Samantha Preis

The Sam Preis Cafe show featured Sam Preis as herself, with three white
poster board walls lit by a lonely lamp shining as a backdrop; her
white piano; and Preis herself, juxtaposed against the setting in a short
black frock and tights. Although the stage is decorated in a minimalist
fashion, the music coming from her carefully strained, breathless
voice and syncopated solo piano color the blank setting like paint.
The theme created here is, "simplicity is brilliance." Each of her
compositions contains a minimal harmonic range, but her tone, texture
and emotion transforms them into the most transfixing music you have
ever heard. As a soloist, all the attention is intently focused on her
– and she soaks up every bit of it, feeds it to her muse, and spins her
audience a golden tapestry of sound. Her sound reminds one of Joni
for the stories and melodies of her songs. For her voice, add a pinch of
Regina Spektor's frivolity.
Her selections for the evening included (but were not limited to) Die
For Me, Aristotle and Wine, Invincible, Airport Signs, On Boylston, Good
News, and My Cold Hands, which Preis stated herself was her favorite,
composed when she was 16. Each piece, though different in tempo and
style, has an addicting R&B-esque groove that pulls you to the very tip of
your consciousness to listen. Aristotle and Wine's laid-back groove
perfectly reflects the song's mellow philosophy, while her words
punctuate in syncopated rhythm. Her songs ebb and flow like the hypnotic
pull of the river and the tease of the wind – sometimes drifting
sorrowfully, sometimes rushing forward, beautiful pieces of contemplation.
My Cold Hands was played in a free tempo, a weighing, sorrowful piece
lamenting the desire to create beauty. On Boylston, Good News and
Airport signs are upbeat pieces, with energetic and joyful lyrics of
discovery, good experiences, new beginnings and new friends.
Is it the bleeding heart honesty in her lyrics or her ability to tell a
story with so few words that makes you want to cry, laugh, and sing
with her but dare not to? You can't tell the difference, and it really
doesn't matter so long as you're listening. Preis performs with a
true command of the stage and her music. Nothing is ever out of control
or out of reach, and the messages her music transmits to the audience
are felt AND heard. - Sue Buzzard (Berklee College of Music)

The Sam Preis Cafe show featured Sam Preis as herself, with three white
poster board walls lit by a lonely lamp shining as a backdrop; her
white piano; and Preis herself, juxtaposed against the setting in a short
black frock and tights. Although the stage is decorated in a minimalist
fashion, the music coming from her carefully strained, breathless
voice and syncopated solo piano color the blank setting like paint.
The theme created here is, "simplicity is brilliance." Each of her
compositions contains a minimal harmonic range, but her tone, texture
and emotion transforms them into the most transfixing music you have
ever heard. As a soloist, all the attention is intently focused on her
– and she soaks up every bit of it, feeds it to her muse, and spins her
audience a golden tapestry of sound. Her sound reminds one of Joni
for the stories and melodies of her songs. For her voice, add a pinch of
Regina Spektor's frivolity.
Her selections for the evening included (but were not limited to) Die
For Me, Aristotle and Wine, Invincible, Airport Signs, On Boylston, Good
News, and My Cold Hands, which Preis stated herself was her favorite,
composed when she was 16. Each piece, though different in tempo and
style, has an addicting R&B-esque groove that pulls you to the very tip of
your consciousness to listen. Aristotle and Wine's laid-back groove
perfectly reflects the song's mellow philosophy, while her words
punctuate in syncopated rhythm. Her songs ebb and flow like the hypnotic
pull of the river and the tease of the wind – sometimes drifting
sorrowfully, sometimes rushing forward, beautiful pieces of contemplation.
My Cold Hands was played in a free tempo, a weighing, sorrowful piece
lamenting the desire to create beauty. On Boylston, Good News and
Airport signs are upbeat pieces, with energetic and joyful lyrics of
discovery, good experiences, new beginnings and new friends.
Is it the bleeding heart honesty in her lyrics or her ability to tell a
story with so few words that makes you want to cry, laugh, and sing
with her but dare not to? You can't tell the difference, and it really
doesn't matter so long as you're listening. Preis performs with a
true command of the stage and her music. Nothing is ever out of control
or out of reach, and the messages her music transmits to the audience
are felt AND heard. - Sue Buzzard (Berklee College of Music)