The Questlove Show - Samara Joy Part 1

Episode Date: January 7, 2026

In this episode of the Questlove Show, Questlove sits down with rising jazz star and Grammy winner Samara Joy for an intimate, wide-ranging conversation. Samara looks back on her musical roots and the thrill of her first Grammy win, opening up about the influences, challenges, and defining moments that have shaped her path. The two dig into family, creative risk, mentorship, and self-belief, with plenty of warmth, humor, and rapid-fire moments along the way. Part one of this special two-part series offers a revealing look at Samara’s artistry and perspective, and a reminder of music’s power to change lives. Samara is also nominated in two categories this month for her album Portrait.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-heart podcast. Guaranteed human. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits,

my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, the Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This week on the Sports Slice podcast, it's all about the NFL draft. And we've got a special guest. The director of the NFL's East West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galco, joins the Sports Slice podcast to break down what really matters when evaluating draft prospects. From hidden traits teams look for to the biggest mistakes franchises make to the players flying under the radar.

This is the insight you won't hear anywhere else. If you want to understand the draft like an insider, you don't want to miss this episode. Listen to the Sports Slice podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, for wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 and TikTok podcast network on TikTok. In 2023, Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd

was accused of fathering twins. But the pregnancy appeared to be a hoax. You doctored this particular test twice, Ms. Ellen, correct? I doctored the test ones. It took an army of internet detectives to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Greg, a lesbian. Michael Mancini.

My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. Laura, Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Listen to Love Trapped podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When a group of women. discover they've all dated the same prolific con artist.

They take matters into their own hands. I vowed. I will be his last target. He is not going to get away with this. He's going to get what he deserves. We always say that, trust your girlfriends. Listen to the girlfriends. Trust me, babe. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

The Questlove show is a production of IHeart, Radio. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Questlove show. I cannot come up with enough superlatives to describe the gift that our guest today possesses. Occasionally, in private, I will rant about my disdain and dissatisfaction with the state of what we call music today. But in in 2022, when I received my Grammy ballot. And, you know, I'm looking at names of people that I know personally, people that I've played with, people that I'm friends with, Anita, Omar Apollo, Domney and J.D. Beck, Lotto, man skin, money long, Toby Nguweigh, Molly Tuttle, Wetleg, named them all.

However, I chose the right option. when voting for the Best New Artist Award. And that is our guest today. Welcome. Ms. Joy, to the show. How are you? I'm doing well. Walk with me just five minutes before when you know your category.

Do you know who's like presenting your category? Like are you aware of these things? No. Oh, so yeah, no idea like when it's coming up in the... And I was just coming from the red carpet. And so I was a little disheveled. Right. Because of what happened earlier in the day I had to change my outfit.

I had my little brother with me as my date. Wait, that red outfit was in. It wasn't what I was wearing before. That's your second option? That was my second outfit. What happened to the first option? It was only for the pretel. You know what I'm saying?

It was only for the live stream portion. Right. And I had to change, you know. And so five minutes before, I'm trying to get my seat and all these seat fillers are my seat. So I couldn't really. I couldn't get to my seat until the next commercial break. But me and my little brother, of course,

it was the anniversary, 50th anniversary of hip hop, I think. Oh, that was a nightmare for me. No, really? That was a nightmare for me. Mayor Day for me. I put it all that together. Okay. Buster Rhymes is on stage, Quinn Latifah. Right. It was, I mean, it was, we were having so much fun. So five minutes before, I was just like, there's no way this night is even happening. Like, this is amazing. Oh, so you walked in

right when the, the medley was happening? No, I was like a couple minutes before, a couple of minutes before. Okay. It was still some other awards being given out. So, yeah, I was having fun. Very surreal for you. I was there at the very beginning when I believe Bad Bunny, start at the telecast and he's dancing through the audience. And if you saw the layout of the, you know, they have these like elegant cocktail tables or, I don't know, who lands or. I don't really eat yet.

