For nearly a decade, fans have known Samantha Gongol as one-half of the sultry, beat-driven duo Marian Hill. But now, the powerhouse vocalist is stepping into her own spotlight with her first-ever solo EP Flash in the Pan! — and trust us, this project proves she’s so much more than just “the voice” of your favorite alt-pop hits.
“This EP has had so many iterations,” Samantha tells Celeb Secrets in our exclusive interview. “I started working on it five years ago, and then COVID happened and everything fell apart. I finally was like, ‘if I don’t do it now, I’m never going to do it.’ So I stopped putting the pressure on myself to make it perfect and just put it out.”
The result? An eight-track collection that is raw, theatrical, and refreshingly personal. From the cheeky shimmer of “American Boy” to the aching melancholy of “Planes Are Low,” Gongol paints with a broader palette than ever before. The project’s title track leans into the highs and lows of show business, blending tongue-in-cheek sadness with undeniable sparkle. “Some people reached out and said the song was so sad, and I’m like — it’s supposed to be,” Samantha laughs. “It’s like Robyn’s ‘Dancing On My Own.’ There’s this bittersweetness, but it’s also a banger.”
As a solo artist, Gongol is relishing the freedom to explore sounds that didn’t quite fit under the Marian Hill umbrella. “I think the most freeing part has been confusing some of my own stories into the music,” she explains. “It feels more personal. I could explore sonically without worrying about staying in one lane.”
That exploration includes pop, singer-songwriter ballads, a hint of country, and even a Marian Hill-style cut (“Whiplash,” produced by longtime collaborator Jeremy Lloyd). “There’s a little something for everyone,” Samantha says. “I got tired of putting myself in a box and just decided to release whatever I felt like.”
Flash in the Pan! isn’t just an EP — it’s a whole world. Alongside the music, Samantha dropped a six-part web series of the same name, co-created with her brother Tommy. The semi-autobiographical project follows a once-rising pop star returning to her childhood bedroom at 35, grappling with questions of identity, creativity, and what it means when your “moment” might have passed.
Much like the EP, the series is playful yet poignant, embracing imperfections. “For so long, I was obsessed with looking perfect on camera,” Samantha admits. “But this was about letting go — bad angles, bad lighting, whatever. Humans are three-dimensional.”
At its heart, Flash in the Pan! is a fearless reflection on what it means to grow up in an industry that often glorifies youth. “You can’t fake authenticity, and you can’t fake youth,” Samantha says candidly. “As you get older, you just have to lean into who you are and stop trying to be cool. That’s where the real artistry is.”
It’s a sentiment that resonates with anyone navigating their thirties — the uncertainty, the comparisons, the questioning of timelines. Samantha sums it up best: “There’s no correct timeline. We can achieve anything at any age.”
While live performances haven’t been locked in yet, Gongol teases that she’d love to bring the project to the stage — even if the idea is “terrifying.” In the meantime, she’s embracing creativity in all forms, from writing new music to continuing her work in film and storytelling.
“If I could write a letter to my 2015 self, I’d tell her to hang on, have fun, and say yes to everything,” Samantha shares. “The stakes are never as high as you think they are.”
With Flash in the Pan!, Samantha Gongol isn’t just proving she can stand on her own — she’s showing us the beauty of evolving, experimenting, and refusing to be defined by a single chapter. And if this is just the beginning? Consider us obsessed.
For more on Samantha’s music and Flash in the Pan!, make sure to watch our full interview below… and don’t forget to let us know which song is your fav by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity.
