What kind of music do you love, and who are some of your favorite artists or bands?
The kind of music that I love is oldies. My idols other than Adele would probably have to be Brenton Wood, Patti Drew, Ralfi Pagan, The Delfonics, Billy Stewart, GQ and many more. The way that it makes my heart feel and the way it lifts my mood. The biggest major artist that really made me fall in love with oldies was probably Billy Stewart, “Sitting in the Park” was the first song that made me drop everything and listen to every lyric. Patti Drew “Tell Him” is another song and artist that really made me test my limits in vocal range and depth in pronunciation. The way that oldies hit in every aspect is just different, the way that artists really knew how it was to be in love and put it into song really captures me and my heart. I believe that the 50-60s was a time of romance for music, it was very much about respecting women and loving women no matter what the matter was. And the fact that many people resurfaced the love of oldies and the romance in this 2k Era just makes me so happy.
What was your relationship with music like before your cancer diagnosis?
Music has always been a very big part of my life, before diagnosis I was constantly singing at events with my high school and I was constantly working on sets in play productions. Writing music and learning new instruments. So when I got diagnosed all that was put on hold not because I needed too but because I was placed in a deep depressive state I felt numb to everything all I could think about was “am I going to wake up tomorrow”. Music was really the last thing on my mind. After a year in the hospital I was introduced to PiB and my love grew fond once again and I didn’t look back once. And now I’m working hard and playing at events and showing people how to write music with Kenli Mattus at functions and singing to inspire people. PiB introduced me to so many opportunities and to so many people that placed their trust in me and helped me grow.
Can you share a little bit about your cancer story?
On December 29,2017 I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, that’s a cancer that likes to hide and disguise itself in my bone marrow and to float around in my blood. Before being diagnosed I was a troublemaker and making bad decisions so when I got diagnosed I vowed to change my life if I got the opportunity and I did. Not only did I get to meet the love that I have for music again but I’ve been on TV I’ve been included in big conferences and got to share my story for millions to hear and they got to hear my amazing story on how I got my shit together and made it all better. I was able to record my first song and not only that but work in Benny Blanco’s Studio. I have a well paying job and an amazing relationship with my family and I’m still growing. It’s crazy to think that at 15 I thought my whole life was over but now here I am 23 and still improving and working to be better.
Did your experience with cancer change your relationship with music in any way?
In the beginning it really did change me and made me feel like I had nothing to look forward to as a young girl. But now as I’ve grown I look back and think how stupid I was for thinking that I should have just given up and I wasted time thinking that way. So now I have forced myself to stop working so many hours so I can dedicate more time with myself to be back in the studio and be more productive and to take advantage of the amazing opportunity I have presented to me. Me being in the studio really calms me down because I am actually able to sit with a professional that helps me make my ideas come true as crazy as they sound. Music in general helps me cope with the depression and anxiety that runs through my mind after a long day. Looking at it now I don’t think it changed the way I looked at music. I believe that cancer tried to blindside me but I pushed it away to not think about it like that.
What led you to join Play It Back, and what are you hoping to get out of the experience?
I just wanted to put myself in a position I’ve never been presented with and being with such an amazing team I grew to love beyond the limits. What I hope to get out of this is the opportunity to make amazing music and the opportunity to meet new people who also seek and see potential in my work. I would also love to work with fellow AYA’s who feel the same way I did when I first started.
If you had to describe the kind of music you make or want to make, how would you describe it?
Soulful, that’s the way I would describe it. As if it were a passionate love. The way I deliver any song I sing, I engage and connect to it as if it were my own. I’ve always been told I have the voice of a weeping soul trying to find a way out through song. And honestly I wouldn’t think of it any other way. When I deliver music my heart aches as I reach for the words to come out naturally and with style. Soul/R&B/Pop would be the best genre and category that my music would fall in. Although i’m always reaching for new genres to test my abilities
Anything else you want to share?
Something I would love to share is something I hear often, please stop saying “I can’t sing”. Everyone can sing. It’s the fact of discipline and the effort to train yourself to be better and wiser. Music and song should be the one source of therapy to everyone that comes free. It’s love and happiness for the soul. With that being said I Love You All – Samantha Diaz