Sammy Rae

Samantha Rae Bowers (born January 4, 1994), known professionally as Sammy Rae, is an American singer-songwriter and bandleader raised in Derby, Connecticut, who fronts the Brooklyn-based ensemble Sammy Rae & The Friends.^[1][2][3] Beginning to write songs at age 12 after learning piano, she relocated to New York City at 19 to pursue music studies and assembled the band through local performances, emphasizing a collaborative, family-like dynamic among members and fans.^[4][5][2] The group's sound fuses elements of jazz, funk, soul, rock, and folk, honed by years of touring that have built a dedicated following capable of filling venues across North America, the UK, and Europe.^[4][6] Key releases include the EPs The Good Life (2018) and Let's Throw a Party (2021), followed by the debut full-length album Something for Everybody in 2024, which supported headline tours and festival appearances at events such as Bonnaroo and North Sea Jazz.^[4][7] The ensemble, typically comprising seven to eight members including guitarists, bassists, and horn players, prioritizes communal energy in live settings, often selling out shows like those at Brooklyn Steel and the 9:30 Club.^[4][8] With ongoing 2025 U.S. headline dates announced, Sammy Rae & The Friends continue to expand their reach through this blend of genre versatility and audience engagement.^[8]

Biography

Early Life

Sammy Rae, born in Derby, Connecticut, developed an early interest in music through family exposure to classic rock artists.^[9][10] She began singing nursery rhymes as a toddler and continued performing in elementary and middle school settings. By age 12, Rae started writing her own songs while taking piano lessons, influenced primarily by Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and Freddie Mercury of Queen.^[5][6][10] These early experiences in her small-town Connecticut upbringing laid the foundation for her songwriting, as she drew from the emotive storytelling and energetic performances of her formative idols.^[9] At age 19, Rae relocated from Derby to New York City to pursue music professionally, marking the transition from her formative years to active career development.^[2]

Education and Career Beginnings

Samantha Rae Bowers, professionally known as Sammy Rae, grew up in Derby, Connecticut, where she began learning piano as a child and composed her initial songs at age 12.^[5] By age 15, she started performing gigs in Connecticut and took up the ukulele to write original material. ^[11] Rae initially enrolled in the University of New Haven's music industry and audio engineering program during her freshman year around 2012, immersing herself in the local folk-punk scene.^[12] She later transferred to Manhattan College in the Bronx, New York, initially pursuing education before shifting focus to music amid the city's performance opportunities. ^[11] At age 19, Rae relocated to New York City to prioritize songwriting, eventually leaving college to support herself with day jobs while dedicating time to recording and performing.^{[13] [14]} Her early career in New York involved regular appearances at open mic nights and securing a six-month residency at the Cotton Club jazz lounge in Harlem, where she honed her skills through consistent live sets and self-produced recordings.^[15] These experiences laid the groundwork for her transition from solo performances to collaborative projects, emphasizing original compositions influenced by her diverse instrumental background, including later additions like banjo.^[11]

Formation and Rise of Sammy Rae & The Friends

Sammy Rae, born Samantha Rae Bowers, relocated from Connecticut to New York City around age 18 in 2012 and began assembling a musical collective shortly thereafter, initially performing with a group dubbed "The Friends" by age 20 in 2014.^[16] The band originated from Rae's vision of a large ensemble project emphasizing community and collaboration, recruiting fellow musicians from New York scenes to blend genres like jazz, rock, and soul in high-energy live settings. Early iterations involved rotating members focused on individual projects, evolving into a more stable seven-piece unit centered on Rae's songwriting and vocals.^[17][18] The ensemble coalesced more formally around 2017–2018, with the self-produced EP The Good Life—released on July 20, 2018—serving as a pivotal milestone that showcased Rae's matured style and marked a "fresh start" after years of honing material through performances.^[19][20] This five-track release, featuring songs like the title track emphasizing optimism and camaraderie, was distributed independently via platforms such as Bandcamp, reflecting the band's grassroots approach without major label backing at the time.^[20] Prior to the EP, the group built momentum via unpretentious gigs in Brooklyn and beyond, often starting as informal gatherings that expanded into structured shows prioritizing audience integration over polished production.^[21] Their ascent accelerated post-2018 through relentless touring, with the band barnstorming small-to-mid-sized venues across the U.S. East Coast and Midwest, amassing a loyal fanbase via infectious live energy rather than digital virality.^[22] By 2020, word-of-mouth from these performances had elevated their profile, enabling sold-out residencies and transitions to larger circuits, though initial growth remained organic and venue-driven amid limited budgets.^[17] This period solidified the band's identity as a "family" of performers—typically including drummer C-Bass Chiriboga, guitarist James Quinlan, and others—fostering a communal ethos that distinguished them in the indie music landscape.^[23][4]

