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Stories   >   Samara Joy is debut artist of EBONY's new feature: 'Liner Notes' and she takes us behind her song: 'Guess Who I Saw Today'

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Samara Joy is debut artist of EBONY's new feature: 'Liner Notes' and she takes us behind her song: 'Guess Who I Saw Today'

Posted: May 2, 2023

Samara Joy has announced Linger Awhile (Deluxe Edition) an expanded version of her GRAMMY-winning album Linger Awhile featuring never-before-heard b-sides and alternate arrangements, and Linger Awhile Longer, a D2C Exclusive LP with bonus material. Both editions include brand new music plus fan-favorites like “Guess Who I Saw Today” and “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood,” which Samara performed at the GRAMMY Premiere Ceremony earlier this year before taking home awards for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album. While reinvigorating beloved songs and standards for a fresh audience with her timeless, irresistible sound, the 23-year-old is quickly making the case to join the likes of Sarah, Ella, and Billie as the next mononymous singing sensation recorded by the venerable Verve Records. 
 
Since Samara’s GRAMMY wins, Linger Awhile has reached #1 on Amazon Best Sellers, Billboard Jazz, Pandora Trendsetters, iTunes and Amazon’s digital-music and CD-sales, and more. Samara has garnered over 2 billion views on TikTok, and her tour dates all over the world are selling out, including highly-anticipated headline shows at NYC’s Village Vanguard that kicked off this week. Simultaneously, outlets like Vulture are declaring “jazz is back, baby” and notable artists like Sam Smith (https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpifz6rIvEk/'hl=en) are calling her “my favourite female voice right now.” Jimmy Fallon said “unbelievable… she is my jam!” before Samara’s late night TV debut performance on The Tonight Show. Other recent TV appearances include the TODAY Show, MSNBC, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, and Drew Barrymore.
 
Recorded at Sear Sound in New York City by Chris Allen and produced by Matt Pierson, Linger Awhile features exemplary musicianship by Pasquale Grasso (guitar), Ben Paterson (piano), David Wong (double bass), and Kenny Washington (drums). The tracklist is comprised of treasured songs by George Gershwin (“Someone To Watch Over Me”) and Thelonious Monk (“Round Midnight”), and also includes Samara’s original lyrics on Fats Navarro’s “Nostalgia (The Day I knew).” While paying homage to those who came before her, Samara is introducing a new audience to standards several times older than she is with her “one of a kind voice” and “ageless talent” (CBS Mornings).


In EBONY’s new monthly column Liner Notes, next generation artists dissect their songs and, piece by piece, tell us the story of how they were made. Each month, we tap a burgeoning talent to share tales of how one of their songs were written or recorded. As the debut artist of EBONY’s franchise Liner Notes, Samara Joy takes us into the creative process behind her song “Guess Who I Saw Today,” and also shares a playlist of favorites that keep her inspired.

At 23, with her addictively streamable sophomore album, Linger Awhile, Bronx-born vocalist Samara Joy pours the vintage wine of swinging jazz into the fresh bottle of modern platforms (just check out  @samarajoysings on TikTok). Bringing classic standards made popular by legends like Sarah Vaughan to younger generations, the young chanteuse embodies the sound of Gen Z’s own elegant, classy Black excellence. Joy’s recent Grammy wins—Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album—elevated her to a level of visibility occupied by contemporary jazz stars like Esperanza Spalding and Robert Glasper. But she’s lived with the sound of spirited improvisation her entire life.

The daughter of a singer-bassist dad who toured with gospel icon Andraé Crouch, the granddaughter of two vocalists from Philly gospel outfit The Savettes, Samara Joy McLendon inherited her talents honestly. A graduate of SUNY Purchase’s jazz studies program, she brought a few former professors (guitarist Pasquale Grasso, drummer Kenny Washington) along for the ride to set the timeless romantic mood of Linger Awhile. Full of jazz mainstays like “Round Midnight” and “Someone to Watch Over Me,” the album reaches a bittersweet highlight with “Guess Who I Saw Today.”

As the debut artist of EBONY's new franchise Liner Notes, in her own words, Samara Joy takes us into the creative process behind her song “Guess Who I Saw Today,” and also shares with us a playlist of favorites that keep her inspired. 

READ THE EBONY Q&A

Image: Michelle Truax