Samara Cyn: Navigating Music and Digital Detox in a Complex World

Los Angeles-based rapper Samara Cyn is gaining recognition for her lyrical hip-hop and neo-soul sound, alongside a conscious effort to balance artistic growth with mindful disconnection from the digital world. Featured on NME’s “The Cover” on March 23, 2026, Cyn discusses her latest EP, “Detour,” and her approach to navigating the music industry.

A “Try New Things Era”

Cyn describes her current period as a “try new things era,” extending beyond music into personal exploration. She’s recently taken up bungee fitness, a high-intensity workout involving press-ups and burpees while suspended in a harness, as well as bedazzling and pottery. This adventurous spirit is reflected in her music, which she describes as a sharp and potent mix of lyrical and neo-soul.

“Detour” and the Album Horizon

Her recently released EP, “Detour” (March 20, 2026), is part of a larger artistic process. Cyn emphasizes the importance of building a skillset through EPs and mixtapes before releasing a full album, drawing parallels to the early careers of artists like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Drake, and Tyler, the Creator. She believes this deliberate approach will result in an “incredible” debut album.

Digital Detox and Community

Cyn actively encourages mindful engagement with the physical world. Last year, she hosted a “Digital Detox” event in Los Angeles, inviting fans to disconnect from their phones and engage in analog activities like playing vinyl records, building Legos, and making candles. Notably, the event was intentionally not documented for social media, prioritizing genuine connection and presence. “There was a push for that, obviously,” she noted, “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 Cover Series and NME’s Commitment

Samara Cyn is part of NME’s “The Cover” series, a weekly feature dedicated to supporting emerging musical talent globally. NME produces 50 Cover stories annually, and has compiled a coffee table book, NME The Cover 2024-2025, showcasing featured artists like Kneecap, Lola Young, Amaarae, THE SERAPHIM, and Oklou.

Samara Cyn’s Playlist: ‘Travel Touch Grass’

To accompany her feature, Cyn curated a playlist titled ‘Go Touch Grass’ available on Spotify and Apple Music. The playlist includes tracks by artists such as Sales, Christina Aguilera, Crumb, Willow, and Florence + The Machine.