Samara Joy Brings Jazz and Holiday Spirit to West Elm’s First-Ever Brand Campaign

Samara’s Global Tour Continues with Upcoming Stops in Philly, DC, Chicago, Boston and more

Credit: West Elm

NEW YORK, NY — Five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning jazz sensation Samara Joy is featured in West Elm’s first-ever major brand campaign, launching today in celebration of the holiday season. The “next-generation leader in jazz” (Rolling Stone) joins a cast of notable cultural figures including Brooke Shields, Alan Cumming, and others, in a nostalgic and heartwarming series inspired by iconic ’90s holiday ads.

The campaign captures how each personality celebrates the holidays in their own unique way. For Samara, that means gathering with her musical family, infusing every moment with warmth, soul, and song — a reflection of her artistry and deep-rooted love for connection through music.

You can view the campaign video via West Elm’s IG HERE // shop the collection HERE.

At just 25 years old, the jazz vocalist has amassed an extraordinary list of accomplishments: five GRAMMY Awards, her latest studio album Portrait, her first NAACP Image Award, and spots on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and EBONY’s “STAMPED” list of cultural headliners. This year, she made her sold-out Carnegie Hall debut, performed sold out shows all over the world, was featured in ELLE’s Women in Music issue, and even guest starred on Sesame Street. Her Austin City Limits debut premiered on PBS over the weekend. Watch HERE.

Earlier this month, Samara joined The Jennifer Hudson Show to perform “You Stepped Out Of A Dream” from her album Portrait - watch HERE. Essence writes, “With Portrait, the Grammy-winning vocalist paints a picture of artistic independence—one rooted in legacy, faith, and fearless evolution” (read HERE).

You can listen to Portrait, out now on Verve Records, HERE.

Samara’s tour continues through the end of 2025 into 2026, with upcoming stops in Philly, DC, Missouri, Chicago and more. Please see all announced dates below, and for more information please visit https://www.samarajoy.com/. 

 

Samara Joy 2025 Tour Dates

Nov. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Miller Theater 

Nov. 12 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre

Nov. 14 - Carmel, IN - The Palladium

Nov. 15 - Madison, WI - Wisconsin Union Theater 

Nov. 18 - Chesterfield, MO - The Factory

Nov. 19 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

Nov. 21 - St. Paul, MN - The Fitzgerald Theater

Nov. 22 - Kansas City, MO - Folly Theater

Dec. 10 - Boston, MA - Boston Symphony Hall (with Boston Pops)

Jan. 24, 2026 - Grand Cayman - McBride’s World at Sea

Feb, 12, 2026 - Miami, FL - Arsht Center

Feb. 14, 2026 - Tampa, FL - David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts

Feb. 17, 2026 - Melbourne, FL - Maxwell X. King Center for the Performing Arts

Feb 19, 2026 - Naples, FL - Artis

Mar. 25, 2026 - Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Symphony Hall (with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)

March 26, 2026 - Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Symphony Hall (with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)

April 1, 2026 - Dallas, TX - AT&T PAC, Winspear Opera House

April 2, 2026 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater

April 4, 2026 - San Antonio, TX - Tobin Center / HEB Performance Hall

April 9, 2026 - Scottsdale, AZ - Highlights Church, Arizona Musicfest

April 11, 2026 - Las Vegas, NV - The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

May 12, 2026 - Chicago, IL - Symphony Center (with Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

May 16, 2026 - New York, NY - Geffen Hall (with New York Philharmonic)

 

About Samara Joy

A native of the Bronx, Samara Joy became entranced by classic R&B as a child and cut her teeth as a singer in her church’s gospel choir. And while her family history is deeply musical — her grandparents helmed the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father, the musician and songwriter Antonio McLendon, has produced, composed and arranged his own astounding original work — she didn’t delve into the jazz tradition until college at SUNY Purchase. During her studies there she won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, which introduced her to the larger jazz scene as a rising star to watch. She was heard, by audiences and critics alike, as a masterful interpreter of jazz standards and a rightful heiress of the sound, technique and charisma that defined her jazz heroines — including Vaughan, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln and Carmen McRae.

Joy released her self-titled debut on the Whirlwind label in 2021, followed a year later by Linger Awhile, her breakout Verve debut, of which DownBeat said, “With this beautiful recording, a silky-voiced star is born.” The album earned her a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album in addition to a headline-making win for Best New Artist. A deluxe edition of the album was released, as well as the EP A Joyful Holiday, which won two Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance (“Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” feat. Sullivan Fortner).

Her latest Verve album, Portrait, which Joy co-produced with the veteran trumpeter/bandleader and multi-Grammy winner Brian Lynch, showcases the intimate, soulful chemistry she’s developed with her touring band. Portrait also spotlights her burgeoning gifts as a lyricist, in ingenious arrangements that meld her thoughtful words with music by Charles Mingus, Sun Ra and her late mentor Barry Harris. 

 

Connect with Samara Joy:

Website / TikTok / Instagram / Facebook

 

Press Contacts:

Allison Elbl (Shore Fire) - aelbl@shorefire.com 

Taylor Perry (Shore Fire) - tperry@shorefire.com 

Erin Ryan (Verve Records) - Erin.Ryan@umusic.com