Major Milestones Post-2020

In January 2021, Sammy Rae & The Friends released their second EP, Let's Throw a Party, on January 22 via Nettwerk Music Group, featuring tracks such as "Jackie Onassis" and "Living Room Floor" that emphasized themes of community and resilience amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.^[24][25] This release, their first under the full band moniker, garnered attention for its energetic blend of funk, soul, and pop, helping to solidify their grassroots fanbase through streaming and limited live engagements as restrictions eased.^[26] Following the EP, the band resumed extensive touring in 2021 and 2022, performing sold-out shows in venues across North America, including dual nights at The Chapel in San Francisco on January 23–24, 2022, which highlighted their high-energy live reputation built on improvisational elements and audience interaction.^[27] By 2023, they captured this momentum with the live album The If It All Goes South Tour (Live), documenting performances from their growing headline circuit and underscoring their evolution from New York City club acts to regional draw.^[28] The band's profile elevated further in 2024 with the September 20 release of their debut full-length studio album, Something for Everybody, via Nettwerk, comprising 13 original tracks that expanded their sound with polished production while retaining raw, party-like vibes; the album debuted to positive reception for its accessibility and thematic focus on joy and escapism.^[29] Supporting the release, they launched a major North American headline tour on September 30, 2024, encompassing theaters and mid-sized arenas, alongside high-profile festival slots such as the Bonnaroo main stage and Sound on Sound.^[29][4] Into 2025, Sammy Rae & The Friends announced additional U.S. headline tour dates on February 19, extending their Something for Everybody promotion with stops in cities including Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Royal Oak, reflecting sustained demand and logistical expansion to larger markets.^[30] These efforts, combined with international outreach to the UK and Europe, positioned the band for broader commercial viability without major label backing beyond Nettwerk's independent distribution.^[4]

Musical Style and Influences

Primary Influences

Sammy Rae Bowers, the lead vocalist and songwriter of Sammy Rae & The Friends, has cited classic rock as a foundational influence, particularly the energetic arrangements and communal spirit of Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band, which shaped the band's emphasis on high-energy, horn-driven performances.^[31] This draws from her early exposure to Springsteen's work, alongside Billy Joel and Freddie Mercury of Queen, which informed her songwriting starting at age 12.^[10] Her official band biography describes the group's sound as a "mélange" of classic rock, folk, and funk, with soul and jazz elements, reflecting Bowers' personal synthesis of these styles developed after moving to New York City from Connecticut.^[4] Additional vocal influences include Bob Dylan and Paul Simon for lyrical delivery, though Bowers has emphasized broader genre draws such as gospel from church music traditions and Big Band swing, contributing to the band's eclectic brass sections and improvisational flair.^[11] Jazz icons like Ella Fitzgerald and soul figures like Aretha Franklin have also impacted her phrasing and emotional range, evident in the band's fusion of upbeat rhythms with heartfelt narratives.^[5] The Friends' collective influences—spanning jazz, world music, R&B, gospel, rock, and folk from individual members—further amplify this base, creating a collaborative sound that prioritizes live dynamism over rigid genre boundaries.^[32]

Core Musical Elements and Evolution

The core musical elements of Sammy Rae & The Friends encompass a fusion of classic rock, folk, funk, soul, and jazz, anchored by Bowers' versatile vocals that deliver "vocal fireworks" alongside a rhythm section, dual saxophones, keyboards, and layered percussion fostering groovy, improvisational interplay.^[4][33] This instrumentation supports dynamic arrangements with Latin and world rhythm influences from band members' backgrounds, emphasizing ensemble chemistry and live virtuosity over isolated soloing.^[4][33] Their sound evolved from experimental phases post-formation in the late 2010s, marked by the 2018 EP The Good Life's intricate studio melodies and high-energy party aesthetics tailored to early New York gigs, toward a polished maturity in releases like the 2021 EP Let's Throw a Party and 2024 album Something for Everybody.^[4][34] The latter introduces refined production, broader stylistic balance between upbeat tracks and introspective ballads, and emotional depth honed through years of touring, as Bowers described it as a "fine-tuned, cleaned up, and mature" reflection of the band's growth into a cohesive unit.^[34] While foundational genres persist, this progression prioritizes sonic clarity and matured songcraft over initial raw exuberance.^[34]

