Samara Cyn’s ‘Go Touch Grass’ Playlist: A Digital Detox and the Path to Artistic Mastery

Rising hip-hop artist Samara Cyn has unveiled an exclusive playlist, ‘Go Touch Grass,’ coinciding with her feature on The Cover, a weekly series dedicated to showcasing emerging global talent. The playlist offers a glimpse into the artist’s influences and philosophies, mirroring the themes explored in her recent EP, ‘Detour,’ and her commitment to mindful living.

Cyn’s inclusion in The Cover series highlights her growing prominence in the music landscape. The initiative, a cornerstone of emerging artist support, provides a platform for musicians like Cyn to connect with a wider audience. You can delve deeper into Cyn’s artistic journey and creative process by reading her full profile here.

A Playlist Born From Disconnection

‘Go Touch Grass’ isn’t merely a collection of songs; it’s an extension of Cyn’s advocacy for disconnecting from the digital world. Last year, she hosted a “Digital Detox” event in Los Angeles, inviting fans to a phone-free gathering centered around analog activities like vinyl listening, Lego building, and candle making. The event, coinciding with the first anniversary of her EP ‘The Drive Home,’ deliberately eschewed social media documentation. “There was a push for that, obviously,” Cyn recounted, “People were asking, ‘Are you sure you don’t want to capture this?’ I was like, ‘Can we just give this space and enjoy it for ourselves?’”

The playlist itself reflects this ethos, blending diverse genres and artists – including Sales, Christina Aguilera, Crumb, Willow, and Florence + The Machine – creating a sonic landscape that encourages presence and reflection. Listen to the full playlist on Apple Music and Spotify.

Did You Know?: The concept of a “digital detox” has roots in the early 2000s, gaining traction as concerns about technology’s impact on mental health and well-being grew. Verywell Mind offers a comprehensive overview of the practice and its benefits.

The ‘Detour’ and the Long Road to an Album

Cyn’s latest EP, ‘Detour,’ released on March 20th, represents another step in her artistic evolution. She views each release – EPs and singles alike – as building blocks, honing her skills in preparation for a full-length album. “All of my EPs and songs are contributing to a skillset that the first album is going to master,” she explains. “Rushing into things doesn’t benefit artists.”

Cyn draws inspiration from the careers of established artists who embraced the “mixtape phase” before releasing their debut albums. She cites Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Drake, and Tyler, the Creator as examples of artists who benefited from a period of experimentation and refinement. What does this patient approach say about the current music industry’s pressure for instant gratification? And how does Cyn balance artistic integrity with the demands of a fast-paced market?

Pro Tip:

Share this article with your friends and join the conversation in the comments below! What are your thoughts on Samara Cyn’s music and her approach to digital wellness?