Samantha Farrell '05 is cool. The Bowdoin graduate just released her first album, "Spiritus," plays for her loyal and growing fan base at hot Los Angeles clubs like The Roxy and The Viper Room, and hangs out with the occasional celebrity. She went to Gnarls Barkley's first live show, dined with Emmylou Harris, and played for Billy Zane at an open mic.
Farrell, a Massachusetts native turned California hipster, moved to L.A. after graduation. Performing at coffee houses, she began to draw crowds and was invited to open at clubs around the city. Farrell recorded "Spiritus" over the course of four days in August 2006 at the famed 4th Street Recordings in Santa Monica.
The self-released album channels the vocals of Ani DiFranco, Jewel, and Fiona Apple via an eclectic combination of styles that, according to Relix Magazine, "Farrell manages to tie together by wearing her emotions, and more importantly, her soul on her sleeve."
Mixing elements of folk, jazz, and soul with a soft yet powerful voice, Farrell says that her album "explores the emotional, physical, and spiritual journey of life."
"Spiritus" is at once upbeat and contemplative, ranging a compelling, yet extremely relatable span of emotions.
In regards to her album and rapid success, Farrell said, "I think the reason it's done so well is that if you are a human being, you can relate to these emotions. I take the most time on my lyrics because lyrics are what draw you into a song and keep you there. I wax between general and specific, leaving room for the listener to make their own personal connection and interpretation."
A veteran Miscellania member, Farrell credits Bowdoin with her musical beginnings.
"Before I came to Bowdoin, I wasn't really a singer," she said. "Through Miscellania, I found my voice and discovered that I loved to perform."
In addition, her friendship with Pete Durning '05 evolved into a musical partnership that led him to play bass guitar and sing backup vocals on "Spiritus." Farrell and Durning began playing John Mayer covers at the Pub as first years, opened for Matt Nathanson and Doria Roberts spring of their senior year, and wrote songs together throughout the course of their time at Bowdoin. Several of the songs made their way onto Farrell's album.
"The whole experience was a dream come true for both of us, but especially for Sam, who had spent all of the previous year grinding it out as a musician in L.A.," Durning said.
Farrell concedes that she has hit some bumps on the road to success.
"I have a love-hate relationship with L.A. and the music scene. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing when I got here, so understanding the scene has been a tough learning curve," she admitted.
Farrell continued, "On any given night, there are hundreds of shows going on and competition is stiff. Every day, there are hundreds of people getting off the plane at LAX to pursue their dreams. That being said, there are the same number of people, if not more, getting on flights leaving L.A. just as quickly. Some nights you play for crickets, some nights you play for a full house. You have to stick it out through the hard times if you want to make it in the business."
As for future plans, Farrell will continue playing the L.A. club circuit and will tour the West Coast late in the spring. She continues to write and is planning her next album, which she says will feature a more raw, stripped acoustic sound accompanied by cello and piano.
Additionally, Farrell said, "I'm in talks with a few major publishers at the moment, and I'm hoping to seal a publishing deal in the not too distant future. That would allow me to quit my day job as well as start establishing my career as a songwriter penning tunes for other artists."
Farrell has no worries about signing with a major label, and credits the Internet for the quick spread of her music.
"Spiritus" is named for the Latin word meaning "breath, breathing, life, and spirit," and the title is indicative of Farrell's commitment to pursuing her passion.
"Music is my life," she said. "It is the fullest and purest expression of myself that I can create?the word just resonated, and there it was."
"Spiritus" is now available on iTunes and is quickly gaining popularity.
"Sam's voice and melodies always have a mood that just catches and moves me," said Durning. "She can make it in this crazy business."