Discography

Extended Plays (EPs)

Sammy Rae & The Friends released their debut extended play, The Good Life, on July 10, 2018.^[20] The self-produced five-track EP showcased the band's early fusion of jazz, soul, and pop elements, featuring songs such as "The Feeling," "Good Life," "Flesh & Bone," "Talk It Up," and "Kick It to Me (Extended Version)."^[20] The band's second EP, Let's Throw a Party, followed on January 22, 2021.^{[24] [35]} This release included five tracks: "Whatever We Feel," "Jackie Onassis," "Living Room Floor," "Let's Throw a Party," and "Creo Lo Sientes" (featuring additional collaborators).^[24] The EP marked their first official output under the full band name and highlighted themes of optimism and social connection amid the COVID-19 pandemic.^[35]

Studio Albums

*Sammy Rae & The Friends' debut studio album, Something for Everybody, was released on September 20, 2024, through Nettwerk Music Group.^{[29] [36]} The 13-track record features original songs produced by the band, including lead single "Thieves," and represents their first full-length studio effort following earlier EPs.^[37] It was recorded in a studio setting, emphasizing the group's eclectic blend of soul, jazz, and funk elements.^[36] The band's second studio album, Songs We Wish We Wrote, followed on July 23, 2025.^{[38] [39]} This 12-track release consists primarily of cover versions of classic songs, such as Toto's "Hold the Line" and Billy Joel's "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," reinterpreted in the band's signature style.^[40] Produced by Sammy Rae & The Friends under Sammy Rae Music LLC, it showcases their studio-recorded arrangements of tracks they admire but did not originally compose.^[41][42]

Notable Singles

"Come As You Are" marked Sammy Rae & The Friends' first entry on a Billboard chart, debuting at number 40 on the Adult Alternative Airplay survey dated May 13, 2023.^[43] The band has issued several cover singles in recent years, emphasizing their interpretive versatility across genres. "Lay All Your Love On Me", a reworking of ABBA's 1980 synth-pop track, appeared as a single, featuring prominent brass and vocal layering characteristic of the group's live energy.^[44] "That's All" followed as another single release, drawing from soul influences in its arrangement.^[44] "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", a cover of Billy Joel's 1977 hit, was released as a single in 2024, accompanied by a music video showcasing the band's dynamic performance in an unconventional setting.^[44] These singles highlight the Friends' approach to blending retro material with contemporary production, often prioritizing streaming platforms and live promotion over traditional radio dominance.^[45]

Live Performances and Tours

Early Live Shows and Development

Sammy Rae & The Friends initiated their live performances in New York City following the band's formation in 2016, beginning with open mics, jam sessions, and small club gigs where Sammy Rae assembled core members through networking. Early shows often featured jazz standards at dinner sets and private events, transitioning to original material as the lineup stabilized with eight committed musicians over approximately two and a half years. Initial audiences were modest, sometimes as few as 10 attendees, but grew organically via word-of-mouth as fans invited friends, fostering a sense of community that became central to their appeal.^[46][11] Key early venues included Rockwood Music Hall, a 200-capacity space in Manhattan, where they achieved sellouts, demonstrating their high-energy style blending rock, jazz, and soul elements. This success led to bookings at similarly intimate spots like Arlene's Grocery (320 capacity) and Bowery Electric, with performances emphasizing camaraderie among band members—dubbed "The Friends" to underscore their equal roles—and audience engagement. By 2018, they progressed to larger Brooklyn venues such as Brooklyn Bowl (500 capacity), expanding from NYC-centric gigs to regional Northeast tours, refining their sound through repeated live iterations before recording.^[46][47] The development of their live show involved overcoming challenges like retaining musicians and leadership learning curves, with Sammy Rae drawing from early experiences such as her first solo gig at age 15 in Hamden, Connecticut. Grassroots momentum doubled attendance per show, enabling consistent lineups and an inclusive vibe that encouraged dancing and interaction, setting the foundation for their reputation as a kinetic live act. Pre-2020, this phase honed their ability to adapt originals live—tuning arrangements onstage—while building a dedicated following without major label support.^[46][11]

