New Music Monday: Sammus

Photo credit: Dirty Souf Yankee

We highlight new music from female-fronted bands every Monday. This week, check out a brand-new video from rapper and producer Sammus.

You won’t find a more proudly nerdy rapper than Sammus: her stage name is a reference to a character from the video game Metroid and she often uses music from classic video games as the base for her beats (she broke down her song-making process on the Geek Girls episode of our Popaganda podcast). “1080p,” the first single off her forthcoming EP, feels like a musical shift—the song has only one reference to Mario that I heard and, instead, tackles heavy issues around mental health. The video for the single follows Sammus on a regular day as she navigates her music career, grad school, and friendships, including a trip to see a counselor. The lyrics speak to the importance of self-care and prioritizing mental health amid a busy life. “Now I see the past with some clarity / Glad I took my ass to some therapy,” she sings. That’s a line I’m sure to find myself repeating—among a million songs about heartbreak and sadness, it’s rare to hear one that speaks so honestly about the importance of reaching out for help.

Sammus’ EP comes out in March from NuBlack Music Group. Check out more of her music right here.