SAM SHI has unveiled “Comfort Zone,” a single that marks a significant evolution in her artistic journey, leaning heavily into her identity as a singer and songwriter. The track serves as the powerful introduction to Live From Santa Monica, an EP captured during a live performance session that is set to arrive on October 9th via her own label, But Did You Dance.
This release signals a deliberate shift for the artist, following a productive summer spent contributing her vocals to projects by other notable figures in the electronic scene, including Nico Szabo, Aske Izan, and Enamour. While those collaborations showcased her versatility, “Comfort Zone” represents a more personal, introspective side of her creative output.
The upcoming EP was recorded in a single, raw session on the California coast, where SAM SHI and her band performed the material live, accompanied by a performance film. “Comfort Zone” stands out as the only new composition from the session, while the remaining five tracks—”Judgment,” “Perfectionism,” “Unbury Me,” “PETTY,” and “No Love”—are reimagined versions of songs from her existing catalog, stripped back to their core essence.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the track, SAM SHI shares, “For most of my life, comfort meant needing someone else in the room, a relationship, a job, anything to keep me from sitting with myself. I spent a decade building a career in tech, and I don’t regret a second of it, but I recently realized that I was using it the same way I used relationships: as a place to hide. ‘Comfort Zone’ is about the moment I stop hiding and start building a life where my energy goes towards a mission that I genuinely believe in, and that mission is best served via my love for music.”
Born in Honolulu and raised in Sweden, SAM SHI’s background in physics, interactive media, and yoga informs her unique approach to music, which often explores the tension between control and surrender. With the release of Live From Santa Monica, she continues to bridge the gap between alternative songwriting and underground electronic culture. A full-length performance film will accompany the EP, with a lyric video for “Comfort Zone” expected shortly.