Samantha Morton, best known for her acting and directing work, took the stage at the Green Man Festival in August to talk about her musical journey. She recently appeared in The Odyssey, where she played the enchanting character Circe, and is also a musician. Later that day, she performed with Everything Is Recorded, a supergroup led by Richard Russell, who also worked with her on her 2024 solo album Daffodils & Dirt. Morton also contributed a song to the Odyssey soundtrack, voicing her character’s title track. During her onstage chat, Morton shared a personal "Honest Playlist" of songs that have shaped her life. These included the first single she ever bought, Musical Youth’s Pass The Dutchie, a karaoke favorite, Your Love by Michael Prophet and Ricky Tuffy, and a romantic song, Moments In Love by Art of Noise. She explained that she often creates playlists to help her get into character for roles and used to carry music tapes with her to ensure she was always surrounded by good tunes. Morton’s earliest musical memories come from her father’s record collection, which included the Beatles, Bob Marley, and Don McLean. She described growing up in Nottingham in the late 1970s and early 1980s, moving between foster care and her father’s home. Her family had a strong connection to reggae and Afro-Caribbean culture, which was prominent in the area. She recalled stories of her older siblings engaging in breakdancing, which required smooth floors, and how music was a constant presence in her life. In the 1990s, Morton became immersed in rave culture and soundsystem scenes. She shared a fond memory of dancing to Original Nuttah by UK Apache and Shy FX, a classic jungle track, and recounted traveling with the DiY Soundsystem, a group that organized free parties across the UK. These experiences, she said, helped shape her into a "thinker" and introduced her to transformative music like Papua New Guinea by the Future Sound of London, which she described as spiritually healing. Morton’s path to becoming a musician was indirect. She sang in rave clubs and session work, but her career shifted when she got into trouble with the law and turned to acting. She continued writing songs but didn’t perform them until meeting Richard Russell, who helped her return to music. Their collaboration resulted in her debut solo album, Daffodils & Dirt, a trip-hop project that she described as a dream come true. Though she’s keeping details about future projects private, she expressed joy in performing with Everything Is Recorded and encouraged others to embrace music without overthinking. "It's the act of doing that fills you with joy," she said.