Photos Credit: Scott Lukes
Samantha Fish champions the Blues and she's a Blues champion, nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album 2024 Grammy Awards
Sophia: The absolute greatest compliment is to be recognized amongst your peers as distinguished in your chosen profession, Samantha!
A 2024 Grammy nomination, Performing at the Experience Hendrix Tour 2024 & 2025, opening for the final show of The Rolling Stones North American Tour 2024, being asked by Eric Clapton, to perform at his Crossroads Guitar Festival 2023, opening for Slash's Blues S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival Tour 2024. S.E.R.P.E.N.T., the acronym, stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality, N' Tolerance. Slash created the festival to help raise money to fight racism and fight for civil rights. That's truly epic! All of these dazzling accolades! That's so very impressive, Samantha!
And, I'm pretty certain that I'm missing something monumental! Dear God! What can possibly top all of that? These artists have supported you and your music, and they themselves are phenomenal music titans! MEGAstars!
You're a powerful talent and force to be reckoned with. You're unstoppable, Samantha! Congratulations on these tremendous, towering successes. Music is notoriously tough and the determination and strength that you must have to accomplish any one of these is mammoth.
How did it feel to work with any of these superstars? Do you have one memorable story that you'd like to share? Any one backstage story about working the Red Carpet at the 2024 Grammys or any of these monster shows?
Samantha: That's a lot of bucket list things compacted into a year, to be honest with you. It's weird because it's like a lot of these things that happened this year, I've been ironically saying for years. When people would ask me "who do you wanna open for ?" In interviews I'd be asked the same question. And I'd always say, The Stones! But, it was kind of ironic because it's the biggest rock band in the world! So for me, to get to do that and take part in it is epic. It's massive for me!
I still connect very much to who I am and who I was when I started this. If I think back to when I was 15 years old, playing guitar in my bedroom and looking up to these musicians, it's just a dream at that point. Not knowing how to get even from point A to point B to play a gig. If I look back at who I was, and think about everything that's happened between then and now, I'm walking a really rare path, and I know it.
All of the stories compounded together are really a joy. So what's next? I've got a new album coming out. Really, the next thing is just making music because at the end of the day, that's what everything is about! That's been my one real goal, to make music that I can be proud of and stuff that makes me feel good. I'm just lucky to have a fan base that rolls with the punches, and knows things are gonna change and be different and they're accepting of that. I'm lucky in that way.
Guitar Thrills Broadcast
Sophia: You've won so many awards! Too many to mention. Hahaha I checked your Wiki page and WOW! Congrats soul sister! Do you have a "most proud of" Achievement Award, and why?
Samantha: We didn't win this award, but I think getting nominated for a grammy last year with Jesse Dayton for our record Death Wish Blues, that's the biggest accolade you can get in music, a grammy or grammy nom. So, that was definitely one of the things I kind of never thought would happen. You always want it to! You put out a record like, "this is it!" But you know, the award to me is like a nice little gesture of hey, you're on the right path. People see it, and appreciate it, but you don't do it for that. But, if there was one that hit me the hardest or shocked me the most, it was probably that grammy nomination last year.
Sophia: You're a brilliant guitarist, Samantha. I'm such a fan! Can you please share how you approach writing your solo work? Your songwriting is amazing and I'm curious to know, since you are both a lead guitarist and a singer, how does the songwriting process look for you? How do you approach writing your hits?
Samantha: It's different every time. I'd love to say that there's a method that's perfectly reliable every single time I try to write a song. But you know, I think my most successful writing experiences have been when I start with a strong melody. A hook. Here's something that's gonna get stuck in people's heads and however you choose to portray that within a song, whether it's the guitar line, bass line, vocal line or part of the overall top structure of the song. Like, a melody that you sing. That's usually the most catchy. It's all about songs. Vocal performances, guitar playing, that's all great. You want to showcase that kind of stuff, but at the end of the day, it's about writing good songs that people will remember because it's storytelling. What connects people to a song is the story. It's how they see themselves within the song. It's how they connect to the song. All the other stuff, my singing, my playing, is the adornment upon it. But the rest, is writing good songs. You gotta start there. The absolute most important foundation of it. I've had varying degrees of success, writing good songs, bad songs, mediocre songs! You gotta write all kinds of songs before you can find a good one
Sophia: Thanks for sharing this Samantha! I really appreciate hearing your perspective on it. When you were younger, and aspiring to grow as a singer-songwriter and musician, who did you look up to as guitar heroes? And, did you admire any particular blues artists and or songwriters that influenced your musical style?
