By Darren Grayer.
World renowned guitarist/songwriter Samantha Fish visits The Brook in Southampton at the end of May. Noted as one of the most electrifying performers of her generation, the Kansas City bred, New Orleans based musician has consistently captivated audiences with her energetic, bold, and emotional blend of blues, rock and soul.
Fish’s career has been on an upward spiral since recording a self-produced album, Live Bait, in 2009. The album attracted the attention of a talent company, who recommended her to Ruf Records. The label put together a record with two other female blues artists, Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde. The three guitarists then toured together before the Samatha Fish Band toured Europe and the United States in 2011. Fish then recorded her first solo studio album, Runaway later that year. The album won the 2012 Blues Music Award for Best New Artist.
Since then, Samantha Fish has recorded a further seven solo albums, the latest of which, Paper Doll, is released this week, and includes recently released single, Sweet Southern Sounds. It is the follow up to 2023’s Death Wish Blues, which hit number 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart, and earned her a Grammy nomination, plus invitations to support The Rolling Stones, Jon Spencer, and Slash among others.
Paper Doll is claimed to be the artists most fierce work to date and is co-produced by Detroit garage-rock legend Bobby Harlow and fellow luminary Mick Collins. The songs are delivered with visceral force, soul soothing empathy, and newfound clarity. “It’s taken me years to finally find my voice in a studio setting” admits Fish. “But with this record, I took everything I had and slammed it right on the table”. The songs tackle vulnerability and self-expression, and confronts love, loss, and personal growth.
The album was recorded during a gruelling tour schedule and captures the untamed energy of her live performances. “Even though it was intense, it felt good to keep up the momentum from the live show. It helped us make an album that’s got a real living, breathing pulse to it”.
2025 sounds like being another very busy year for Samantha Fish, and one that will see her extensively tour the US, UK and Europe. The date at The Brook on the 31st May promises to be an intense and electrifying evening.
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