“Samantha amazes with her ability to weave captivating stories in melody and rhyme. She breathes life into characters and situations one remembers long after the song has ended.”
— Danny Faragher, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (Ringo Starr, Peppermint Trolley Company, Camper Van Beethoven)
ON THE RADIO
Hootenanny Cafe Radio Show, Sunday, May 17, 2026
Samantha Elin will be the featured artist of the Mini Concert on the Hootenanny Cafe Radio Show, hosted by the venerable Jon Stein. Tune in locally to 93.5 FM WBTQ in Orange County, New York, and 98.3 FM WGHT in NYC and North Jersey, from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PT. No matter where you are, you can catch the show at wbtq.com. The show will also air on Thurs., May 21, and Fri., May 22, at 10 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. PT, on bellbuckleradio.com. Find out more at hootenannycafe.com, where you'll find performer bios and archived recordings of past shows.
Photo by Kristin Conrad
A Tale of New Ditties
They are the seekers, the dreamers, men and women with hearts full of longing for something or someone. They chase memories and illusions, sometimes teetering between hope and despair, but their persistence wears on. These ordinary but somehow grand characters reside in Samantha Elin's songs, amidst a musical landscape of alternately catchy and somber folk, country, pop, rock, blues, and styles in between. A California-based songwriter, Samantha's songs are brought to life by some of L.A.'s top session and live players, e.g., John Palmer (Chuck Berry, Wanda Jackson); Bob Gothar (Micky Dolenz, J.D. Souther); Don Heffington (Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris); Danny Faragher (Ringo Starr, Camper Van Beethoven); and Dan McNamara (Brian Wilson, Roger McGuinn). She sings some songs herself and has turned to some of the best - like Nicole Gordon, Hirth Martinez, and John Cowsill - for others.
Albums
Late Bloomer
Samantha Elin
Story songs about characters with big dreams, trapped by their memories and lost in their illusions. Set against a deliciously melodic backdrop - from '60s folk-pop to anthem rock to Tin Pan Alley to blues. Sung by Samantha and guest vocalists.
CLICK ON AN ALBUM COVER TO PURCHASE MP3s.
Blue Plate Special
Samantha Elin
A long, tall drink of eclectic country and folk with a twist of irony and thoughtful lyrics in an infectiously catchy blend. Samantha is joined by some of L.A.'s best vocalists, including the Beach Boys' John Cowsill.
Wistful songs of times long gone, songs of mourning over failing relationships and story songs, "Blue Plate Special" isn't pure country and it isn't pure folk. It lies somewhere in the hinterlands, crossing the borders into bluegrass and '70s folk-pop.