JD Samson

JD Samson is a musician/producer/artist living in Brooklyn. She is one third of feminist punk band Le Tigre and lead singer of the band MEN. She currently teaches at the Clive Davis School of Recorded music at NYU. You can follow her on Twitter here.

Bio

JD Samson was born August 4, 1978, in Cleveland, OH, under the name is of Jocelyn Samson. She dresses in an androgynous way and has become synonomous with Kathleen Hanna's feminist electropunk band Le Tigre. Growing up in Cleveland's suburb Pepper Pike, Ohio and attended Orange High School, she came out as a lesbian at 15 years old. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY in '00 with a degree in film. Samson joined Le Tigre after college, as a replacement for Sadie Benning. She had previously worked as the band's projectionist. Associated with The New England Roses, Dykes Can Dance, Peaches' live band, The Herms with Radio Sloan and Samantha Maloney. In 2006, Samson worked with Junior Senior for their song "Can I Get Get Get". JD was in LT's "Viz," which portrays her experiences as a member of a sexual minority. And in 2004, New York Times music writer Kelefa Sanneh made a reference about her, by sating she was "an icon of nerdy cool." Other things: 2003:'JD's Lesbian Calendar', a collaboration with photographer Cass Bird. 2006:'JD's Lesbian Utopia' Samson's travels around the U.S. in an RV. 2007: JD and Johanna Fateman are working in their next project 'men' She appeared in John Cameron Mitchell's Shortbus. Samson is currently dating musician Sia Fuhler. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Talks

Tune-Yards Is Addressing What It Is to Be a “Colonizer”

By JD Samson | January 30, 2018

Tune-Yards Is Addressing What It Is to Be a “Colonizer”

I can feel you creep into my private life grapples with the inherent racism of whiteness.

JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) Talks Enya’s Dark Sky Island

By JD Samson | November 20, 2015

JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) Talks Enya’s Dark Sky Island

Our writer felt like an outsider while listening to this record, but she’d love to do a remix.

JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) Talks the Go! Team’s The Scene Between

By JD Samson | April 8, 2015

JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) Talks the Go! Team’s The Scene Between

JD Samson loves the new Go! Team album, but she has some issues with its press campaign.

JD Samson (MEN, Le Tigre) Talks Tensnake’s Glow

By JD Samson | March 11, 2014

JD Samson (MEN, Le Tigre) Talks Tensnake’s Glow

Tensnake is a man who makes dance music. And, quite humbly, he makes the music dance too. He’s a man who gives respect to those for whom it is due:

JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) Talks CocoRosie’s Tales of a Grass Widow

By JD Samson | May 27, 2013

JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) Talks CocoRosie’s Tales of a Grass Widow

This isn't my first review of a CocoRosie record. I have sat alone with my best headphones and thought. Just like this. And I have choreographed...

JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) Talks Bat For Lashes’ The Haunted Man

By JD Samson | April 3, 2013

JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) Talks Bat For Lashes’ The Haunted Man

I could write this piece like a fellow musician, producer, woman, or feminist, or just your average music listener. And probably, I will end up...