Reminiscing a Sad Summer Romance with Samica's "Summer of '99"

Nostalgia and heartbreak are two of the first words that come to mind when listening to indie-alt songwriter Samica’s new single, “Summer of ‘99.” The Bay Area native’s single, which will be featured in her upcoming EP this spring, tells the story of the wistful emotions of young love. 

As a first-generation, Indian-American who grew up influenced by traditional Indian music, top 40 hits, and urban music of the 90s and 2000s, Samica has created a unique sound that encompasses these many layers into her music. 

We hear some of these influences in “Summer of ‘99” with acoustic guitar strumming and her emotive backup vocals coming together, accompanying Samica’s haunting lyrics to create a ballad. Through her lyrical storytelling and tranquil tempo sound, she reveals to listeners a deep layer of vulnerability. 

“This is a song that reminisces on all the innocence of young love that could have been. It's about what every generation has in common: love and heartbreak." - Samica

Along with the release of the single, Samica also premiered and starred in a music video for “Summer of ‘99,” directed by Chris Kistan. The dreamy music video features scenes of playful moments outside a convenience store, long late-night walks, and the simple yet cherished moments of young love, which has already racked up more than 14k views. The video beautifully expresses the euphoric experience of a young couple's summer romance, and the yearning for those memories after it ends. The video artistically accompanies the song's message about the struggles of trying to move on with another partner.

The rising songwriter who began playing guitar and writing music at a young age is no stranger to musical success. Since releasing her first original song, “Alright” in 2019, she has also covered music from the likes of HER, Lewis Capaldi, Jesse Reyez, Lizzo, and Marshmello, which have been reposted by some of the artist themselves. 

Samica is only just getting started, with live performances on the horizon this March in Los Angeles and her latest song release, “Happier Than Me,” we’ll be seeing a lot more from this talented songstress soon!