Samantha Lindo on songwriting, sisterhood and Shelter’s fair rent campaign

Some people just seep creativity. As Samantha Lindo joins our Zoom call from her working holiday in Devon, I can tell instantly that she is exactly one of those.

The wild curls, the funky headband and the inquisitive eyes are all adding up, even over a screen, to equal someone who I suspect may well harbour artistic superpowers.

The St George-based jazz artist and singer-songwriter has just released her new track, Those Kids, a gloriously soulful indie record inspired by what she describes as the ‘layers’ of her life and experience, with the themes of healing, hope and finding home lying at its core.

Since its release, Those Kids has undeniably hit the ground running, having just been featured on BBC Introducing and BBC 6 Music’s Sounds Hotlist.

The musicality features cinematic jazz strings reminiscent of the 1950s jazz her grandfather encouraged her to listen to, combined with R&B harmonies that underpinned her musical loves during her teenage years. The lyrics and the poeticism are inspired by artists such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, whose verse, according to Samantha, make her just go “Ooooh”.

She explains how the song evolved over time, gathering new facets of meaning. It started off as a deeply personal telling of young love and self-growth, yet turned into a political commentary when the video was filmed at Hope Rise, the UK’s first zero-carbon social housing development for young people at risk of homelessness.

The track has now been linked with Shelter’s “demand fair renting for Bristol” campaign. Samantha describes how she hopes the meaning behind the song might draw people towards taking action against the injustices of the broken UK housing system.

She explains how she herself has moved 25 times in her life. As the daughter of a single mother living in rented accommodation, she experienced the precarity and vulnerability that comes with not owning your own property first-hand.

“It feels like the rental system is a big part of what drives poverty and homelessness,” says Samantha.

“It’s great that the council are doing amazing thinking like with Hope Rise and building things, but actually, we need to be looking at some of the root causes as well.”

Her cousin, Tim Firmin, who trained with London’s ballet Rambert dance company is the star of the music video. His powerful contemporary dance moves accompany Samantha’s haunting lyrics, creating a synthesis of audio and visuals which tenderly reflect the trauma and heartache of growing up, especially without a stable home environment.

Samantha knows precarity and vulnerability that comes with not owning your own home – Photo courtesy of Samantha Lindo

Those Kids is due for its debut performance at St George’s on July 24, a venue she tells me she’s always wanted to play. It will be performed as part of the 10th-anniversary gig for the Girls Girls Girls collective, which Samantha founded. The concert will feature the Bristol-based Murmuration Choir as well as Beth Rowley and Eliza Shaddad.

Talking about the collective, which was founded to empower women in the music industry, Samantha explains: “Often, as female artists, you’re pit against one another, but actually, when we collaborate, we can celebrate and showcase each other’s work.

“That’s the thing about sisterhood in general, we don’t have to feel insecure about each other’s strength and each other’s beauty. Actually, if we celebrate it, then everyone is illuminated, in all of our differences.”

I’ve found recently that it’s pretty rare that you leave a conversation feeling hopeful, yet that’s the exact state I’m in. The inspiration behind Samantha’s music is raw and special, something I hope you’ll feel too when you listen to Those Kids.

Main photo courtesy of Samantha Lindo

Those kids is released July 16. You can listen to it here: open.spotify.com/track/4UmkLtywEqUdcTh1fzxqBO?si=c255590b55a541fc.

Tickets for Girls Girls Girls! 10 Year Anniversary! are available via: www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/event/girls-girls-girls-10-year-anniversary-feat-beth-rowley-eliza-shaddad-samantha-lindo-and-the-murmuration-choir/.

Read more: Review: Samantha Lindo, Rough Trade