Benjamin Scheuer – «I Am Samantha»

Canvasback Records/Atlantic Records has proudly released «I Am Samantha» from singer-songwriter Benjamin Scheuer.

The touching track recounts the real-life journey of Samantha Williams – a transgender woman who Scheuer first met and befriended at a coffeeshop in New York City.

As Scheuer learned about Samantha’s story – and she in turn learned about his career as a singer/songwriter – she reflected on the fact she’d never heard a song about someone named Samantha. He promised her to change that, filling notebooks with details of her life and her journey to transition, and ultimately writing what is now «I Am Samantha». Included below is a note from Samantha which beautifully illustrates the origins of the song from her perspective.

«I Am Samantha» is the story of one trans woman. It is also the story of what it means to love and be loved. With uncommon empathy, Scheuer unpacks not just Samantha’s journey, but the human journey we all take to find identity, acceptance, and love.

The release comes accompanied by a powerful music video directed by T Cooper [director of the award-winning documentary Man Made] and starring a cast of 27 trans actors (believed to be the largest trans cast assembled to date). The visual was also helmed by an all-female, LGBTQ, and/or person of colour crew. Notable cast members include Monica Helms (creator of the Transgender Pride Flag) and Skyler Jay (Season 2 of Queer Eye).

Benjamin Scheuer‘s «I Am Samantha» are one of the challengers to the LGBTQ Music Chart this week, so if you want it get on the chart – you need to vote here.