SAMANTHA FISH – AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT AND INTERVIEW
Photo by Doug Hardesty Photography
By Ralph Beauchamp
Samantha Fish’s musical style stands at the crossroads of blues tradition and modern rock edge. It is marked by her galvanic guitar attack and powerful, emotive vocals. She blends classic blues phrasing with a modern swagger. Samantha Fish often shifts from gritty slide guitar to shimmering melodic leads within the same performance. Her tone is raw, percussive, and full of character. She anchors her songs in a roots-oriented sound even as she experiments with exotic textures.
What sets Fish apart is her ability to treat genre as a palette rather than a boundary. While the blues is her foundation, she frequently weaves in elements of Americana, soul, punk, and even pop. This gives her albums a dynamic quality: one track might lean into swampy Southern grooves, while the next bursts with brassy, horn-driven soul or a cinematic, reverb-laden atmosphere. That versatility makes her music feel constantly evolving but unmistakably hers.
Vocally, Fish matches her guitar-driven energy with a voice that can shift from smoky intimacy to electrifying grit. She often uses phrasing that mirrors her guitar work—bending notes, stretching lines, and leaning into emotional peaks. Paired with lyrics that explore resilience, desire, and personal rebellion, her singing helps create a distinctive emotional soundscape. The result is a musical style that’s both deeply expressive and unapologetically brazen.
Samantha Fish was kind enough to sit with AMP for this in-depth interview.
AMP: Looking back, what was a turning point that changed how you saw your career?
FISH: I can’t really narrow it down to one major thing that changed the course of my career or my life… mostly, it was little things that snowballed into something bigger.
AMP: You’ve moved through blues, rock, Americana and more – what draws you to new sonic territory?
FISH: I’m an artist and I like to follow what I consider to be exciting. So, I don’t really set out to make genre specific songs, but rather I just focus on writing good songs. I feel like my style is influenced by my past and how I learned how to express myself musically.
AMP: How do you balance technical skills with emotional expression in your playing?
FISH: I think emotion over technicality most of the time. Emotion plays a bigger role during solos, whereas, I think about technicality more during rhythm parts and when I’m layering parts in the studio. The solo is when it’s time to really “talk”. I think about mimicking the human voice a lot, I think about simple memorable, melodies.
AMP: Are there artists you dream of collaborating with regardless of genre?
FISH: Absolutely. Off the top of my head, in no particular order… Debbie Harry, Poison Ivy of the Cramps, Barbara Lynn, Al Green, Trent Reznor, Jack White, Mike Campbell, etc.
AMP: When writing a new song, what usually arrives first for you – the riff, the melody, or the lyric?
FISH: The melody is really the best thing to “receive” first. I feel like that’s when the songs kind of write themselves. I do have lyrics and riffs that’s I’ve saved over the years, but they generally sit on the shelf longer than a good melody. That’s the part that people will remember more than anything I think.
AMP: How has your songwriting evolved from your early recordings to now?
FISH: I think I’ve just become more aware of what my process is. What is actually a successful approach to writing. I have more discipline now. I think the subject matter is more mature. Also, I think I’m better at writing hooks. I’m a little more open and free when it comes to composition. It’s a little more adventurous.
AMP: Many of your songs tell vivid emotional stories. Where do you find those narratives?
FISH: I’m a story teller. So, if it’s not autobiographical, it’s a story I feel I can tap into. Some of it is personal, and like a first hand experience. Some of it is borrowed. In addition, some of it is completely fabricated. All that matters is that it’s relatable.
AMP: What songs feel the most alive on stage right now?
FISH: “Paper Doll’s breakdown always seems to be effective with our audience. “Fortune Teller” and “Sweet Southern Sounds” feel like they really hit well live as well.
AMP: How do you stay grounded amid the turmoil of touring and recording?
FISH: I wish there was a better answer, because if I’m being honest, I don’t have it all figured out yet. Sometimes I feel like I’ve got a good rhythm and routine, only for it to fall apart the next tour. I think it’s just knowing what works for you, and inching back towards it when you fall off. For me, sleep, exercise, having a pre show routine, taking time for myself… etc.
AMP: Is there a sound or instrument you haven’t experimented with yet but want to?
FISH: I’d love to have more singers at some point. I love backing vocals. I love blending with great singers. Furthermore, I would love to do that more in a live setting. I love pedal steel too, I would like to either learn more or play with someone.
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