Songwriters As Natural Empaths

Stephanie Sammons

Cris Cohen: What really struck me with this album, Time and Evolution, is -- I had trouble coming up with a term for it -- but you seem to be a singer of subtle emotion. You sing at kind of an even level, but there's a lot of ache in there. It's full of emotion, but it's not heavy on volume or angst or rage or any of that kind of thing. Is that a style you developed, or is that just how it's always emerged for you?

Stephanie Sammons: I don't think it's a style that I've consciously developed. I think it is in keeping with my personality. I'm not someone to rock the boat. I'm not going to come in a room and make a stand or make a statement. I am more subtle as a human being. That's a very interesting observation, but yeah, it's not deliberate, if that makes sense.

Cris Cohen: I think it's a really cool effect. Not to knock any other styles of singing or the more overt out there -- because I love punk music when they just go out and scream too. But as an introvert myself, it's fascinating when someone can actually express all of this hurt and worry, but in a controlled manner, because that's kind of how it happens in real life.

Stephanie Sammons: Yeah, that's true. It happens with, I think, people who know how to temper themselves and who are able to have a filter, which isn't always the best thing either. Because sometimes you might not communicate what you're really feeling and thinking, because you don't want to hurt somebody, or you're worried about what they're going to think. But yeah, that's interesting. It is my style to say it with the lyrics.

Also, I feel very, very deeply, as I think a lot of songwriters do. We're natural empaths to some extent. So, a lot of the writing is bringing out what I'm really feeling and thinking, but in a… “strategic” is not the right word, but in an appropriate way.