Samantha Cooper (Sam, she/her) became one of over 900 defendants in the struggle to stop line 3 (93) this past summer. She was invited to stand with Indigenous leaders upholding their treaty rights and protecting the natural resources guaranteed to them under federal law. 

Her nonviolent attempt to help honor the treaties resulted in a misdemeanor charge, which she will challenge in court with her co-defendants.

Please consider donating to The Center For Protest Law & Litigation - Line 3 Rapid Response Fund: https://www.protestlaw.org/line3

After spending a month in northern Minnesota, Sam created an interpolation of a song called “Tomorrow” by Miner. Her latest video single is a love note to the rights of manoomin (wild rice) movement: 

“Let The Wave” features Frank Bibeau - the Attorney in a historic rights of manoomin case unfolding in Minnesota right now. This track also features Shara Nova (My Brightest Diamond), Jaike Spotted Wolff (Camp Migizi), Holly T. Bird (Attorney and Co-Executive Director Of Title Track) Dan Rickabus (State Of Water Podcast), Seth Bernard (Title Track Founder), and Bryan Heany (37.ENT).

STREAMING EVERYWHERE NOW (link in bio).
Full credits in comments & YouTube vid.

Sam edited this video with Jon Stegenga (Humanizing Through Story) and Nathan Wright (MackinawOde). This video single was made possible in part by a grant from the Kalamazoo Arts Council. Samantha Cooper owns 25% of this interpolation; any proceeds will be donated to @protestlaw

This was made to honor the  water protectors from RISE Coalition, Honor The Earth, Welcome Water Protector Center, Red Lake Treaty Camp, Camp Migizi, Giniw Collective, Stop The Money Pipeline, MackinawOde, Native Roots Radio, Friends Of The Headwaters, The Bay Mills Indian Community, MI Cats, Bad River Band, Up Hell’s Creek, Indigenous Environmental Network, MN350, Kalamazoo Remembers, Great Lakes Water Protectors, Oil & Water Don’t Mix and beyond. 

Special thanks to Lee Sprague, Yebishawn Oldshield, Daniel Hinmon, Kara Wiltstone, Bia, Nathan Wright and Gerardo Reyes for showing me the rice ropes, and for sharing your joy in this video. 

#StopTheMoneyPipeline #COP26 #StopLine3 #ShutDownLine5NoTunnel #WaterIsLife #RightsOfManoomin #RightsOfNature #WeAreAllTreatyPeople #FrankBibeau #HollyTBird #JaikeSpottedWolf #SharaNova #SamanthaCooper #EarthworkMusic

Let The Wave (feat. Shara Nova, Jaike Spotted Wolf, Holly T. Bird & Frank Bibeau) - Samantha Cooper

I made this on my phone with office chair drums on a free multitrack app. #cathartic👂with 🎧 

🙏🏻 to my friend Anna Lemler (@unfurlandrewild on Instagram) for encouraging me to flesh out this song, and for adding it to the Ceasefire Chorus Toolkit — a political ed. resource that includes songs to support direct actions and move us through our grief.

Bit.ly/ceasefirechorustoolkit

*@unfurlandrewild and @roottorisesomatics also just released a Somatic (body based) zine/resource to support the student encampment mvmt* 

Now! by Samantha Cooper

1st Vocal Loop: (1st note: Ab)
16 beat vocal/inst melody 

2nd Vocal Loop: (Bb, B, Db, Bb)
“mm mm mm mmmm” 

A Part Lyrics: (1st note B)
We need - a ceasefire now!
We need - divestment now!
We need - boycotts and sanctions now!
You need - to let the aid in now!

B Part ooo’s: (1st note B)
ooo’s X4

#songcircle #ceasefirechorus #solidaritysongs #stoptheoccupation

Follow @sammacooper, @solidaritysongs and @ceasefirechorus on Instagram for more songs like this!

Now!

Video for Old Man Winter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vkBQOew3N8

Purchase or stream the "Old Man Winter" single here:
samanthacooper.bandcamp.com/

Video by Cam Tarnas: ctarnas.com

www.samanthacooper.org
www.earthworkmusic.com/artists-ind?=1032

Samantha Cooper: Vocals 
Adam Danis: Drums 
Graham Parsons: Guitar 
Tod Kloosterman: Upright Bass 
Additional musicians include: 
Brandon Cooper (The Great Brandini): Trumpet 
Andy Catlin: Keys and Organ 
Ben Lau: Pedal Steel 

This track was recorded at the Double Phelix Studio.
The trumpet was recorded at Troubadour Recording Studios. 
This track was mixed and mastered by Ben Lau.
The artist was supported by the Double Phelix and Earthwork Music Collectives.

Old Man Winter

I'm no holiday curmudgeon, but I do like rewrites. And I’ve found this sentiment to be both true and under-represented in holiday genre-land: "It’s the most triggering time. It can be a wonderful time! But bear in mind- it can be a rough ride; this time of year.

The Most Wonderful Time Parody – Samantha Cooper 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year 
For some it is jolly but others can’t rally from forcible cheer. 
While the same ten or so songs clang in your ears. 

It’s the shit showiest season of all. 
When over appeasing and unresolved grieving loom under it all. 
And the poor fragile empaths think it’s their fault; observe not absorb. 

There’ll be high expectations with dwindling patience and magical thinking to boot. 
There’ll be family staycations with low dose relations and elephants stuck in the room. 

Instrumental 

The earth will not requite there’s dwindling daylight and seasonal sadness is real. 
There’s despondent widows and entitled kiddos who chafe at your Achilles heel. 

It’s the most triggering time. It can be a wonderful time! 
But bear in mind- it can be a rough ride; this time of year.

Released December 23, 2016 
Original Song written by Edward Pola & George Wyle in 1963 
Rewritten & rearranged by Samantha Cooper 
Guitar, Violin, Vocals: Samantha Cooper 
Piano: Bennett Young 
Drums: Adam Danis 
Saxophone: Jarad Selner (Sasquatch!) 
Bass: Joel Pixley-Fink 
Audio Engineering: Joel Pixley-Fink, East Paterson Studios 
Audio Mastering: Ben Lau, Rhino Media 
Video Shoot & Editing: Ken Campbell

The Most Wonderful Time Parody - Samantha Cooper

Here’s a song I wrote for you snow mavens. It took a few winters and a lot of friends, but we made it into a video single too:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ov-Tg8-jo4
This song is now beaming on all streaming platforms! 🚀

Snowsuit - Samantha Cooper

Samantha Cooper’s voice is a gentle force. Her songs speak for their sound; from contemplative respites to keen PSA’s. Her latest singles include a divestment song for Gaza "Now!", and a love note to the rights of manoomin (wild rice) called "Let The Wave". Sam's voice and violin appear on over 75 Midwestern albums and she's one half of Hearth & Hymn. She works for Youth Arts Alliance and co-organizes grassroots water rights initiatives throughout Michigan. 

Genre: Songwriter and organizer; a gentle force

“Wit and wisdom wrapped in a blanket" 
- Will Thomas, WNMC Radio

Samantha Cooper

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