Yeah. Cheesecake factory. I don't know. Like it was given that. Definitely fake grapes. Yeah. I try to. Right.

Exactly. And so somehow the producer of the show, Jesse Collins. Now, as you explained, it was. You know, hip-hop's 50th anniversary. And the roots put together this 11-minute presentation. The thing is, is because the elaborate sort of sprawling arrangement of the whole thing, it's not a thing where it's just like a band playing something, and we can make adjustments later, like we're on a clock.

Like the light people have their cues for how it's going to go, the dancers, everything. So everything's on a clock. And, you know, I'm sitting there. watching bad bunny perform and my phone's going off and it's like literally like 9-1-1 like and I'm looking and I'm being told that little Wayne has just dropped out of the performance no way he just took his ball and went home he had an altercation between some security person whatever and it was like well I'm going home damn and like Barack Obama couldn't make him

turn back. And the thing is is that now I'm sitting in the audience and bad bunnies is like dancing on all the dancers and everything and so I can't get up with less than an hour on the clock to figure out like what plan B

is going to be because it's a live show. Somebody has to let the light person know that whatever we have designated between four minutes and 20 seconds and six minutes and five seconds has to be edited. Like You got to go to the teleprompter person.

You got to go through like five different people. We fixed that. So no Millie. Okay. We're fine. Yeah. And then Future decides to drop out. No.

Because he lost Almond the year to Kendrick Lamar. Oh, geez. He's like, I'm going home. And it's like, dude, you got to. Jeez. And this is what like mere seconds left. So right now, I will say, getting through that nightmare, seeing you win, best new artist, which, yes, I voted for you, but I kind of felt like it was a Hail Mary throw from all

way in and a miracle might happen because, you know, you had stiff competition there, but I couldn't have been more happy as if it happened to me. So for you, though, like, were you in your right mind? That day was, it was just such an emotional weekend. This is my first time at the Grammys. And so I've naturally brought my entire family, what it felt like. Right. And we stayed in this Airbnb right across the way from Quincy Jones's house.

So we felt very much fresh Prince of Bel Air, very, you know, we felt very, it felt like such a very special weekend. I got the chance to perform and be in L.A. and being all these circles, the artists I only ever seen on TV. So, yeah, the whole weekend was insane. And so being there with my family, with my little brother. I don't know. I wasn't expecting it. I know everybody probably says that, but I really wasn't because... No one expects it. No one's in their right mind at all. You know, I just, I had just released the album that I was nominated for that day two months prior, two and a half months prior. I had just signed with a big label. And so there were a lot of things, there were a lot of first.

And so I wasn't expecting that to be one of them, the nomination, much less the win. So it's just, I'm just grateful for it. That's all. Were you kind of an impression that Noam Martin would know who you were? like not really familiar. Absolutely. Because I was just starting. I mean, yeah, up until that point, I only had two albums. I had never, you know, it was my first tours, first performances, all that kind of stuff.

Yeah, but you got to look at the totality of this situation. Like you're saying I was just starting like kind of like a first time house painter. Like, you know, well, I was just doing that. But you're sort of forgetting what gift you're bringing to the table, which kind of, leads to my next thing, you know, as a New Yorker, I will say that 90% of the time, all right, this is the worst 1% humble brag I oversay. I'm always driving in New York. I'm not a subway New Yorker. So people don't see me as a real New Yorker until I'm a subwayer. Okay, so good. So the thing is, is that I'm always listening to WBGO. Yeah. And that's our beloved local NPR jazz station

for the tri-state and some other parts of the country that can get it syndicated. And I always joke with my high school buddy, Christian McBride. Yes, Christian has always been 70 years old. Imagine a 15th. That's what you two have in common. We're both internally just elders. Both of you have ancestors trapped inside you, some epigenetic thing. And usually if something moves me,

I will shazam it I have no shame whatsoever I will shazam everything because that's how you learn something new this is weird on the pop side of things it's always Beber

oh this is like I'll be in CVS at 2 in the morning and then like oh this is cool and I look damn right so on the jazz side of things literally like after the eighth time oh my God

I had Chris up I'm like yo is it's just a boy Is she really all that? Like, if I shazam eight songs, then that means I really must be a fan of this person. Shout out WBGO, 88.3. Yo, they love you. And that's why I love you. So basically, like, I had a whole narrative in my head.

