans to first create a “safety blanket” degree before pursuing the arts to a central magnitude. “I plan on dedicating the rest of my life to the arts in some way, shape, or form.” She feels that in the future she will be able to incorporate her financial background and music experience together “in a very interesting way, but as of right now, I really just mend my artistic skills together.” Fortunately, we can be sure that Samantha Loren will never abandon her passion for the arts.
Sam has been to many places: Quebec, New York, San Francisco, Cuba, Oxford, Malaga, Halifax and most recently, Israel. Many of these places have inspired her song writing, “Some of my favourite, most heartfelt lyrics were written while I was away at university in Halifax. Some of my favourite drum lines were influenced by what I heard in South America and Israel”. She claims that, “no particular place has influenced my art – rather, they all have”.
Sam does not limit herself to one area of art, instead maintaining an affinity for them all—“ from music, to acting and theatre, to photography, to creative writing, I always surround myself with different art forms.” She does disclose that the one form to which she is most attentive is music. She started singing when she was in grade four when her choir teacher, Lynn Brown, encouraged her to strive within the discipline. At the time she was still focused on theatre but eventually became “captivated by music”. After that, she began singing outside of school and took up many musical instruments (mainly guitar). “I started writing songs when I was twelve and began recording when I was thirteen,” she says, and added that at the time it was still a hobby.
After starting at Dalhousie, Sam was disappointed to find that she could not remain as involved in elite music ensembles because she was in the Commerce program. Later, she took up the opportunity to be a part of The University of King’s College Chapel Choir, a very prestigious group “directed by six-time Grammy Award Winner Paul Halley, who is internationally acclaimed”.
In addition, Sam has “launch[ed] a SoundCloud profile for [her] music, and has since garnered over 56,000 listens,” where she has recordings of both covers and original works.
Sam claims that most of her hobbies “revolve around art in some way, shape, or form. Different kinds of art, sure, but always art.” She does mention that she enjoys travelling, snowboarding, and golfing.
When inquired about what art means to her, Sam answered: “Everything” and “It has all the personal significance I think anything could ever have”. Every single one of her pieces is integral to the person she is, her heart, and her head. She divulges that, “It’s like an audio-diary to me, but just a song to others. And I kind of like that. I like that I can write a song that can mean one thing to me, and something completely different to other listeners.”
The advice which she would like to share with fellow artists is that: “Every piece of art is valid, and every piece of art is relevant”. She further elaborates that the “beauty of art and music” is that it is, in some way or form, relevant to someone, in some way. It can never be insignificant. To further her point, she adds, “Besides, any true artist will tell you the same thing: we make art for ourselves, not for others.”
Sam does not have a particularly favourite music style or form— she loves them all. She does state that her favourite form to perform is “Musical Theatre, or anything with big orchestras and grandeur and drama – hands down”. Sam reveals that she couldn't possibly ever bore of music, whether it is getting up at the crack of dawn to practise vocals or singing for hours and hours in possibly uncomfortable settings. It is both her passion and her escape.
She reveals that she plans to first create a “safety blanket” degree before pursuing the arts to a central magnitude. “I plan on dedicating the rest of my life to the arts in some way, shape, or form.” She feels that in the future she will be able to incorporate her financial background and music experience together “in a very interesting way, but as of right now, I really just mend my artistic skills together.” Fortunately, we can be sure that Samantha Loren will never abandon her passion for the arts.
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| addict.aif |
| alice..m4a |
| believe_2.m4a |
| home.aif |
| house_of_the_rising_sun.m4a |
| young_and_beautiful.m4a |