Samantha: I started off listening to rock 'n' roll pretty heavily. I was really deep into it. When I was growing up, I could turn on the radio and what was playing was classic rock. I got into The Stones, I got into Keith Richards, Angus Young (ACDC) and Slash! These were the guitarists on the radio. As I got into rocknroll, I realized all of my favourite rock 'n' rollers were into blues, and that's where they learned how to play guitar.
So, I started doing a deep dive into blues, and I think one of the first electric players I was really turned on to, at a young age, was Freddie King. The Texas Cannonball you know? And, B.B. King. Then, I got into Hubert Sumlin, from Howlin' Wolf. And then, I went farther back and found that I really like Delta Blues; Charley Patton and Skip James. I just sort of kept going down the rabbit hole until I found things that I really resonated with.
I think when I got to learn about Hill country blues, like R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, it sort of married these styles for me. I was really into this sort of raw rhythmic guitar that was centered around the drums. Almost hypnotic! But, I also like there's almost an angsty quality to it that was, to me, like rock 'n' roll. The attitudes matched; between Hill country and rock 'n' roll. So for me, it was like "this is where the edges are." I really got into that! It's live and raw! That's really what it is. Not perfect and pristine in any way. So, I just got into that kind of music and you know, I can't remember when I wrote my first song, but I'm sure I started sometime around there.
Trying to figure out who I wanted to become as a musician? It can take years to find out. I see these young kids come out. Our stars are getting younger, younger and younger. It's wild to me, to see the evolution they go through because I feel like when I was 15, 16, 17, I was like, I don't know what to do! I don't know who to be! There's so much work that has to happen in order to find out who "that person" is. I'm still doing it! You know? That's the thing about being an artist. apes; all across the fretboard starting with the A shape in open position. Happy playing!
Sophia: That's such an amazing musical journey, Samantha! Your commitment to growing as an artist is so very inspirational! Thank you for sharing your influences. How do you define a true "Guitar Hero"? And, in your opinion, what sets them apart; aside from their obvious skill set, charisma and talent? Hahaha
Samantha: I think that when you turn on the radio or put on a record and you don't know who you're listening to, but if you've studied enough guitar players, you can hear them without seeing them, and you know who it is. It's about an identity.
You can pick up the guitar and there's a voice there that's so recognizable. People know who it is! For instance, when I hear Derek Trucks, I don't need to see that it's Derek Trucks. I already know! To me, that's somebody who's got such a personality on their instrument. Such a voice, that it shines through. You already know. So to me, kind of having that strong personality, so people can tell who you are.
And also, I think, you can only sound like yourself. I can digest all these great guitarists and learn the licks, but at the end of the day, you kind of have to figure out who you are in all of that. Say something unique! How many guitar players are there in the world? There's a lot! How can you say something that nobody else is gonna say, quite like that? I think that might be the difference. You know?
Sophia: Right. I love that, Guitar Goddess. Please tell us about your rig. Your guitar set-up for your live shows? How many do you have on stage with you? Do you have a go-to favorite guitar?
Samantha: I carry a lot of guitars, but then I realize there are people who actually DO carry a lot of guitars! And , then it seems like I don't! hahaha! I may have 7 or 8 different instruments with me on the road at any one time. First of all, I'd be spending half the show tuning my guitar, If I didn't have another to switch over to pretty quick! It helps to have somebody switch it out for you.
My favourite go-to is probably my SG. I feel really comfortable on it! That's the thing about like, what's your signature sound? It's about playability for me, and then all of the electronics inside, you know? I can switch out the pickups and make it sound differently..I like to tinker and find my sound and switch things out and try new things. But if there's something that feels good to me, that's what I gravitate towards.
