Meet Cody Milford of The God Samaritan in Tempe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Milford.

Cody, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My journey in music started at an early age. I was raised in karaoke bars by a large, talented, and competitive family that exposed me to all kinds of amazing songs. Though I had no aptitude for singing, I did develop a knack for writing poetry. After seven years of honing my craft, I combined my skills as a poet with my love for music in the form of a spoken word project called Good Samaritan.

I released two EP’s and an album under that moniker over five years. My skills as a singer and a rapper finally blossomed, turning the project into a genre defying experience that quickly made waves in the hip hop, metal, and indie scenes across Phoenix. The sudden flurry of growth and expectations took a toll on my mental health, which led to the hiatus and eventual end of the project.

During that hiatus, I developed a renewed confidence in myself. I became much more focused on my artistic direction. More sure of who I was as an artist and a person. I put an end to Good Samaritan during a headlining set at the Desert Grey Music Festival and shortly after announced my new project: The God Samaritan.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The music business comes with an abundance of challenging people/situations, but the biggest obstacle I’ve faced by far has been mental illness. Molding my internal struggles into art for the world to consume has always been a double-edged sword for me. As much as I love sharing my art, it can hurt as much as it heals.

With that said, stepping away from music earlier this year to focus on my mental health has significantly reduced the toll music takes on me. What once was a public battle with my emotions has turned into an all-around cathartic experience.

Please tell us about your music.
The God Samaritan is an emo-rap project that aims to turn the worst parts of myself into something beautiful. It is the essence of my ego, a larger than life figure emanating pain and drenched in the loss. I want to show anyone who hears my music or sees me on stage to feel what I’ve felt, and knows that it’s possible to overcome that hurt. Even if they aren’t exceptional rappers.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would focus on internal peace over external validation. I thought all I needed to be happy was to find success as an artist. Then I began selling out shows, getting booked at festivals, developing a following of people who supported my every move. I was doing all of the things that I thought were the key to happiness, yet somehow ended up more miserable than I had ever been. I will never regret chasing my dreams, but I now understand how important a healthy mind is to that chase.

Contact Info:

• Email: iam@thegodsamaritan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegodsamaritan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegodsamaritan/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGodSamaritan
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qbWkBNRUGkTEmcpX0UINk?si=FjYBa0anQ0a42MtAUYWGIw

Image Credit:
John Hasemeier

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