At the age of 21, singer Samora decided to dive into music as a career. Originally from Suriname, she enrolled in the Pop Academy in the Netherlands to get professional training.

Today, she resides in Switzerland, a country she says has embraced reggae and dancehall for years.

“Growing up in Suriname, I was surrounded by a whole range of music genres, from traditional Surinamese music to gospel, but also Jamaican music like reggae and dancehall. However, my preference is dancehall. In the beginning, I mainly listened to dancehall artists like Buju Banton and Patra, but later I also discovered reggae artists. You could hear their music every day from a stereo on a street corner, so I automatically got to know the wide variety of Jamaican artistes,” Samora shared in an interview with Observer Online on Thursday.

She spoke about the reggae scene in Switzerland.

“There is a resurgent group of people who listen to reggae music. There was certainly an even bigger movement maybe 15-20 years ago, but slowly the listeners are coming back. There are some wonderful festivals here where reggae has a permanent place in the line-up,” Samora reasoned.

Switzerland has a number of reggae festivals. Two of the more popular ones include Lakesplash (scheduled for July 11 in Twann) and Reeds Festival (which takes place July 18-20 in Pfaffikon).

“I live and work in the Swiss capital Bern, where my producers are also based. Like everywhere else, it’s not easy to get fans back into clubs and festivals after the covid pandemic but the fan base is growing. We are taking it step by step and are happy about every successful gig,” said Samora, who also pointed out that her reggae and dancehall songs are gaining acceptance on radio in Switzerland.

“My music is often played on the radio here; I get support from my loyal fans and some of my latest songs have topped the iTunes Reggae charts in Switzerland. So, things are going more than well!” she said.

Samora recently collaborated with Jamaican recording artiste Yeza for the song Mind No More. It was recorded during her first visit to Jamaica in 2024.

“I was looking for interesting musicians and singers for my “Collaboration” album – and there are just too many of them, by the way. But Yeza’s energy and her musical expression appealed to me, so I asked her if she would be up for a collaboration. And the chemistry was right straight away. When we met in Jamaica last year, we immediately had a good vibe and a lot of fun in the studio,” said Samora.

She also collaborated with Jamaican reggae artistes Chuck Fenda, Natty King and Turbulence.

Asked what was it that inspired the song Mind No More, she said: “There are so many negative things that happen all the time that sometimes you have to pull yourself together to find positives in the world. But let’s be honest – if we focus on our strengths and recognize what we are capable of, so much is achievable. That’s what this song is about. Worry a little less about all the things that bring you down and celebrate your life and your successes. That’s the only thing that will get you there.”

Mind No More, which was released on April 4, was produced by Swiss producers Ludovic Hoarau and Res Staudenmann.

Said Samora: “I want to make music, I want to create art that appeals to many people but also awakens (self-)awareness and (self-)consciousness. Ever since I came into contact with music as a little girl, I have enjoyed different styles. That’s why I love experimenting with different genres and combining the countless influences I come across into my own musical mix.”