I was like, wait a minute. Someone named Samar Joy, she has a voice sounding like this. How come this person had to have been singing for at least 40 years? So I kind of thought we were in the same age. bracket? Internally. Literally. In my mind, I was like, wow, she's easily 45.

I really thought there was a five on the left digit of your age, right? There's a two in front of it. That's the only difference. I'm going to tell you, a level of depression, four days ago when I really wanted to, like, I mean, I knew everything. I knew all the music and all that stuff. So I just wanted to do general brush up things that I didn't know. Like, oh, where's she born and all that stuff?

And so when I went to Wikipedia and I saw that my first five albums are older than you. Oh, my God. It's a level of depression I never felt before. But also a level of ease because I was absolutely certain that anyone I tag Gen Z or Gen Alpha just has an absolute disdain for anything in the rear view mirror of music. How? At what age did you notice that your voice isn't like anyone else's when did this when did this voice first materialize? I guess I started singing and imitating what was already around me. My family is from Philly and have many roots in Philly my dad went to Overbrook High School and Strawberry Mansion. Okay. My mom is from South Philly and my dad

my grandfather, you know, they started, my grandfather and my grandmother, Elder Gold Wire, and Ruth McClendid started a group called the Sayvettes of Philadelphia. And so hearing their recordings from 1962, 1966 on albums like The Sensational Savets and Mercy, hearing my dad in his home studio writing songs from its very beginning to when it was finally finished, singing to and from school, listening to my mom's music, Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder and, you know, all of these different influenced. My dad is a bass player too. Did they trick you into the family business? It was definitely, you know, I was absorbing what was around me.

You know, I listened to the Brothers Johnson. I listened to the spinners and the whispers and all this kind of still. All of this I was kind of, I don't know, I was just absorbing it. And I think because of that, maybe I just had a certain ear or a certain obsession maybe with, the reason why I'm asking that is because, okay, so I too grew up in a similar situation. My dad was an oldies du-op singer from the 50s. And when I was in first grade, I went to a Performing Arts High School. And our homework assignment, we all had to purchase songs in the Key of Life came out the week that I had started first grade. So we all, it was like, have your mommy and daddy buy you this record.

And we brought the record. We all brought it in the next day. And for music appreciation class, we read the liner notes. You know, this is the first time you saw like sprawling liner notes and all that stuff. And so the thing is, the next homework assignment was bring your favorite 45 in and your favorite single. And, you know, the kids in my class are bringing in stuff of the day. I come in with like Frankie Lyman and the teenagers like, why do fools fall in love from like 1950 something? and I, honest to God, thought it was new music.

Like, my parents, my dad tricked me into thinking that doo-wop and early rock was new. Yeah. So I'm a six-year-old that knows who Chuck Berry is and Bo Didley and all this stuff. And the way that my teachers laughed, like, they were so amused like, oh, no, this is music where we were kids, I'm here. And I remember feeling like, oh, they're bringing in disco duck and y'all making me bring in Like, I was angry at my parents for tricking me. Like, I later found out, like, oh, there's old music and there's my music. And then finally, my sister started feeding me what new music was.

So for you, though, like, just typically that is what was heard in the household or just, okay. And then whatever was on the radio. I mean, I think because my family, at least they made it look so easy when I was younger, I just wanted to be able to harmonize with anything, imitate any run or riff or anything like that. And I also have to slide this in. My uncle, I forget how we're related. My uncle-in-law produced the album suddenly by Billy Ocean. He, like, wrote the whole thing, Keith Diamond.

So I was just listening and absorbing. Wait, your uncle's Keith Diamond? Yeah. God damn. Okay, I know that. Shit. Okay. So I was listening to his music.