Headlining Tours and Festival Appearances

Sammy Rae & The Friends conducted their CAMP: The Tour throughout 2023, featuring performances in major U.S. venues such as The Novo in Los Angeles on October 18 and The Warfield in San Francisco on October 17.^[48][49] The tour encompassed over 50 concerts across North America and Europe, emphasizing the band's high-energy live format honed from prior years of regional shows.^[50] In support of their 2024 debut album Something for Everybody, the band initiated the Something for Everybody tour, which extended into 2025 with headline U.S. dates announced on February 19, including stops in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Royal Oak.^[30] The itinerary resumed in April 2025 following European legs, marking it as their final major headlining run of the year, with opening acts including Zinadelphia and Bailen on select dates.^[51] Beyond tours, Sammy Rae & The Friends have appeared at prominent festivals, debuting at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on June 18, 2023, where they collaborated with guitarist Cory Wong on a cover of "Long Train Runnin'" during their set at Great Stage Park.^[52][53] In 2025, they performed at Newport Folk Festival on July 27 at Fort Adams State Park, delivering a set that included collaborations such as Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" with Jesse Welles.^[54][55] Additional 2025 festival slots included Lovin' Life Music Fest in May, The Capitol Groove Music Festival in June alongside Khruangbin, and North Carolina Folk Festival on September 12.^[30][56] These appearances underscore the band's growing festival circuit presence, often featuring extended improvisations and guest artists reflective of their jazz-infused ensemble style.

Reception and Impact

Critical Reception

Sammy Rae & The Friends' music has garnered predominantly positive reviews from independent music outlets and college publications, emphasizing the band's high-energy fusion of jazz, funk, soul, and pop elements. Atwood Magazine praised their 2021 EP Let's Throw a Party as an "irresistible funk/soul/jazz blend" that delivers "thoughtful reflections" amid chaotic, hopeful defiance, highlighting its ability to inspire movement and emotional engagement.^[25] Similarly, WMSC Radio commended the group's debut studio album Something for Everybody (2024) for its unapologetic positivity and musical unity, noting Sammy Rae's vocal versatility and the band's refusal to replicate live improvisations identically, which keeps performances fresh and demanding.^[57] Critics frequently laud Rae's commanding stage presence and the ensemble's tight instrumentation in live contexts. Music Connection described a 2024 concert as inspirational and heartfelt, with improvised elements suggesting variability across shows that enhances authenticity.^[58] The Bristol Gig Guide reviewed a 2023 UK performance as a "full of love and musical mastery," crediting the band's joyful emergence and crowd interaction for transforming venues into communal celebrations.^[59] District Fray highlighted their ethos of individuality and communal warmth, observing seamless interplay among members during a 2022 Washington, D.C. set.^[21] Some reviews point to inconsistencies in recorded output compared to live dynamism. The Concordian noted that Something for Everybody's first half excels in balance and appeal, but the second half overloads with ambitious arrangements, diluting focus amid the genre experimentation.^[60] Her Campus, however, viewed the album as "incredibly refreshing and bold," appreciating its orchestral flourishes, thematic depth on love and resilience, and rarity of harp integrations in contemporary pop.^[61] Overall, reception underscores the band's strength in fostering positivity and connection, though major mainstream outlets have offered limited coverage, reflecting their grassroots ascent.

Commercial Performance and Achievements

Sammy Rae & The Friends' commercial trajectory has been characterized by steady growth in digital streaming rather than traditional album sales or high chart placements, reflecting their independent origins and niche appeal in the jazz-pop genre. Their debut studio album, Something for Everybody, released on September 20, 2024, via Nettwerk Music Group, represented a milestone as their first full-length release on a established label following self-produced extended plays. By mid-2025, the band's catalog had accumulated over 212 million streams on Spotify, driven primarily by singles from earlier EPs like "Kick It to Me" (32.6 million streams) and "Talk It Up" (30 million streams).^[62][63] The group maintains around 525,000 monthly listeners on Spotify as of late 2025, underscoring a dedicated but specialized fanbase rather than mainstream crossover success.^[64] This streaming performance aligns with their viral momentum from live recordings and social media clips, though specific physical or digital sales figures remain undisclosed in public industry reports. In 2023, Sammy Rae & The Friends achieved their first Billboard chart entry, debuting on a niche ranking amid broader first-timer debuts, though without reaching top positions on major sales or airplay charts.^[65] Achievements include Grammy Award submissions for tracks from Something for Everybody in 2024, signaling industry recognition for production and arrangement, as announced by the band. No major award wins or nominations have been recorded, consistent with their profile as a rising act prioritizing live engagement over broadcast dominance. Their commercial model emphasizes direct fan support through tours and merchandise, contributing to sustained visibility without blockbuster sales metrics.^[66]

