https://www.samanthacrain.com/
Samantha Crain, born on August 15, 1986, hails from Shawnee, Oklahoma, and is a multifaceted artist of Choctaw Nation descent. She is a renowned songwriter, musician, producer, and singer who has gained recognition through her association with several record labels, including Ramseur Records in North America, Real Kind Records (an imprint of Communion Records), and Full Time Hobby Records in the UK/Europe.
Crain's talent has earned her accolades and awards, including three NAMMYs (Native American Music Awards) in 2009. She secured victories in categories such as Folk Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, and in 2022, she clinched the Single of the Year award for her track "Bloomsday." Additionally, she received the Indigenous Music Award for Best Rock Album in 2019. Her music has also found its way into various television shows, including 90210, HBO's Hung, Reservation Dogs on HULU/FX, Resident Alien, as well as numerous independent documentaries and films like Barking Water, Dark Divide, and UNRESERVED: The Work of Louie Gong. In 2017 and 2018, she collaborated with the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass., contributing music for the extensive T.C. Cannon exhibit titled "At the Edge of America." Furthermore, she self-released a collection of sonnets titled "En Masse: A Collection of 30 Sonnets by Samantha Crain" in July 2018. In 2022, she composed the musical score for the film "Fancy Dance," featuring Lily Gladstone and directed by Erica Tremblay.
Early in her life, Crain grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and her Choctaw heritage has always been an integral part of her identity. She attended Grove School in Shawnee and later pursued her education at Dale High School in Dale, Oklahoma. During her formative years, Crain was actively involved in powerlifting competitions. Her musical journey began when she taught herself to play the guitar and started crafting songs inspired by her short stories during the summer before her senior year at Dale High School. Crain embarked on her touring career at the age of 19, initially performing as a solo artist or in a duo alongside Beth Bombara. Subsequently, she formed the band Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers, featuring members Jacob Edwards and Andrew Tanz, and toured with the band until 2009.