I was listening to my dad's, my grandparents. So a combination of that and whatever was popular. So you lived in a gospel Christian household that did not penalize you for listening to secular music. I always wanted to meet the generational chain breaking because for a lot of other artists born in the 70s. I mean, the Clark sisters is probably the best example where they're literally making up P-Funk songs and Stevie Wonder songs. because they can't listen to that in their own households. And so, you know, I always wondered, and I asked them, like, when you guys are doing an overdose of the Holy Ghost, like,

do they not know that's Dr. Funkenstein by parliament? Like, no one in your church is like, objection. That's a secular song. They're not listening to that. So, you know, if they knew what it was, then maybe it would cause a problem. But I always wondered if there is ever going to be a day in which a Christian household is not going to be somewhat overbearing in what you receive. And so, okay.

I think my dad definitely broke that because he was a bass player. And so he was just, you know, he's born in 1960. And during the 70s, he's learning how to play bass and listening to all these things on the radio, trying to learn the song before it goes off and before his parents get home. I think he also tells a story of how he was in church playing for the first time and he played a Rick James bass line.

And the drummer was like, You're going to get in trouble. Yo, dog. You got to stop playing that, man. I played... Right, right. Yeah, I got in trouble many times. Like, me coming to the age of hip-hop and drumming in my church, if I start playing, like, top-building by the audio, too.

Or you would know as the drumbeat is, Real Love by Mary J. Pelagia, or whatever. Like, then the elders would start, if the kids would start doing the whop or whatever, like, start dancing. Then the elders will look at me like, you're playing secular music. And I just had to sort of morph back into a boring drummer. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

There's two golden rules that any man should live by. Rule one, never mess with a country girl. You play stupid games, you get stupid prizes. And rule two, never mess with her friends either. We always say that trust your girlfriends. I'm Anna Sinfield, and in this new season of The Girlfriends, Oh my God, this is the same man. A group of women discover they've all dated the same prolific con artist.

I felt like I got hit by a truck. I thought, how could this happen to me? The cops didn't seem to care, so they take matters into their own hands. I said, oh, hell no. I vowed. I will be his last target. He's going to get what he deserves. Listen to the Girlfriends. Trust me, babe.

on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, everyone? I'm Ago Wodom. My next guest, you know from Stepbrothers, Anchorman, Saturday Night Live, and the Big Money Players Network. It's Will Ferrell. Woo, woo, woo, woo. My dad gave me the best advice ever. I went and had lunch with them one day, and I was like, and Dad, I think I want to really give this a shot. I don't know what that means, but I just know the ground line.

I'm working my way up through and I know it's a place that come look for up and coming talent. He said if it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you, which is really sweet. Yeah. He goes, but there's so much luck involved. And he's like, just give it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit. If you saw it written down, it would not be an inspiration. It would not be on a calendar of, you know,

The cat, just hang in there. Yeah, it would not be. Right, it wouldn't be that. There's a lot of luck. Listen to thanks, Dad, on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This week on the Sports Slice podcast, it's all about the NFL draft. And we've got a special guest. The director of the NFL's East West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galco, joins the Sports Slice podcast to break down what really matters when evaluating draft prospects.

from hidden traits teams look for to the biggest mistakes franchises make to the players flying under the radar. This is the insight you won't hear anywhere else. If you want to understand the draft like an insider, you don't want to miss this episode. Listen to the Sports Slice Podcast on the iHeartRadio

app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 and TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Okay, so I would like to talk about the Elegim Festival competition at Jazz at Link Center. Can you walk me through that? What song did you sing that wowed Christian? And who else was

part of the, do you know who was part of the committee? That one, it was actually, I know what you're saying. I actually did an essentially Ellington side thing when I was in high school. The competition that Christian McBride was a part of was the Saravan competition. And that was when I was junior in college. And during the Saravan competition, McBride was a judge. Monifa Brown, I think, from WBGO, Diti Bridgewater, Jane Monheight, and my former, a producer and my former manager, was a part of the judges in the lineup. And that was my first competition ever. I was definitely nervous because I had only just started learning about jazz when I got to college. So I didn't feel like I was ready.

