Samantha Riviera tells her story through songs

There’s a saying that in life, each of us is just an extra in someone else’s play.

Given this narcissistic proclivity, it’s ironic that we sometimes have to look outside in order to find that which allows us to stare squarely into our own soul.

When singer-songwriter Samantha Riviera decided to write a book and release a CD, she did not know if anybody would be interested in what she has to say.

Samantha, after all, has had no previous experience in writing stories and songs. She also did not take up creative writing or music in school, but finished a degree in an entirely different field.

Nevertheless, she went to, as the song goes, “where the brave dare not go” because she was emboldened by the conviction that she has a story to tell, and a damn good one, too.

The results are S.A.M., a semi-autobiographical book, and Soul Sonata, a 10-track CD.

The first, subtitled Chronicles of a Woman Who Lives and Loves, has chapters culled from the author’s blog entries (February-March 2009). S.A.M. tells the story of Sam and Robot and how they fell in love.

Or was it really love? The answer depends on who’s reading it and where that person is coming from.

Like in real life, what the two went through seem predisposed to a certain ending. They are, after all, soul mates.

Yet the story detours unexpectedly whenever the heart ignores the brain. Sounds familiar?

Several showbiz personalities who were given an advanced copy of the book, say that S.A.M., aside from being a compelling read, stirs something within.

Gelli de Belen said that after reading the book, she was reminded that if to be with a certain person is part of God’s plan, nothing can keep you apart.

Alessandra da Rossi, said that S.A.M. makes her want to “find the right man to sing to.”

Even Katrina Halili gave a telling insight on what the book told her: “Masarap magmahal sa tamang tao, at tamang panahon.”

And then there’s the CD, Soul Sonata. Samantha said that like magic, she suddenly found herself writing songs as soon as her soul realized that words were not enough to capture the essence of her story.

Sam even claims to have written five songs in one night — a feat, indeed, considering that before this, Sam cannot even write a verse!

It’s not as if Sam can now write songs on demand. Rather, she thinks that songs “write themselves” whenever there’s truth to be told.

“My songs are about my life that’s why I cannot NOT be truthful. In the end, I hope it will be the same reason people would claim the song as theirs because they hear their own stories in mine,” she said. “Somehow, we are all going through the same things.”

The songs in Soul Sonata were sung by Kris Lawrence, Jenine Desiderio and Japanese-Filipino singer Kaji Wasam. Some of the titles are How Could You, Loving You, Birthday Song, Going With The Flow and the carrier song, I’d Do Anything For You in two versions (acoustic and pop R&B).

Sam is all praises for her singers. She said that they selflessly invested their own creativity and style in interpreting her songs that in so doing, made the songs’ messages even more powerful.

S.A.M. and Soul Sonata were recently launched via a press conference. A free concert titled I’ll Do Anything For You featuring Kris and Jenine was held at the Music Museum last week.