JD Samson

Infobox Musical artist
Name = JD Samson


Img_capt = JD Samson performing with Le Tigre in Manchester, 2005.
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Jocelyn Samson
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Born = Birth date and age|1978|8|4|df=y
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died =
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Instrument =
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Occupation = Musician
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Associated_acts = Le Tigre
The New England Roses
Peaches
Men
URL =
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JD Samson (born August 4 1978, Cleveland, Ohio) is the stage name of Jocelyn Samson, a member of the feminist electropunk band Le Tigre. Samson grew up in the Cleveland suburb of Pepper Pike, Ohio and attended Orange High School. She came out as a lesbian at age 15. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 2000 with a degree in film. [citation |title=jd herstory |accessdate=2007-08-28 |url=http://www.letigreworld.com/sweepstakes/html_site/fact/jdfacts.html.]

Samson joined Le Tigre in 2000 as a replacement for Sadie Benning after working as the band's projectionist. She is also a member of the band The New England Roses and a member of electro-punk artist Peaches' live band, The Herms with Radio Sloan and Samantha Maloney. In 2006, Samson collaborated with Junior Senior on the song "Can I Get Get Get". Her stage persona is purposely androgynous.

Samson's contributions to Le Tigre include the song "Viz," which deals with her experiences as a member of a sexual minority. In 2004, New York Times music writer Kelefa Sanneh called her "an icon of nerdy cool."citation |title=Singing of Love, No Room for Whimsy |last=Sanneh |first=Kelefa |periodical=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/03/arts/music/03tigr.html?ex=1188446400&en=b65c93f1190be8af&ei=5070 |date=2004-11-03 |accessdate=2007-08-28.]

Samson is a co-founder of the conceptual dance group "Dykes Can Dance," which performs unannounced, choreographed dance routines around New York in an attempt to break the stereotype of lesbians as bad dancers.citation |title=Punky Sample Fiends Boogie to the Revolutionary Beat |first=Sarah |last=Liss |periodical=NOW Toronto |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2002-08-22/cover_story.php |date=2002-08-22 |accessdate=2007-08-28.] In 2003, she released 'JD's Lesbian Calendar', a collaboration with photographer Cass Bird, which was followed up in 2006 with 'JD's Lesbian Utopia,' a calendar documenting Samson's travels around the U.S. in an RV.
As of 2007, Samson is working with Le Tigre bandmate Johanna Fateman on a remix project titled Men. [ [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=166992000 Men's myspace page] ] JD co-produced with Bitch the Ferron song, "In the Meantime" from the CD "Boulder" released in 2008.

Samson also appeared in John Cameron Mitchell's "Shortbus" as "Jid", a patron of the Shortbus club.

Samson is currently dating musician Sia.

References

External links

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* [http://www.letigreworld.com/ Le Tigre World] (official site)
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* [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/03/arts/music/03tigr.html "Le Tigre: Singing of Love, No Room for Whimsy] by Kelefa Sanneh, "The New York Times", November 3, 2004, retrieved December 15, 2005.
* [http://punkcast.com/1132 PUNKCAST#1132] includes short video clip of DJ JD Samson @ Studio B, Brooklyn, Apr 5 2007. (RealPlayer,mp4)