I didn't feel like I was ready yet. You know, like everything that I was learning didn't necessarily come out at the same time. Like it took a lot of, I don't know, I don't know the right word. Ingestion is probably not the right word. But it just took a lot of learning and a lot of listening before it would actually become a part of who I was, like become a part of my language and my musical identity. But I tried anyway, and thankfully McBride and them saw potential. Okay, so let's go to 2009 when you're 10.

Okay. Have you ever been to karaoke night? No, not at that point. Ever? Well, not at the age of 10. Yeah. No, no, no. But I just mean, like, do you have a brush in the shower?

No. Everyday person voice? I would say so. I would say it was a little underdeveloped because then I was still trying to copy my dad and my parents and my grandparents I meant. And at that point, I think 2009 was when Michael Jackson died. So I was like just becoming obsessed with him. And, yeah, I was just starting to get into musical theater and school, too. performing in front of people being in choir.

So I was doing that kind of thing, you know, just trying to sing at every at every possible opportunity. Right. But I'm just saying that when you're mooting sound or whatnot, like, are you not noticing people or like? My dad, definitely. I remember he called his brother my uncle one day. And he was like, she sang for me.

My daughter sang for me. You got to hear. And so I think I sang his eyes on the sparrow. And my dad put his brother back on the phone. Wait. I'm going to tell you something. I'm going to tell you something. The number one clause in my will is don't sing that song.

Is I do not want his eyes on this barrel. Can I tell you how many funerals I've been to? Even in non-Christians, like, yo, I'm not even having a funeral. That's how many times I've heard his eyes on his barrel. It's a classic. I know, but it is going on. And Lauren Hill brought it to a new generation. Now everybody, you know, including myself, tries to sing it like her.

So we have Sister Act 2. blame for this? No, I mean, not to blame. I think it, I think it should be credited. I should be given it to do. I did not see Sister Act 2. So thus, I didn't realize that that's why I made it come back. Okay, it's a long story. I'm sorry. I didn't see. There's a lot of things you don't like. We need to, we need to. No, I love everything. I'm Questlove. My name is Love. My name is Love. Okay, okay, okay. No, his eyes on the sparrow. Got it. Yeah. So, in case I passed before, if they come to you, He told me not to sing that song.

Someone's trying to control me. You're going to come with a white robe and just descend upon the building. At the age of three or four, it wasn't like this? My dad, okay, sorry, sorry. My dad does have a recording. A recording of me on cassette singing, you don't have to call by Usher. But that was just because it was on the radio, I guess. Were you matching his tone?

Like, were you always this alto? I mean, I definitely wasn't saying the words, but I think I was an alto. Got it, okay. I think around 97 is when the roots started this idea of doing jam sessions in my living room. And, you know, the first generation of, like, I think like 11 to 12 record deals were born out of that first gathering. Like this is where Kendrick, the family sold. Jazzy Fat Nastys.

Jill Scott, who's working in retail. Blau was in the eighth grade. Music worked at the pizza shop. I'm like, we're letting the pizza guy get on the microphone now. This is what we're, this is what we're doing. Wow. But at one point, my boy was like, yo, my daughter's best friend has a voice like you wouldn't believe and da-da-da-da.

But she's like, you know, eight, like nine years old. And I was like, dog, we can't have nine years old. like in this environment or in the nightclub or whatever. But sure enough, like four years straight, Jasmine Sullivan's dad would drive her to the five spot or to wetlands or to my crib. She'd sleep in the back of the car. And when it was a time for singing three songs, he'd come in.

But with that voice, with like nine years old, but an adult voice. And so I'm so amazed at when people get that gift early, do you have a ritual in taking care of your instrument? I learned that in college. I think that because it was my first time learning jazz, it was also my first time kind of taking professional voice lessons. So honestly, I just, I look up different voice exercises ranging in difficulty and I decide what I want to work on, whether it's intonation, whether it's breath support, whether it's flexibility. And I just, I do that, you know.

