Today’s spotlight artist is a New York-based artist that we’re loving, Sam Sample. The songstress connected with our founder recently, and we couldn’t help but to want to share her story in support of music in New York City.

Growing up, Sample lived in Atlanta, Georgia with parents from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “We spent a lot of time visiting family there growing up. But my sister and I were both born and raised in Atlanta, shared the artist. “‘Sam Sample’ really emerged as Sam was a longterm nickname of mine that came from being a camp counselor and my rugby days and a lot of people kind of shortened my last name from sample to Samps and then to Sam. So I’ve gone by Sam for a long time, and so it kind of made sense when I started releasing music to do it under that name.”

For Sample music was something that always lingered in the background and eventually grew into a full-blown passion. “I always sang growing up, and then I started teaching myself how to play guitar when I was in late high school. I sang with the jazz band in college, and I sang a little bit with different groups in college, but I’d always written some songs, but I never really had the thought to release them.”

The singer-songwriter recalls falling in love with artists like Shania Twain, Fleetwood Mac, and later, Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan, who all influence her songwriting today as well.

The Turning Point:

Upon graduating high-school, Sample head to New York City for college. “I studied neuroscience and cognitive science in school, and I thought I was going to go on a research science path, and then I ended up getting really interested in learning more about the brain through modeling techniques and data science, and I ended up working for a large tech company, and kind of establishing my life in New York,” shared the singer. “Now I fund my music from my corporate tech job, and it’s been really exciting to get to start producing music and releasing it and, you know, kind of bringing the sounds of my upbringing in Georgia mixed with the city life here in New York.”

Since building a life here in New York City, Sample has finally allowed herself to pursue her music, something she has always wanted, but didn’t think could happen. “I kind of had this realization. I’d gone through this big breakup and I was like, you know, if I don’t do this in now, I’m single and while I don’t have a family yet, like now really is the time.”

Sample blended her American and rock roots, creating a sound all her own that she calls AmeriRock. “I always loved the outdoor activities and, you know, going fishing and hunting and being outdoors and going to the lake and doing all of those things with my family, but I think there was something that I sometimes felt drawn towards the city or towards travel,” she shared. “I really wanted to, see what else was out there in the world and live in a different place and that really compelled me to try living in New York and that’s something that I think drew me, when I was younger, away from country music and then as I got older, back towards it – to realize it wasn’t really the country music that I was running away from. I just kind of wanted more experiences and that sort of thing.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Sample continues to make strides toward doing music and only music, as she builds her growing fanbase and releases even more music. She’s worked with incredible producers, including The Lumineers producer, Ryan Hadlock who she connected with through a cold call email.

“He asked me to send some of my demos, and I did, and he liked my stuff. So I got a chance to go out there and work with him and record a couple songs that were on my debut album, and it was so cool to kind of have the comparative experiences of being in this major studio where some of my favorite music was recorded compared to kind of the more DIY style,” shared Sample.

Eventually, the songstress was able to release her debut album, I’m Moving to The Moon featuring songs like “What’ve I Got On You” and “Rock Song.” She’s since expanded her growing catalog, releasing her newest song to date, “Better Things (West Coast Version).”

“”Better Things (West Coast Version)” is a song about, when you have gone through a big change in your life, in my case, it was about a breakup, but it can really be about, any big change you’re looking to make in your life and believing that there are better things in store for you. I have gone through a time where it didn’t always feel that way or it felt like my life was going to be worse following this event. And I wrote this song about an experience I had where it was kind of one of the first times since that breakup that I felt like, “wow, my life is way better and this was for the best.” And there were better things in store for me the whole time, even if I couldn’t see it at the time or believe it myself. and now, now I’m really feeling that.”

“Better Things” is just the start of more music to come in 2025. Fans can expect another new song, “Embargo” to be released next month. “There’s a lot of new music coming and trying to figure out the release strategy and timing of that, but, I’ve been going through a big writing phase recently and it’s been fun to be back in the studio and working with some old collaborators and some new ones, and I’m really excited about all the music stuff.”

Connect:

To keep up with Sam Sample, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.

Sam Sample’s music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.