Haunting lyricist Samia released “Hole in a Frame” and “Pants” - two singles from her third album, Bloodless, out April 25. The singles explore the album's overarching themes: the impossible and self-constructed standards one creates and how those visions can become reality.

"I paired these tracks because they capture opposite instincts. 'Hole in a Frame' is about a fascination with disappearing and the power of absence. 'Pants' is about accepting a non-refundable self, social contexts and all. They move from a comfort in the possibilities of emptiness to the reality of existence," shared Samia in a press release.

“Pants” was inspired by Sex Pistols' Sid Vicious punching a wall at Cain’s Ballroom in 1978, which was later framed and is still viewable at the venue. After seeing it for herself, Samia became infatuated with the idea that one could preserve absence. Lyrics like "Maybe I was born for this / Dying to myself " and "A little death goes a long way" examine how women can feel the need to take up less space and escape to an unobservable place. The idea that nothingness can be preserved and monitored like the framed hole can negate the reason why one tries to disappear in the first place.

The visualizer is a stark contrast that pokes fun at and deconstructs this idea, showing Samia living a full life and visiting places with "No Trespassing" signs. Through this video, the singer unearths aspects of her personal life that contribute to her sense of self and embraces herself as a whole, imperfect being. 

“Pants” is a stunning album closer and 5-minute exploration of what it means to become the cultural trends you engage in. Dry vocals quickly expand to have an ethereal and atmospheric reverb quality, matching the existential themes of the track. The resonant tone of Samia’s voice and layered instrumental mirror the feeling of searching one’s mind for an authentic self. Lyrics like “Who was I when I bought these pants? / They’re non-refundable / Now I’m questioning everything I am” examine how a seemingly surface-level observation can open the floodgates for a deeper realization about identity. Samia grapples with the consequences of trying to meet unattainable expectations of women and how it becomes an internalized part of oneself. She laced the bridge with sass and double meanings. She repeats the phrase, “Wanna see what’s under these Levis? / I got nothin’ under these Levis” as a nod to the objectification of women and the overarching idea of a constructed nothingness. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Samia shared, “There’s no woman under the pants” but instead the projections of the observer.

The song splits off into a part two, with a poetic outro that may mark her escape from the void. Lyrics like “Pink blossoms luring you to an invitation from the sapling / Makes you wonder which magical things were already happening” perhaps represent her awakening and achievement in finding the self hidden beneath the absence. Now free from the cycle, Samia can appreciate the “magical things” under her nose all along.

The visualizer stars actor Fred Hechinger (White Lotus, Nickel Boys, Gladiator II) who embarks on a dizzying journey of self-expression and then returns home to Samia, who is sitting quietly on the couch. The decision to follow Hechinger, making the lead perspective male, while Samia presumably waits for him in the same small space, explores societal expectations and gender norms.

After touring with artists like Maggie Rogers, Lucy Dacus, and Bleachers, Samia has wowed audiences across the globe and garnered a range of loyal fans. Samia announced the Bloodless USA & Canada Tour, which will make stops across the country. She will perform at Boston's House of Blues and Northhamptom's Academy of Music this May. Buy tickets here.

Tour dates

04-25 - Brighton, UK – Resident

04-26 - Bristol, UK – Rough Trade

04-28 - Liverpool, UK – Rough Trade

04-29 - Leeds, UK – Jumbo

04-30 - Nottingham, UK – Rough Trade

05-01 - London, UK – Rough Trade East [Matinee Show]

05-01 - London, UK – Rough Trade East

05-20 - Portland, ME - Portland House of Music

05-21 - Boston, MA - House of Blues *

05-22 - Northampton, MA - Academy of Music *

05-24 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House *

05-25 - Montreal, QC - Le Studio TD *

05-26 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground *

05-28 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts *

05-30 - New York, NY - Brooklyn Steel *+

05-31 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *

06-03 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall *

06-05 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall *

06-06 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *

06-07 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman *

* w/Raffaella

+ w/ Hank Heaven

Where to find Samia: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / YouTube / Soundcloud / TikTok