SAMI FONG "SONG SPOTLIGHT" SERIES LAUNCH
'Smoke & Mirrors' is track #3 from my self-titled EP! I am excited to share the story behind why I wrote it:
When writing 'Smoke & Mirrors,' I was influenced by Taylor Swift's catchy pop lyrics and One Republic's pop/rock style of layering multiple guitars and mixing big organic drums with synthetic sounds. This song tells the story of those who conceal themselves behind a facade, while their true identity is revealed by looking in a mirror. This parallels the dynamics that I have seen with people who try to hide their true self. Their reasons for hiding behind a "mask" may vary, including seeking approval, burying insecurities, and anxiety about public judgement. However, no matter how hard they try to suppress their true colors, a mirror will always expose what they have tried to cover up. After spending so much time trying to hide their flaws, this facade will become their poison and they will lose themselves. With this song, I am trying to spread the message that one does not need to hide behind the "smoke" and lose themselves because they are not alone.
Thank you for reading this and I hope you have a chance to listen to the EP!
- Sami Fong
MY INSPIRATIONS
I was inspired to play guitar from listening to artists such as Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, and John Mayer. At 11 years old, I began making arrangements of blues and classic rock songs ranging from the '60s to '80s. I also performed with a loop pedal to create my own rhythm section to do guitar solos. It was during that time and throughout high school, I began to listen to pop, rock, and the top 40 charts music. I never sang because I was too self-conscious of my voice. The only time I ever recalled singing was to the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC when I was five because my teenage cousins had their cassette tapes blasting. However, towards the end of my junior year in high school, I finally wanted to try singing. My best friend was a singer and we would perform occasionally as a duo where I would accompany her with my guitar. It was during that time I gained the courage to sing with her in front of an audience. After conquering my fear of singing, I became more passionate about songwriting once I heard Ed Sheeran's "Give Me Love." I also admired Ryan Tedder and Sara Bareilles' music and songwriting. I've learned to not let fears hold me back from creating and expressing ourselves because sometimes we have to take risks. We're capable of a lot of things when we try!