Community Building and Criticisms

Sammy Rae & The Friends have cultivated a dedicated fanbase, often referred to as "the Friends," through intentional efforts to foster emotional connections and inclusivity during live performances and online interactions. The band encourages audience participation, such as dancing and mingling, to create a sense of communal joy and belonging, as evidenced by their performances where fans form spontaneous bonds.^[67] This approach stems from Sammy Rae's vision of a "community-oriented project," which expanded significantly via social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Instagram Live sessions and posts drawing widespread engagement and support.^{[68] [11]} The band's advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community has further strengthened this network, attracting fans who appreciate the inclusive, high-energy atmosphere that promotes positivity and self-expression. An official Facebook group serves as a hub for fan interactions and direct communication with the band, reinforcing familial ties among members.^[69] Sammy Rae has publicly emphasized growing "our family beyond our wildest dreams" through these channels, with the fanbase described as united by shared vibes of joy and belonging.^{[70] [71] [72]} Criticisms of Sammy Rae & The Friends remain limited and primarily center on artistic preferences rather than substantive controversies. Some listeners have expressed dissatisfaction with shifts in musical style, such as perceived changes in early independent works compared to later band output, though these views appear anecdotal among a subset of fans.^[73] Individual reviews have noted occasional overemphasis on high-energy party elements at the expense of deeper musical nuance, but such opinions do not reflect widespread backlash.^[74] The band has largely avoided major scandals, with no verified reports of ethical or professional misconduct emerging in public discourse as of 2024.^[75] Isolated audience incidents, like reports of subtle racial tensions at concerts unrelated to the band's actions, highlight broader social dynamics but do not implicate the group itself.^[76]

Personal Life

Background and Relationships

Samantha Rae Bowers, known professionally as Sammy Rae, was born and raised in Derby, Connecticut, a small town outside New Haven. She began musical training early, taking piano lessons as a child and composing her initial songs around age 12, influenced by artists such as Queen.^[5] By age 15, she was writing and performing original material at local venues in Connecticut.^[16] Rae attended the University of New Haven for one year before relocating to New York City around age 18 to pursue music full-time, initially lacking a established network and thus assembling her own collaborative group.^[77] Details on Rae's familial background remain limited in public records, with no verified information on parents or siblings disclosed in interviews or profiles. Her songwriting has drawn from personal experiences, including relationships formed in New York City, though specific romantic partnerships are not publicly detailed.^[16] Rae has described the formation of Sammy Rae & The Friends as creating an intentional "family" dynamic among bandmates, emphasizing communal bonds over traditional solo artistry to foster creative and emotional support. This collective approach, starting from small workshops at venues like Rockwood Music Hall, underscores her emphasis on interpersonal connections as foundational to her career.^[78]

Public Identity and Perspectives

Sammy Rae, born Samantha Rae Bowers, publicly identifies as queer and has described knowing her queer orientation from childhood, though she did not fully embrace or discuss it with others until around age 25.^[79] Her queerness permeates her artistic output, shaping song lyrics, performance style, and onstage presentation, as seen in tracks like "Jackie Onassis," which draws from personal experiences of queer first love.^{[79] [80]} She has also specified identifying as bisexual, emphasizing its fluidity rather than a rigid binary attraction, and has addressed biphobia by educating friends and bandmates on the spectrum of bisexuality.^[80] In public statements, Rae frames queerness as extending beyond sexual orientation or gender identity to encompass self-love, self-permission, and bold self-expression.^[79] In a 2023 Pride Month essay, she defined Pride as "permission to be myself" and urged individuals to "be yourself so loudly... that it encourages others to be themselves," positioning personal authenticity as a means to foster broader societal improvement.^[79] Rae views queerness in relationships not as the defining "cornerstone" of friendships but as an expansive element enabling diverse connections, prioritizing shared humanity over identity silos.^[80] Through Sammy Rae & The Friends, she cultivates inclusive communities, particularly for queer youth, by infusing performances with themes of representation and empowerment often underrepresented in mainstream music.^[14] Her shows create safe, familial spaces where fans, including young queer individuals, report feeling seen and united, extending visibility to broader audiences seeking affirmation.^[14] Rae balances this expressive role with a sense of artistic responsibility, considering the personal impacts of her work on family, former partners, and listeners while prioritizing bravery in storytelling.^[80]