Blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Samantha Fish bridges power and nuance in her latest release, Paper Doll. Having recently taped a PBS special at the famed Iridium in New York, she brought the new album’s fierce energy to an intimate stage, impressing both audience and critics alike .
A bold moment at the Iridium
In June, Fish stood center stage at the Iridium for a private PBS taping, performing several tracks from Paper Doll. Critics praised her “absolutely incendiary” guitar work and commanding vocals, which polarized the atmosphere between ferocity and finesse . This appearance marks another high-profile moment in her growing media footprint.
A defining leap forward
Paper Doll, released in April, represents a significant career milestone. Across nine tracks, Fish fuses raw emotion and technical prowess—writing with insight and soul-soothing empathy, yet delivering each song with gut-punching force . Reviewers noted her stretching genre boundaries while maintaining a powerful blues-rock core.
Songwriting with grit
The album opens with “I’m Done Runnin’,” a defiant anthem of self-reliance marked by moody guitar riffs and assertive vocals. She confronts expectations head-on—both lyrically and musically . Later, the punk-tinged title track and the blistering “Rusty Razor” (featuring Mick Collins) expand Paper Doll’s sonic range .
Styled by fire and reflection
Songs like “Lose You” showcase a blistering pace, fiery solos, and layers of harmony—an emotional takedown clothed in musical intensity . Another standout, “Sweet Southern Sounds,” deepens the album’s texture by blending smoldering fuzz with organ-rich soul, gradually exploding into a cathartic climax .
Recorded on the move
Fish recorded Paper Doll across Austin’s The Orb and L.A.’s Savannah Studios with her touring band—Ron Johnson (bass), Jamie Douglass (drums) and Mickey Finn (keys). Balancing intense touring (including dates with Slash’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival) with studio work resulted in an album that breathes like a live set .
Critical acclaim rolls in
Industry reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. Rock The Joint celebrated the album’s raw emotionality and boundary-stretching style . Blues Rock Review gave Paper Doll an 8.5/10, citing its vibrant production, muscular guitar tones, and the band’s chemistry . Rock News UK dubbed it “blues, rock, and soul perfection” .
Fish’s career continues to ascend. Fresh off her Grammy-nominated Death Wish Blues and high-profile tours, she’ll headline the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival in August, introducing Paper Doll to a wider audience . With her potent blend of emotional storytelling, virtuosic guitar, and fearless artistic vision, Samantha Fish is not just playing music—she’s carving out a new blueprint for modern blues-rock.
