A QUICK INTRODUCTION & HELLO THERE

I’m wondering how you found me, but so glad you did!

A little bit of background: My name is Sam Connour. (Formally, Samantha.) (Sammi to a handful of renegades). I hail from North Dakota, but call Chicago home. I have a fabulous teenager who groans when I tell her I’ve learned the term “cottage core” and begs me not to join TikTok. My 10 year old thinks I give the best hugs and doesn’t like my cooking. My husband is the better cook, better at adulting in general, and our favorite walking, bearded, red-flannel-ed encyclopedia of 60s and 70s rock and dad jokes. My idea of fun is turning any activity into some version of a treasure hunt (thrift stores, garage sales, books, the internet...), and singing with friends like DPCD is one of my great joys.

I’ve been quietly writing music for some time, but until recently have only shared songs I’ve written for others to sing. (Currently gathering and recording that catalog of church music - stay tuned!) I grew up in the pews every Sunday morning, every Sunday night, Wednesday night, and the occasional revival meeting, puppet team practice, Carmen concert... (Overchurched and underpaid, amiright?? 😂 I kid, I kid!) All to say, I’m very much at home sitting behind the piano with a hymnbook. And despite theological wanderings, church heartbreaks, and being baffled by much of evangelicalism at large - - Jesus still has a hold of me. I can’t unsee the hope of right-making resurrection life and haven’t found anything like the comfort of a suffering Savior. 

I also write a lot of what I’ll call “working-it-out” music that doesn’t fit in the sacred music world and I’ve had a heap to work out these last few years: widowhood, parenting two small kids through grief, dating in midlife, remarriage (to my inimitable love, Old Man Kozy), the journey of our still-blending family, miscarriage, heart surgery, a weird blood disorder… I’ll stop while I’m ahead. The obvious work has been heavy and heaving. The unexpected gains have been rich in friendship and new sight.

Fast forward, and here we are - - - > All together in 2020, living through a pandemic and something of a national about-face. Although my musical working-it-out experiences have been deeply personal, I’d like to think my songs carry with them something of a resonating note that can ring with your own experience of this beautiful and broken life here.

And it is so very beautiful, right?? I think so. ♥️

- Sam

PS - Melanoma sucks. Mind your moles.

FAQs

Where can I listen to your music?

“St. Fleming of Advent” is available for purchase on Bandcamp (along with songsheets!) and can be found on all streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, and Soundcloud. (Actual, physical, real-life CDs will be available fall of 2021!)

How can I support your music?

Well, so nice of you to ask! It costs a chunk of change to do all this, and doesn’t make much. (And let’s be honest, we all listen on streaming anyways!) If you’d like to help me continue making music you can enjoy, you can find my “tip jar” here: https://paypal.me/losylo.

If you aren’t able to donate, following me on social media and sharing with friends is a huge help. Share a post, comment, like on whatever social media platforms you use.

Are you available for hire?

Yes! I am available for weddings, funerals, Sunday morning worship services, retreats, etc. (Maybe don’t book me for your dance party though.) Feel free to shoot me an email. You can also find my resume here.

How can I support female songwriters?

Wow - I’m so impressed with this question! You obviously already know that female representation in the music world is dismal, whether in the church or out of it. Making a point to listen to, promote, share, and fund female artists goes a long way. Speaking of which, here are a few friends of mine:

- A.K. Bueno (painter)
- Micah Ruelle (poet)
- more recommendations coming soon!