Dust off your boots and cue the cinematic strings — there’s a new cowgirl in country music and she’s riding in bold.
Meet Sam Stoane, the Nashville-based, California-raised singer-songwriter who’s making waves with her debut album Tales of the Dark West, out now via Cloverdale Records. A little bit outlaw, a little bit ethereal, and a whole lot of authentic, Sam’s sound is pure western noir magic — think 1883 meets the Mane Stage at Stagecoach.
The 13-track project plays like a motion picture soundtrack to the life of a modern-day cowgirl: you’ve got dusty saloons, haunting alleyways, sepia-toned memories, and more than one story that’ll leave your jaw on the floor. It’s gritty, gorgeous, and grounded in truth — and we couldn’t wait to dig into all the juicy behind-the-scenes details.
Luckily, Sam caught up with Celeb Secrets Country to spill on the real stories that inspired her most cinematic songs, the horse she actually chose over a man (iconic), and what today’s cowgirl really sounds like.
So grab your hat and ride along as we get to know Sam Stoane — in her own words.
Celeb Secrets Country: Can you tell us more about who you are and how you became the artist you are now?
Sam Stoane: “I’m from the West originally and have been living in Nashville for 9 years. I think the longer I’ve been here, the more I’ve come to appreciate my upbringing and roots. Having that appreciation, rather than mirroring culture around me, has molded me into the person I am, which in turn has really shaped my sound as an artist to what it is today. I love to create art out of my life experience, the culture I come from, and the history that stems from that.”
CSC: You’re giving country noir meets Hollywood western energy on this album. If Tales of the Dark West were a movie, what would the opening scene look like — and who’s playing you?
Sam Stoane: “Thank you! The opening scene would probably feel rugged and gritty; content with being on your own. If I close my eyes while the Intro to the record plays, I see myself horseback in the middle of nowhere, out West, with the warm dusty wind on my face, riding the sagebrush. I often say that this record kind of reminds me of the series 1883 in some ways, so with that in mind, I’d probably say the character of Elsa (Isabel May) is playing me.”
CSC: Let’s set the record straight — what’s one “tale” from your own dark west that fans wouldn’t believe is true?
Sam Stoane: “There’s several, honestly. Calico Coal is weaved together based on true stories and true characters (Lucy Lane). Pretty Poppies gives a Thelma and Louise kind of energy and it’s a total tale lol. But the story that catches my attention and most often the attention of listeners, is Dead Man’s Alley. The story of two women that took over an old pharmacy and turned it into a brothel. I was inspired by an alleyway in Memphis and that’s where the title came to me. It was meant to just be a spooky story about meeting an old woman on a train way back when, until we discovered the story behind Earnestine and Hazels. The story was already headed in the direction of a ‘red light district,’ so it was easy to pivot and make it one big, cohesive story. However, we didn’t originally intend to write it the way we did. But I would say that is probably the smoothest ‘novel’ type of song on the record. I am eager to make a music video out of it some day.”
CSC: You’ve said this record is a perfect depiction of who you are. So… if we had to sum up Sam Stoane with one lyric from the album, what would it be?
Sam Stoane: “Oof. This depends because I have a very rough and tough exterior, however, I also have a very kind, soft and tender side that’s not open to everyone. So these are my top two picks… ‘When the morning comes, I’ll be back on the road. And by the afternoon I’m halfway to wherever I may roam’ because I’m very free-spirited and this song makes me long for the West. Or, ‘You can bet that a girl from the deep dark west, with a full tank ain’t makin’ empty threats,’ because I mean what I say and I don’t take words lightly. These two songs are also ones that are just incredibly special to me and good glimpses into parts of my character; strong-willed and free-spirited.”
CSC: There’s this beautiful throughline of place and memory across the record. Was there a specific moment — or dusty backroad — where this whole album clicked for you?
Sam Stoane: “There were probably several moments that inspired the crafting of this record, most of them likely to be horseback or with my animals because that’s where I’m most grounded and inspired at the same time. But I think ‘Dead Man’s Alley’ and the spookiness of that song and story helped set the tone and give direction to the record as a whole and what it needed.”
CSC: “Tehachapi” sounds like a love letter wrapped in a windstorm. What inspired that track, and how does it tie into your California roots?