I do have a Gibson Firebird, I have an ES-335. I'm really feeling the Gibsons these days! I do have a couple Fenders, a Jaguar and a Jazzmaster.
I have a Cigar Box Guitar which has become a little bit of like, something people know me for. But it's falling apart and held together with duct tape. But, I still play! Haha! I got a couple of acoustics, a couple custom guitars by a company called Delaney. A Supro, which is really fun. It's really old. I think it's from the 60's, but I play slide guitar on it in open tuning. You know, anything that sounds a little different. If it feels good to play, and it sounds kinda wild and different, I try to find a place for it in the show.
Sophia: That's brilliant! That's why you're a Guitar Goddess, Samantha. I checked out your Samantha Fish Signature. I love it! The cool little fish design on it too. SO awesome! And, I know what you mean about Gibson Guitars, I'm a Gibson gal too!
Your most recent studio album, Death Wish Blues (2023)was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2024 Grammy Awards! What a humongous cred! Absolutely spectacular! Congratulations Samantha.
Your collaboration with revered roots rocker, Jesse Dayton was a blazing success! You graced the cover of Vintage Guitar and the praise was nothing short of amazing. Rolling Stone declared, “Jesse Dayton and Samantha Fish make the blues cool and current” and Vintage Guitar declared, “an album full of wicked stories, tongue-in-cheek escapades, greasy grooves, and hellacious guitars.”
Forbes Magazine remarks, “A rollicking collection of 12 new tracks that’s joyously impossible to pigeonhole, pushing the boundaries of blues and outlaw country in glorious new directions.”
And, Guitarist Magazine maintains, “Samantha Fish is a force to be reckoned with. She’s teamed up with kindred spirit Jesse Dayton, and the results are stunning.” Absolutely epic and iconic! Samantha, this album has also been described as very cinematic. Was this a conscious effort that you and your mega-talented collaborator Jesse Dayton set out to accomplish? And, have either you or Dayton written scores for film?
Samantha: I believe Jessie has. But, Jessie is also a filmmaker too! He's a cinemabuff. He loves watching old movies, you know. I love films too! I think when we were writing the songs, it was definitely something that, as we were writing, we were like, OMG, I hear this in a Tarantino film or I can hear this in a Western! Or, I can see this here, there, everywhere! You know what I mean?
So, when we went to make the music videos, we were definitely pulling in these kinds of classic references. Things that we wanted people to visualize when they heard the songs. As we were making these songs, we definitely pulled in all different types of instrumentation, and having Jon Spencer at the production helm of that record, was massive for us. To be able to accomplish what we did, we needed Jon. He's got a great ear and vision for these cinematic tracks. It's deeply layered and exciting to listen to. So, to think that the three of us working together, and yeah, Jessie having that background in film, and our shared love for that, we definitely pulled in references from cinema.
Sophia: That's very, very COOL, Samantha! I definitely dig it! It's got an awesome groove!
So, who are the musicians on your album and how did you select your musicians for Death Wish Blues?
Samantha: John brought in the musicians for Death Wish Blues. We recorded in Woodstock, New York, at Applehead Recording Studios. He brought in somebody he'd worked with on keys, in Boss Hog, named Mickey Finn, a drummer named Aaron Johnson and a bass player named Kendall Winn. They were wonderful!
Sophia: Blessed!
Samantha: Thanks Sophia. I've really been deep into Hill Country Blues for years. And, Jon made a record with R.L. Burnside in the late 90's called A Ass Pocket Of Whiskey and it's one of my favourite records! A collaboration between these two artists. It felt like a story to tell between Jesse and I, you know? Two artists from different backgrounds. I felt like Jon would be the perfect person to help us do that successfully, and I'm such a fan of his work. He's a true artist! We'd never met before we went to the studio, so I wasn't really sure what we were gonna get, but he really was incredible to work with! He's extremely creative and open to exploring, which is definitely a conducive environment for creativity.