And then if I want to work on any other areas like my piano, like harmony or, you know, things, things like that, I'll study it. But it's usually just voice exercises to strengthen any weaknesses I might have that I'm working on. That's kind of how I maintain my voice. Well, speaking of Michael Jackson, have you ever gone on YouTube to listen to his vocal warmups with Seth Riggs? I don't think I have. I've heard like isolated tracks and stuff like from his studio sessions, but I never heard his warmups. Yeah, no, literally I believe on, is it still there? Yes, it is. It's 30 minutes long and it's literally Michael Jackson, two seconds of it. So you can literally train with Michael Jackson as he's training with and doing like all those.

Like, do you have a actual vocal trainer or do you just do this on your own? Not at the moment. But everything that I learned about vocal maintenance I learned while I was in college from my two teachers. I had a classical teacher and a jazz voice teacher. Okay. So I'm still processing that you discovered jazz in college. So how old were you when music hits you, not jazz, but music, like just in general, like, what's your first musical memory? My dad got me an iPod Nano and he uploaded it with all of his music that was on this computer.

Wait, did this entire room just like die right now? A what? A what? And honestly, it was a bootleg one. I don't even think it was a real Apple product. I think it was like one you get from the corner store or something. Like Kobe? The Kobe brand or?

No. No, it was literally just a little orange, you know, he just, he downloaded so much music. My uncle, too. He's a music fanatic. Okay. And he had an iPod filled with so much stuff. And so he just put a whole bunch of music on my. iPod Nano and I was listening to it.

And I feel like that's when I really started noticing how the instruments interact together, especially the bass, obviously because of him. But I was listening to people like George Duke for the first time, this song called Images of Us. I can remember being on the bus, you know, on the way to school or from school and just we're playing it over and over again. Same with the Luther Records, Kiki Sheard, I used to listen to all the time. Shaka, yeah, I just, I listened to all of them. So if you're discovering jazz in college, in your senior year of high school, what do you think you're going to go to college for?

I mean, I knew I wanted to sing. And so at the time, I didn't have the money to go to any of the big, expensive schools. And obviously, there's not a gospel program. I went to a state school called SUNY Purchase. Oh, SUNY Purchase. Yeah. And I didn't know. I mean, the only programs, at least from what I saw that were available were either jazz voice or classical voice.

And I definitely didn't have the training to be a classical vocalist. So I decided to just audition for as many jazz voice programs as I could. And a couple of schools, I also, because I did this program after school where they helped us. And so we had to choose like six CUNY schools and four Sunnis and like two private programs. And I just wanted to make sure they had a vocal program, you know, even if I didn't end up doing that if I went into business or, you know, whatever. So you just wanted vocal as like an elective or, you know, just like a side thing? Just to have, just to have because I didn't know, I didn't fit into, I guess, a specific lane or aesthetic. I loved R&B. I love gospel. I love soul. But I just, I didn't know

if I could, if I had the, I don't know if it's strength, if it's tenacity, if it's anything. I just didn't know if I could really pursue a career in doing this because I don't know. I just didn't feel like I had the guts. So I'm glad that I went to the vocal program at SUNY Purchase because they helped me. Okay, so at what point did you feel comfortable in knowing that, one, I'd landed in the touchdown zone and like, this is where I belong and I have a gift and zero to 60. Don't even give me that. I'm still deciding. No, I think my sophomore year of college, honestly, because I auditioned with Blessed Assurance and I think, Route 66 because those are the only, that was like the only jazz song I knew at the time. I didn't,

I hadn't heard Ella, I hadn't listened to Sarah, I hadn't listened to Bird or Diz or anything. So I was very new and very fresh, but I wanted to learn. And I think my goal when I was a freshman was like, even if I don't pursue jazz, even if it doesn't end up being a career, I still want to immerse myself in it and honestly just be the best student I could be. But my sophomore year, I had met so many other peers who were showing me records, my teachers who were, were so passionate about it and who were playing on the scene. I started getting like little gigs here and there. And so that's kind of when I realized like, okay, I think I can do this.

