Sam Quealy: "I love feeding off the energy in the room"

Photo Credit: CAPRICE

Born in Australia and now based in Paris, Sam Quealy is a composer, songwriter, and performer who crafts a unique world where TECHNOPOP, anarchic pop, and hyper-feminine chaos collide. Her debut album Blonde Venus introduced a fiercely original universe—dark, volatile, and theatrical—shaped by her roots in cabaret, ballet, and global performance. With her sophomore album "JAWBREAKER" (out January 30), Sam expands this vision, amplifying the sweetness, danger, and maximalism at the core of her sound. A multidisciplinary artist, she blends choreography, fashion, and persona into a singular aesthetic. Onstage, Quealy transforms into a high-voltage force—part showgirl, part rock star, part otherworldly creature—channeling raw energy through storytelling and unapologetic presence. Her work defies convention, offering a world of glamorous anarchy where vulnerability and spectacle merge.

Your new album "JAWBREAKER" feels like an intense emotional journey between sweetness and chaos. How did you translate these contrasting emotions into your music and performances?

JAWBREAKER comes from a constant push and pull I feel between hardness and softness. On the outside it sounds tough, aggressive, and confrontational, but inside there is sweetness, vulnerability, and a real need for connection and love. 

Musically, I translated that by leading with harder, more chaotic sounds, distorted synths  and balancing them with pop melodies, disco influences, and emotional moments. In performance, I fully embody that contrast. I can come across as a p*ssy c**nty b**ch …. or super tough … or playful …depends on the song / mood . 

With such a diverse background in cabaret, ballet, and global performance, how do these multidisciplinary experiences shape your aesthetic and the way you create your sonic and visual world?

Music always comes first, but as soon as a song takes shape, I start imagining its physical and visual world. Performance is my foundation. Ballet gave me discipline, cabaret taught me exaggeration and character, and performing around the world showed me that identity is fluid. I do not separate sound, movement, or visuals. They all come from the same place and work together to create a complete universe.

You draw on influences from the ’80s and ’90s, including disco, gabber, and Eurodance. How do you blend nostalgia with a modern edge to create such a unique and contemporary sound?

Yeah, I’m really inspired by the 80s, and 90s. I just take inspiration from  the things I think are fun from those eras and do them my own way. I honestly don’t overthink it. Growing up in Australia, I’ve always loved Eurodance … there’s something wild and ridiculous about it.  I just like making music that makes people want to dance, or run toward something, or run away from something… if that makes sense.

Your album explores themes of love, loneliness, power, and healing. Is there a particular track that feels especially personal to you or marks a turning point in your artistic journey?

Definitely Love Fountain . It’s the closing track of the album and I almost didn’t include it at first because it’s so far from anything I’ve done before. But I wanted to show a softer, more sincere side of myself, and there’s even a little "Franglaise" in there. I wrote it on the omnichord, which made it sound almost childlike, and I think that adds to its charm. 

Your live performances are known for being immersive, combining music, dance, and fashion. How do you prepare a show to maintain that "badass", anarchic energy that defines your presence on stage?

Honestly I do not overthink it. Onstage I feel a little possessed like I could black out and I love feeding off the energy in the room. My shows are all about fun and escape a place where everyone can just let go for a moment. I combine music dance and fashion because that is naturally who I am and it all comes together to create that chaotic badass energy.

Photo Credit: CAPRICE

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