Sophia: Sounds like it all fell perfectly into place! Such a wonderful blessing. The stars aligned! I love your hot, fiery blues guitar playing on this album! Love the vocals and the way you both weave your voices throughout the album. The album has been recognized as one of the absolute best albums of either one of your careers, and that's a superb achievement, as you have some splendid albums out there!
You've recently come off a headlining tour of this album in the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA. Do you have any special memories that you'd like to share from this extensive tour?
Samantha: The fans truly embraced the whole experience! I mean, of course everytime you make something new, there's a little bit of like, you know, this is different from your last thing! People kind of freak out every once in a while and lose their shirt over it! Haha!
But, I think for the most part, everybody understood what we were going for and there was a lot of love throughout the whole process. We've actually wrapped the tour, and he and I both did our solo tours all year long. But, that most certainly was a very special time for us, and I don't think we're done with it. We intended for it to be a project that we pick up again, but later.
Sophia: Can't wait! What's not to love about you and your red-hot, blues soul, Samantha Fish? Your creative energy seems boundless! What can you share with Guitar Thrills Magazine about what your fans can expect from you in the coming year, 2025?
Samantha: I do have a new record coming out April 25th this year, called Paper Doll, with Rounder Records. I just finished making it and I'm really proud of it. I feel like it's one of those records where it's sort of an album of what people have come to like about my work, and just leaning into that! What are the strengths? What do people know me for? And, just amplifying that up to 10!
I worked on these songs all summer, and this year I went into the studio and I cut it in between tour dates on the road. We had a couple days off in Austin, between tour dates, so we went into the studio and started working on a record! Had a couple days off in LA between tour dates, and went on in to make this record! That's kind of how the whole record was made.
Sophia: That must have been so exciting and thrilling!
Samantha: It was thrilling but it was also completely nuts and exhausting. But, I'm really proud of the work we did! My friend Bobby Harlow who produced Chills & Fever, returned to production. He's the producer on the record! We wrote a lot of the songs together.
I also wrote some songs with my longtime collaborators Jim McCormick and Keith Pearlman. I worked with Anders Osborne on a song, and I wrote some by myself! It's something I worked really hard on all last year, in the summer and into the early fall. Now, I got a record and I'm very proud of it, and it's coming out soon!
Sophia: That's ROCKIN' Samantha Fish! I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to talk to you about your music. You're so deserving of all your success! You truly shine bright and I'm so inspired by you, Samantha! You have an incredible team and love and support all around you. You deserve to be right where you are! Any "thank yous" or "shout outs" that you'd like to make at this time in your fabulous career?
Samantha: Thank you so much Sophia! I've got a lot of support. It takes a village! Hahah!
I wouldn't say I'm high maintenance, but I think this industry is high maintenance and so you have to exert a lot of energy for one person. I can't do it all by myself. When I was doing it by myself, I was exhausted and nearing the brink of losing my mind! Haha! It's hard to make the moves we're trying to make. I'm lucky to have such a great team! I've got a wonderful manager, booking agents, publicist and my record label. On the creative side, I've been really lucky to work with producers who are inspiring! With Bobby, I'm lucky to be able to work with him. He's an artist himself! He has vision.
It's nice to not always work with people who just tell you "yes. you're 100% right about everything". Producers like this really stand firm and believe that you can be better and push you to be better! I work with people like that!
At times it can be difficult, but we should all feel lucky to work with people who want to push us and want the best for us so we can all be better. I have great people like that around me, and I've got a very loving and supportive family and good friends. My whole life is music. People always ask me what do you do when you go home and have time off! Like, oh God! Haha! It's good to step away and take a breath, but everything is just sort of always rotating around this thing that I love, and that I'm grateful for. You gotta try and find balance in regular life too. And that's where I'm at now! I have a little time off and I should probably go see some people I know! Haha! I'm grateful for those people!
Sophia: That's really beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Samantha. You're no stranger to success and I'm so very excited to see what the future holds for you, Samantha Fish!
Rock on ROCK STAR!
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll!
A RECAP OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