I think I can be a part of this world without letting go of what has, you know, formed me and informed my music and my voice all this time. I'm just adding another layer onto my identity as an artist. So I think that's when I was like, you know, I'm really going to start studying and listening. Me and the world and, like, we're grateful that you made this. 11th hour decision for your life to change all of our lives. So that said, I want to give you 60 seconds to convince future Samara Joyce out there to really pursue their dream. Because I also believe that as black people, and it's changing. I think it's really changing with your generation

more than me. Even though I was brought into a world of creativity, most of us, are sort of placed in fight or flight scenarios where it's like survival. I mean, I've come from hip hop. Hustle is our favorite word. And hustling basically means like anything to survive.

I don't get what it is. And we're just never given the opportunity to dream and really think, what is it that I want to do and make last minute decisions? Like most of us, I think the reason why I'm so mind-blown

that you've made this pivotal decision as such a late stage in life is because, I mean, literally by the age of four, I'm already in the family business. It's more of a survival thing, you know? And even as a teenager, I've got to get my family out of here.

I got to hook or crook. I have to, and I manifested it, but I would like you to convince, because I'm certain that there's someone on the edge of, all right, let me go. to business school because, you know, I can make a cushy six-figure year job there, or I can take a risk and really do something that I know I'm, talk to me as if I'm on the... Okay.

60 seconds, you said. Oh, does it take that long? Let me see. Okay. I know you've been thinking about this for a while. Yes. And I think the fact that you wake up thinking about music, thinking about your art is a sign that you should keep going.

and keep investing in it. And just remember that it takes time to be great. It doesn't take that much time to be famous and get your little spotlight, but it takes time to actually be great and invest in yourself and develop your weaknesses into strengths and become a complete person, a whole person, so that you can be a whole artist. So don't shortcut.

Take your time, have experiences, meet people who are either of the same mindset or can help you elevate. And always remember, if this is what you're waking up thinking about, going to bed, thinking about, then this is what you need to do by any means necessary. Oh, I'm not allowed to bash the table. Yes, I appreciate that. Thank you.

Do you feel like you were going to grow up and pursue your dreams now? I absolutely am. Yes, I do. No, I'm serious. Like, I think it's important for all of us. Like, to me, that's the business that I'm in right now in this part of my life is to make sure that that happens, that people understand that their dreams are way more important than safety.

We've done safety for centuries. Let's try dreaming a little bit. You definitely feel like you've made the right decision. Yes. Okay. Absolutely. That's beautiful. Because I feel like I'm comfortable singing this music and interpreting it in my own way,

but I also feel like I have so much growing to do. Gotcha. And so much to explore. And we get the benefit of seeing artists that we love, and seeing their entire discographies in front of us and seeing their journey and seeing what's possible. So I'm looking forward to seeing what's possible and how I can take it even further.

Got it. Do you have a morning routine? Ooh, no. Or what's the first thing you did with the first 30 minutes of your day today? The first 30 minutes of my day today, I'm not going to lie, I snooze my alarm like at least four times. But after that.

So you said an hour early just so, Just so I could keep, just so, just because by the time I actually do wake up, I'll be ready. Gotcha. Then I like to stew apples and put it over yogurt because I'm trying to get on my healthy kick after being on the road for the past year. Got it. Ooh. Hotel room service. Spaghetti bowl in these.

Too much for me. And I just, I put up my music and get ready pretty much. Okay. What is the greatest cereal of all time? I told you, it's rapid fire time. When I was growing up, it was honey bunches of oats. You could not tear me away. Oh, and Captain Crunch and corn pops.

That was my joint. You said the magic word. What is your favorite album that you ever purchased? Oh, my gosh. I don't think I've purchased it. No, no, no. But I will say, I will say. My self-esteem is...

