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Eras of sound: Samantha Fish tours in support of Grammy-nominated album, reimagines older material
Samantha Fish has a lot of good things going on in her life.
She recently went on tour in Australia with Jesse Dayton.
Later this year, she will go on tour with Slash, as well as play guitar on the Experience Hendrix Tour.
Eras of sound: Samantha Fish tours in support of Grammy-nominated album, reimagines older material
Right now, she鈥檚 focused on her own tour, which makes a stop at The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing in Santa Fe on Tuesday, July 30.
鈥淭his time around, the jet lag has been really bad,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檒l get back on track quickly because the tour will be amazing.鈥�
Fish is touring in support of her Grammy-nominated album, 鈥淒eath Wish Blues,鈥� which was an album that featured herself and Dayton.
Before 鈥淒eath Wish Blues,鈥� Fish released the highly-acclaimed 鈥淔aster鈥� in 2021.
She says the album marked a new chapter in her musical journey, showcasing her admiration for North Mississippi blues legends like R.L. Burnside and innovative mavericks like Prince.
During the Australian tour with Dayton, she stepped back and let Dayton choose the songs.
鈥淚 leaned on him for that,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith this tour, I鈥檓 going to have songs from 鈥楧eath Wish Blues,鈥� but I鈥檓 also going to lean into the bulk of my discography. I have so many records. This show technically isn鈥檛 one with a brand-new album, so it gives me the opportunity to spread my wings.鈥�
The 35-year-old guitarist has had a long journey in music.
She began playing drums as a teenager 鈥� making the switch to guitar by the age of 15 and began cold-calling local bars.
鈥淚 used to open the phone book and call up every place in Kansas City, even if they didn鈥檛 have live shows,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淚 had maybe a 3% success rate, but eventually, I started filling up my calendar 鈥� if you put on a good enough show, word of mouth gets around.鈥�
By 20, she recorded and produced 鈥淟ive Bait,鈥� which helped attract the attention of Ruf Records.
Being in between albums, Fish is able to reimagine some of her older material for the set.
鈥淚 remember being at the start of my career and I would have so many cover songs in the set,鈥� she laughed. 鈥淚 was just trying to show people who I am through other material. I鈥檝e started to look beyond that and I could really do a show full of original songs. There鈥檚 a huge difference.鈥�
Over time, Fish has enjoyed the growth she鈥檚 had professionally and personally.
She uses each lesson as an opportunity to learn.
鈥淭here are different eras to my sound,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for that because the show can move into interesting places. My relationships with some of the songs has evolved and it鈥檚 refreshing to look at a song that I wrote when I was 20 through my eyes now at 35.鈥�
Fish was born a performer and enjoys her time on stage.
鈥淢y love for performance has been the consistent factor,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very time I鈥檓 on stage, it feels overwhelming. Then I realize that there鈥檚 a power in getting the opportunity to create moments. I鈥檓 still in love with the stage and that鈥檚 why I tour relentlessly. I鈥檝e been chasing this my whole life and I embrace the growth.鈥�
