Applicant Apparel

I’m giving away three copies of Samantha Darnell’s new EP, The Art of Breaking Hearts. In order to win a copy of her EP, you must do three things.

1. Follow our Twitter & send an @reply saying you’ve done so.
- http://www.twitter.com/applicantapp
2. Like our Facebook & post on the wall saying you’ve done so.
- http://www.facebook.com/applicantapparel
3. Make sure to tell me on Twitter/Facebook why you want to win a copy of Samantha Darnell’s The Art of Breaking Hearts EP.

There will be one grand prize winner and two runner-up prizes. The deadline to enter this contest is May 31st, 2011 at Midnight CST.

1 GRAND PRIZE: 1 Applicant Apparel T-shirt, 1 Samantha Darnell T-shirt, and 1 copy of The Art of Breaking Hearts.
2 RUNNER-UP PRIZES: 1 copy of The Art of Breaking Hearts.

Good luck, and please check out Samantha Darnell on Facebook and Twitter!

@applicantapp | BigCartel | Facebook | Myspace | @janpowers

I am excited to announce Samantha Darnell as a new artist sponsored by Applicant Apparel. Please head over to her Twitter and say hi! Hit up her Facebook & Myspace to check out her songs. Click here to watch her perform an older song of hers called “Run Away” live & acoustic. If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to pick up her new EP ‘The Art of Breaking Hearts’ on iTunes now!

@applicantapp | BigCartel | Facebook | Myspace | @janpowers

Samantha Darnell resides in Baltimore, MD. She has fronted bands in the past, and now she is taking the solo approach to songwriting. She is recording an EP’s worth of songs October 14-20 with a release in early 2010. You can hear demos on her Myspace page.

Q. What can we expect from the EP you are going to record?
A. It’s definitely going to show a side of me that no one has heard yet throughout my music career. A more mature and sensitive side. So, I guess you should expect the unexpected.

Q. Who are the bands you would do anything to tour with?
A. Bright Eyes. Hands down.

Q. Given the chance, what would you tell your fans to do in order to keep Samantha Darnell alive and making music?
A. Spread the word as much as you can! Post bulletins, add my songs and banners to your MySpace page, Tweet my link, pass out flyers at local shows, malls, school, etc., make videos telling people to check me out, come to my shows when I perform and be sure to buy my music when it’s available!

Q. What bands did you listen to growing up?
A. Definitely a lot of classic rock. Some of my favorites were Aerosmith, Queen, Journey, The Eagles. The list goes on and on. Then, I got really into pop-punk as a young teen, listening to a lot of old school Green Day, Blink 182, Mest, Yellowcard, MXPX, etc..

Q. What got you your start in music? When did you know it was what you wanted to do with your life?
A. My dad and uncle were the ones who exposed me to music since birth. They have both played in bands all their lives, and I would go to their shows and just be in pure awe. I had always known I had a passion for singing because it was all I would do since 3 years old…every day, all day, but the moment it really hit me hard that it was what I feel I was born to do was when I sang my first solo ever on stage in my 5th grade choir. I was instantly addicted to the stage.

Q. What are your thoughts on illegal downloading, and what is the effect of it on you?
A. That’s a tough one. I have mixed feelings about it. Being a starving musician, getting paid for your hard work and art is pretty much necessary. After all, if you aren’t making any money from it, you can’t do it for a living, and ultimately, that’s what every true performer wants to do… to be able to do what they love for a living. At the same time, big stars who have already made their big bucks, such as Madonna, have been giving their music downloads away for free which I think is fantastic because music should be about the music.

Q. What are your thoughts on the music industry as of its current state?
A. At first, it scared me. The fact CD sales have gone way down and labels becoming more of a distribution company than anything worried me. Now it’s kind of cool because artists these days can be so independent and DIY.

Q. Has the music industry changed for you even though you have been a part of it for a relatively short time?
A. Absolutely. It used to be all about signing to a huge label. Now, it makes more sense to sign to a smaller label at first so that you get the attention and dedication you need from one.

Q. What are your favorite records, movies, and books?
A. My favorite records are ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning’ by Bright Eyes, ‘Say It Like You Mean It’ by The Starting Line, ‘Is A Real Boy’ by Say Anything, any of the Sugarcult records, and ‘Deja Entendu’ by Brand New. I could listen to those for the rest of my life without getting sick of them. My favorite movies are the sappy, romantic ones…Titanic, The Notebook, A Walk To Remember (laughs). I’m really girly when it comes to that. I like to read non-fiction. Right now, I’m reading Emergence. It’s life-changing.

Q. If you could have wrote any song in existence, which one would it be?
A. I was saying the other night how much I wish I had written ‘Come On, Get Higher’ by Matt Nathanson. So good!

Q. With Twitter becoming the new way to interact online, what has it done for your band?
A. Twitter is such a rad phenomenon! I love when fans Tweet my link to help spread the word. It means a lot!

Q. If you could co-write with anyone dead or a live, who would it be and why?
A. Conor Oberst. His song writing is genius poetry.

Q. How do you go about songwriting?
A. I usually write the guitar riffs first, then come up with a vocal melody, then the lyrics.

Q. Who has produced your records, and how have they influenced your writing process?
A. This is my first record, so no one yet, but Mike Bridget will be helping me with that.

Q. Who would you want to do guest vocals on your album?
A. It would be really fun to have someone I’m friends with in the scene do that with me. I would love to have Damien Rice or Amos Lee do something. They’re amazing.

Q. What are some bands you want people to know about?
A. I feel that Tears of Mars from Maryland and Kingsfoil from Pennsylvania haven’t gotten nearly enough of the recognition they deserve. I’ve been following both bands since I was young and love them.

Q. Where would you have to go for you to say you “made it”?
A. If I was happily signed and able to tour the world, I’d be satisfied.

Q. Are there any shout outs?  Last words?
A. Jan Powers! Duhhhh! :P

Myspace: myspace.com/samanthadmusic