Artists You Should Know: Samara Cyn

Hailing from Tennessee, Samara Henderson (aka Samara Cyn) first made waves in the Arizona scenes, where she was a full-time college student, gradually making music more than just a hobby. Despite her longtime love for poetry and music, stemming back to an upbringing listening to 90s hip-hop, it wasn’t until college that she built up the courage to write her first song. Employing a tried and true hip-hop/R&B fusion, “Moving Day” speaks to Cyn always moving around in her youth while capturing her modestly bragging about how far she’s come.

Ever the storyteller, “Moving Day” looks back on various points in her life and comes to the realization that she’s always been special. Touches of neo-soul make their way in and out of the track, offering a contrast to Cyn’s raspy voice that is more reminiscent of rappers today. But even when the song might not bring to mind any immediate comparisons to 90s hip-hop, aspects such as the chorus interpolating Ludacris’ “Move Bitch” go to show how much she draws from that period and makes it her own.

^{This post may contain affiliate links. Ads and affiliate links are how independent blogs like Grimy Goods can operate and pay our staff. Thank you for supporting our work and being a part of our music community.}

Based on the three music videos, with “Moving Day” being the latest, it’s evident how closely Cyn pays as much attention to the visuals for each of her songs as she does the lyrics. Co-directed and produced by Cyn herself, she manages to make the most out of the simple premise, which finds her packing up for the road.

Solely from lines like “Should’ve got shot down with Sheeky outside my apartment” and “Been moving since just a youngin’,” the track’s introspection stands out for how frank Cyn gets when recounting memories that have led her to where she is. But the video is about as relaxed as the production, simply showing her going through the motions.

Cyn’s music acts as a link across generations, with Slick Rick and Noname as significant influences on how she approaches songwriting. And for someone who, prior to 2019, had yet to record a song, she’s rapidly evolved over the past few years into a promising artist already carving a narrow, unique path for herself.

Words: David Sosa

“Moving Day” by Samara Cyn is out now on all streaming services. For more on new music and potential shows, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.