If you didn’t grow up in the 80’s, then the name Samantha Newark might not be familiar to you right away. But for those of us who did, then you’ll automatically recognize her as the voice of Jerrica/Jem from the classic 80’s animated series, Jem. Now while Sam provided the speaking voices for the characters, singer Britta Phillips was tapped to provide the vocal performances. But their voices were so similar, it was almost impossible to tell them apart.

After keeping herself busy with a ton of projects including everything from television theme songs to video game soundtracks, Sam finally has her debut album ready for release on May 1. And after hearing some of the songs she’s recorded so far on her MySpace page, it’s long overdue. I have to say I was surprised since I expected her to sound exactly like Britta Phillips. but Sam’s voice is so powerful and distinctive it’ll have people asking why they had to get someone else to do the singing at all.

Sam’s self-titled CD; Co-written and produced by multi instrumentalist and songwriter Johnny Douglas is full of infectious uplifting and very modern Pop Music. It blends smart, acoustic based songwriting with contemporary touches of viby electronica, crowned with her rich, distinctive, and highly expressive vocals. Twelve delicious original songs ranging from the very fun and danceable “Jemboy” a tribute to her legions of fans, to the contemplative melancholy of “Suicidal Rainbows” and the sweetly sensitive “Rainy Day Girl”, Sam’s CD spans a beautiful sonic landscape of moods and emotions, always maintaining her unique sound.

For more info on Jem, check out the Truly Outrageous Jem Primer.
For more info on Sam herself, go to her official site or her MySpace Page.
And check out the video above to see the album’s first single, “Jemboy”.