Oslo Nights

“My style is Afghan chic meets hippie Egyptian!”

“Clothes can change my mood completely,” Samsaya states. She denies being neither trendy nor a fashion slave in any sense of the word, “I think clothes are so much fun, and I love the possibilities they present in terms of dressing yourself stronger or more confident.”

Everything from an inherited jacket to a new designer’s vision can give her that change of mood, and this excites her.

“I use it actively in my performances on stage, and what I wear can define the song itself. Some outfits make me feel vulnerable, others make me feel strong and powerful. So it is important for me to dress on accord with the songs I’m going to perform.”

Multifaceted artist

She was born in India, but grew up at Ellingsrud in Oslo, and that multicultural twist can be seen as a common denominator for both her music and fashion style. With hits like “I’ve Been Had,” “Change” and “ADHD,” she has been a regular addition to the Norwegian music scene, as well as in Norwegian TV and movie roles, such as Villmark and Hawaii Oslo.

Now Sam is back with a new record which in her own words will ”surprise a lot of people”, and this Fashion Week she graced the catwalk of her friend Fam Irvoll, giving a preview of her new sound. As a well-known face on the red carpet, what she wears both on and off stage is important, and Samsaya stands out as a good representative of Norwegian fashion.

The eclectic freedom

On the subject of Norwegian fashion, she admits that she does not really think about the fact that what she wears might be made by a Norwegian designer: “I chose things that attract me, and right now that is Anne Holm Alexandersen’s beautiful creations.”

Her inspiration fashion-wise comes from movies, old family albums, songs and experiences, and she describes her own style as “Afghan chic meets hippie Egyptian”. On the subject of which time period she would most want to bring back if she could, she states that she’s very happy with the era we are moving in right now, and the fact that you are free to pick and chose from just about every period and inspirational source you want to.

Picture in tones

Her new album is inspired by just about everything, “no matter where I’ve been lately, lyrics and melodies just keep pouring out of me. I’ve actually had a hard time trying to catch them all.” On this record she has been trying to gather a lot of that type of emotions and experiences, “like a camera” but with tones, melodies and lyrics. And now she wants to share all these memories with the rest of the world.

“I have grown older, and with age I feel that I have a better grasp and understanding of all these feelings, I feel more and with a greater intensity than earlier” she says, adding that she also has “discovered a new calm in both [her]  musical expression and sound.”

“I am quite private and personal in my songs, but I like that people can find other meanings that they can relate to as well in my lyrics,” she says.

Music has always been “her thing” and lately she is growing more and more certain that the reason she continues is because “it is the only thing I know I am really really good at.”

Sade, Prince, Michael Jackson and Jimmi Hendrix are the persons who has inspired Samsaya through her childhood and youth, and now she will hopefully inspire others as well.

Words: Maren Hald Bjørgum / lostmyhead.org

Photos: Oslonights.no