Emilie Samson | An Introvert’s Dream

by Stamish Malcuss

Born and raised in Montreal, Québec, vocalist Emilie Samson garnered a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance at McGill University before relocating to New York. Receiving a scholarship, she pursued a Master’s degree at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, studying voice with Theo Bleckmann, Kate McGarry, and Jo Lawry. The result of her journey is an EP titled,  An Introvert’s Dream, a beautifully conceived collection of original tunes and arrangements of popular songs.

The album offers a varied approach from the warm and technically professed “If You Never Come To Me” to the rhythmically up-tempo “Nobody’s Heart,” that swings with fervor. Samson has a supple and nimble voice. A breathtaking cut on the EP is her treatment of the Beach Boys’ hit “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Samson brings forth the moody tones of the tune in a brimming ballad. Enhanced by the gentle piano accompaniment by Robinson De Montmollin, Samson elongates each note with a seemingly perfect entrée of elegance. The calming horn section provided by Keegan Riley on flugelhorn, Alec Aldred, on trumpet, and Seth Weaver on trombone is only punctuated by the warming tone of tenorist Rico Jones.

Highlighting her French-Canadian charms, “La Belle Dame Sans Regards” is sung deftly in French. Her ability to easily transition the passage between her head voice and chest voice is irreproachably genuine.

An Introvert’s Dream is a stunning collection of tunes by an emerging vocalist who I hope to hear much more from in the coming years. Her arsenal of technique is on full display as each song evolves to a stirring recognition of her ravishing talents.