You started away. I was born when the iPhone 6 was out. I was born in 99. I know. I know. Okay. Just don't say it out loud. Okay, the first...

I haven't purchased an album. At least I don't think. But one of my dad's friends gave me a bunch of his vinyl. Okay. And what was it? It was an algebra record. It's pink. I can't remember what it's called.

Yes. That was like one of the first records I started. I played. And George Benson, Love Times Love. Give me the night. Nice. Okay. Okay, okay.

Well, that was my next question. What was the album that someone put you on to that you otherwise would have known about? An album that somebody put me on to that nobody else. Ah, voodoo. Really? Yeah. Okay. I didn't know about that until my brother started very late.

Yeah, I was about to say, you were, we were still finished. When I was born. We started when your parents were dating. Like, that's how long DeAngelo takes. No, my brother was listening to it, and I still had. didn't really get put on until a couple years after that. Oh, okay. All right.

So what's the bravest thing that you've ever done? I went parasailing. What is that like? It was insane. Because I think we were in the south of France. It was an off day from tour. And I was like, let's just do it. And I was up there and I was like, I really hope I don't fall because I cannot swim.

But this is a beautiful view. I can swim. I don't have a license. Like, I have a lot to do this winter. I have a lot to accomplish. Oh, man. These are goals. Once I'm home, once I have a solid five weeks, I'm going to do everything I can to improve my life.

Okay. Okay, South of France. When I went to Nice for the first time, I didn't go parisailing, but I went. Jetsky? Yes. Not for you? Not for you? I need about seven life jackets because I promise I will not make it.

Well, this is next year because you're going to be on the circuit for a long time. So, okay. When you sing, who is your North Star? Who do you channel? It can be a combination of things from phrase to phrase, honestly. Like sometimes I want to sing really legato and dramatic and sort of operatic. And so I'll think of Sarabon or somebody like Jesse Norman. If I'm thinking more on the powerful side, I think Aretha Franklin or Mahalia,

sophisticated and elegant, maybe Nancy Wilson. Abby Lincoln and Betty Carter. Sorry. The gods. I got it. The gods. What is the first song that you ever committed to memory? I think Oh Happy Day, probably, because we had to sing it in church for Easter.

How old were you? I might have been like seven years old. And you were singing lead? Yeah. I had a verse. Okay. So you've had a deep, rich voice even at the age of seven? I mean, I could say yes right now, but if they found a recording, you probably wouldn't think.

You were singing in your... But I wasn't down low like Luther either. I was somewhere in the middle. Okay. So no who-hoo-hoo territory? Okay, I got that. All right, so you're going to make me a mixtape for road traveling. What five songs are you choosing? What five songs? Okay, who do you love by Bernard Wright? Carmen McCrae's version of Spring can really hang up the most Yo, you should be making beats What's the third? What's the third? What's the third? What's the third? Maybe

Miles Davis, he has a song called The Mades of Cadiz on an album with Gil Evans That's really good. Disguesses Spain or? No, no, no. It's, I think it's called Plus 19. No, it's called Miles Ahead, I think. Miles ahead, okay, okay. Okay, the fourth would be Grooving High by By Bird by Charlie Parker. Okay. And the fifth would be, I know you, I live you, Shaka Khan. So wait, as a jazz student, was it required of you to memorize the entire fake book?

No. No, no, no, no. I just listen to records. All right. Wow, you're just a sponge. All right, people. I love this discussion with Samara Joy so much that we ended up talking for nearly two hours. So as we ease into the new year,

breaking the conversation into two parts. I know, I know. Could have went on forever. So be sure to come back next Wednesday for part two. Make sure you're subscribed to our YouTube channel. Please subscribe where you can find out all of our video conversations. All right? Happy New Year, everybody.

Questlove show is hosted by me, Amir Questlove Thompson. The executive producers are Sean G., Brian Calhoun, and me. Produced by Brittany Benjamin and Jacob. Pain. Produced for IHeart by Noel Brown. Edited by Alex Conroy. IHart video support by Mark Canton.

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