Sam Stoane: “There’s this beautiful dance of independence, grit, and edginess intertwined with something delicate and soft. Qualities that, in my opinion, make up a woman, and speak to me at my core. So, the words to this song have always sat deeply with me. When I’m taking a cover and making it my own, I like to pick songs that resonate or feel authentic to me and my lifestyle. From there, I like adding vocal pieces or melodies that feel like my staples as an artist.”
CSC: You included a cover of “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” — an iconic anthem. What does that song mean to you personally, and how do you make a classic feel like your own?
Sam Stoane: “I grew up ranching with my family every summer in Tehachapi and it was actually my mom who gave me the idea to write a song about it. I cherish and long for those days, but I know they’re long gone and in the past so it’s a bittersweet feeling. The open pastures, tall mountains and valleys, California creeks, free roaming livestock, memories horseback, and quality time around the dinner table every night inspired this song. My mom actually took photos of us in sepia tones and so that last verse is referencing that personally.”
CSC: From ‘Cologne’ to ‘Calico Coal,’ the female perspective is strong, subtle, and sharp on this project. Was it important to you to reclaim or rewrite parts of the western narrative through a woman’s lens?
Sam Stoane: “Yes, I would say so. Countless women before me and this generation paved the way throughout history and it’s important to me to honor that. I’ve said it a few times but I think there’s so much dimension to being a woman and that’s something really beautiful and unique that as women, we should all be honing.”
CSC: You talk a lot about being ‘back in the saddle again.’ When in life did you feel like you had to climb back on, and how did music help you do it?
Sam Stoane: “There’s many things I could reference. Heartbreak, divorce, loss, etc. But honestly, I think especially in this career path, you have to choose everyday to get your butt in the saddle, despite what or who is trending around you and how many ‘no’s’ you hear. I think in a world (and specifically in this industry) that is ever changing and often discouraging, I value holding firm to what I believe in, remaining authentic, and keeping my focus on loving the art behind making music, and that’s what keeps me focused and persevering.”
CSC: We’re obsessed with the line “a good horse and a good dog” — what are your essentials for living the Sam Stoane lifestyle?
Sam Stoane: “I like a pretty simple life. Sitting saddle on the horse of my dreams, watching my dog live his life to the fullest, in beautiful, wide open and tall fields is a dream come true. Living a lifestyle you love really doesn’t require much other than being intentional with your time and who you choose to spend it with and that’s something I don’t take lightly.”
CSC: Which track would you dedicate to your younger self growing up on the ranch — and what would she say hearing it for the first time?
Sam Stoane: “‘When My Time Comes.’ I don’t know what she would say because she was always itching to roam and hit the road. But I know I would tell her to cherish the place she comes from because someday she would long for it, recognize what it instilled in her, and she’d come to value it more than anywhere else she’d end up because of that.”
CSC: You radiate strong, grounded, feminine energy. What’s one thing you want young women listening to this record to take away from it?
Sam Stoane: “Thank you, that means a lot to me! I want women to know how important it is to know who they are, and to never waver in that, but rather stand even more firm in hard or challenging times. And also that strength and tenderness can go hand in hand beautifully.”
CSC: Country music is evolving. What do you think today’s cowgirl looks like, and how does she sound?
Sam Stoane: “Authentic. Unwavering. Steady. Confident. Grounded. Empowering. Kind. Gracious. Consistent, which is something that stands out in an ever evolving world and industry.”
CSC: Tell us a Celeb Secret about the making of Tales of the Dark West — something juicy, funny, or downright wild that fans don’t know (yet).
Sam Stoane: “I think the juiciest it gets with me is probably the story behind Diesel, which may not be a huge secret these days lol. A couple of years ago, I was dating somebody and running barrels with his mom on some of her horses. After about a year and a half, it turned out that wasn’t the relationship for me, so I broke up with that guy. Not long after the breakup, his mom reached out to me to see if I wanted to buy her horse I’d been working with, Diesel. The decision was an easy one but I often tease that I traded the boy for the horse! So, Diesel is not just a story about me stealing some guy’s truck “in the dead of night,” it’s actually about my horse.”
LISTEN TO “TALES OF THE DARK WEST” HERE:
