Top 10 Samantha Fish Songs

Feature Photo: L Paul Mann / Shutterstock.com

Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, Samantha Fish was surrounded by the vibrant sounds of blues and rock from an early age. Encouraged by her musical family, she picked up the guitar in her early teens, finding a voice through the instrument that would soon become her trademark. Her journey into the music industry began with regular appearances at local clubs and jams, where she quickly gained a reputation for her raw talent and fiery performances. Fish’s break came in her late teens, when she became a fixture at Knuckleheads Saloon, a well-known Kansas City venue, and soon after caught the attention of local and national blues musicians.

By 2009, Fish had formed her first band, the Samantha Fish Blues Band, and self-released her debut live album, Live Bait. That recording, capturing the intensity of her live sets, set the stage for her first studio album. In 2011, Fish collaborated with Dani Wilde and Cassie Taylor for Girls with Guitars, before launching her solo career in earnest with Runaway, produced by Mike Zito and released by Ruf Records. Runaway introduced Fish’s powerful blend of blues, rock, and soul, earning her the 2012 Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut.

Over the next decade, Samantha Fish proved herself one of the most prolific and hard-working artists in contemporary blues. She followed Runaway with Black Wind Howlin’ in 2013, an album that further showcased her guitar skills and songwriting depth. With tracks like “Lay It Down” and “Go to Hell,” she cemented her place as a fierce new voice in American roots music. In 2015, Fish released Wild Heart, which peaked at number one on the Billboard Blues Chart. The record featured collaborations with Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars and drew praise for its restless energy and bold songwriting.

Never one to rest on formula, Fish expanded her musical palette with each new release. In 2017, she dropped two albums: Chills & Fever, which explored vintage R&B and soul, and Belle of the West, a stripped-down, acoustic-driven collection produced by Luther Dickinson. Belle of the West was hailed by critics for its rootsy authenticity and won the 2018 Independent Music Award for Best Blues Album. That same year, Fish’s hard touring schedule paid off as she headlined festivals worldwide and earned nominations for Blues Music Awards and the Living Blues Awards.

Fish’s evolution continued with Kill or Be Kind (2019), her first release on Rounder Records. The album blended soul, pop, and blues in a seamless fashion, highlighted by standout tracks like “Bulletproof” and “Love Letters.” This project drew acclaim for Fish’s expanding songwriting voice and a more polished production. Her momentum carried into the next decade with Faster in 2021, a record that saw her embracing pop and garage rock influences while continuing to deliver blistering guitar work and powerhouse vocals.

Throughout her career, Samantha Fish has consistently received critical recognition. She has accumulated multiple Blues Music Award nominations across categories such as Contemporary Blues Female Artist and Instrumentalist—Guitar, and she has been recognized by the Independent Music Awards and Blues Blast Music Awards for both her albums and live performances. The acclaim from these institutions reflects the respect she commands among peers and audiences alike.

What sets Fish apart is her relentless commitment to the road. Known for her dynamic stage presence, she has built a devoted international following by playing hundreds of shows a year and sharing the stage with icons like Buddy Guy, Tab Benoit, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Her festival appearances, from the Chicago Blues Festival to international tours across Europe and Australia, have helped to introduce her music to new audiences far beyond the American blues scene.

Fish’s reputation as a genre-defying artist is not only due to her blistering guitar playing, but also her willingness to collaborate and push musical boundaries. Her recent projects have included cross-genre work and unexpected covers, demonstrating a fearless approach to reinterpreting classic material while writing new songs that tackle themes of love, empowerment, and self-determination. She has also worked as a producer for other artists and has championed the next generation of female musicians.

Outside of her solo work, Fish has made her mark through advocacy for women in music and the blues. She has been vocal about the challenges faced by women in the industry and is often cited as an inspiration for younger female artists pursuing careers in guitar-driven music. Fish regularly participates in charity events and educational workshops aimed at supporting youth music programs and keeping the blues tradition alive for future generations.

# 10 – Faster

Opening our list of the ten best Samantha Fish songs, “Faster” leads her seventh studio album, Faster, released September 10, 2021, through Rounder Records. The song was recorded at The Village studio in West Los Angeles and produced by Martin Kierszenbaum, who also played electric piano, organ, synthesizer, guitar, and percussion on the album. Samantha Fish delivers vocals and guitar, with supporting musicians including Hannah Brier on backing vocals, Diego Navaira on bass, and Josh Freese on drums. The album debuted with strong critical marks and saw commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart, further establishing Fish’s reputation for modernizing blues rock with inventive arrangements and powerful performances.

# 9 – He Did It

This was the opening track to one of my favorite Samantha Fish albums, Chills & Fever. The record is a throwback to many fantastic 1960s recordings, a vibe that is clearly depicted by the album cover. This song was written by Jackie DeShannon and Sharon Sheeley. The album was released in 2017 and produced by Bobby Harlow.

# 8 – Kill Or Be Kind

For all the Acclaim Samantha Fish is received for her smoking guitar playing, she is also a killer vocalist. She not only has the chops, but it’s her phrasing, her ability to make a listener believe every word she’s singing. It’s the same way great vocalists have done it for years like a Sinatra, or a Carole King. Inevitably, when she’s done singing her part, she leaves no doubt about her message as soon as she hits those strings. She takes no prisoners, even though being in her presence may not be a bad thing, as one may not mind being held captive. Just take a listen to “Kill Or Be Kind” and you’ll understand.

# 7 – Runaway

With “Runaway,” we go back to her early years on Ruf Records. This one is the title track to her 2011 album Runaway. She was only 22 at the time she recorded this album. How does a 22 year old play and sing the blues like this? I dont know the answer to that, I just know I like it.

# 6 – Blood In The Water

Now here is both a song and a video that you dont want to miss. “Blood in the Water” was issued on Samantha Fish’s Belle of the West, her fifth studio album released on November 3, 2017, through Ruf Records. Produced by Luther Dickinson (who we just interviewed) at Zebra Ranch in Mississippi, the song features Fish’s songwriting and signature blend of blues and Americana, driven by her expressive guitar work and soulful vocals. The recording brought together an ensemble cast: Amy LaVere on bass, Trina Raimey and Tikyra Jackson sharing drum and vocal duties, Sharde Thomas contributing fife, drums, and vocals, Lightnin’ Malcolm on guitar, harmonica, and vocals, Jimbo Mathus adding harmonica, piano, and vocals, and Lillie Mae on violin and vocals.

# 5 – Better Be Lonely

I just love the riff on this one. Once again, we return to her brilliant Faster album, released in 2021. Like all the blues greats understand, it’s not always about the notes one plays, but the ones that one doesn’t. It’s all in the groove, and that’s where Samantha Fish really shines from both a vocal and player aspect.

# 4 – Dream Girl

This one is simply mesmerizing. “Dream Girl” was released on Kill Or Be Kind in 2019. Written by award-winning songwriter Jim McCormick and Samantha Fish, the song is a slow burner fueled by some of her most inspired and deepest playing. The sound of the guitar is striking on this track. This is deep stuff that defined a maturity in Samantha Fish’s playing and songwriting that just continued to be showcased with every album release.

# 3 – Roadrunner yeah it’s pretty funny

This is one that I just can’t get enough of. The slide playing in the solo will just blow your mind. This is old school meets new school, and it’s done so well. “Road Runner” was written by Samantha Fish and released on her Wild Heart album. In fact, she wrote nine out of the album’s twelve songs.

Wild Heart is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Samantha Fish, released on June 14, 2015. The album was produced by Luther Dickinson and recorded at Blade Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana, with additional sessions at Ardent Studios, Zebra Ranch, and Royal Recording Studios in Memphis. Dickinson, known for his work with the North Mississippi Allstars, brought a gritty, roots-infused energy to the sessions, anchoring the project in both modern and classic blues traditions.”

The personnel on Wild Heart includes Samantha Fish on vocals and lead guitar, Luther Dickinson contributes on bass guitar, lap steel guitar, guitar, and mandolin. Brady Blade is featured on drums. Background vocals are provided by Rissie Norman and Shontelle Norman-Beatty. Sharde Thomas appears on drums and vocals, Lightnin’ Malcolm adds guitar, and Dominic Davis plays bass guitar.

The album reached number one on the US Top Blues Albums chart and peaked at number fourteen on the US Heatseekers Albums chart, marking a significant commercial breakthrough for Fish. Wild Heart signaled a new phase in her artistic evolution, demonstrating her ability to blend roots music, blues, and rock into a cohesive, modern sound while still honoring the genre’s deep history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aU-to-BmLY

# 2 – Bulletproof

“Bulletproof” stands as the opening statement on Samantha Fish’s sixth studio album, Kill or Be Kind, released September 20, 2019, on Rounder Records. Written by Fish herself, the track was recorded at the storied Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, with Grammy-winning producer Scott Billington at the helm. The session band featured Fish on vocals and guitar, Austin Clements on bass, Doug Belote on drums, Rick Steff on Hammond B3 and synthesizer, Andriu Yanovski on Moog synthesizer, Jim Spake on saxophone, Tom Clary on trumpet, and backing vocals from Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph and Kayla Jasmine. The song helped propel Kill or Be Kind to the top of the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. I can listen to this one over and over again. Her solo at the four-minute mark is a testament to her brilliance and the impact she has brought to the blues scene.

# 1 – I’m Done Running

When placing a song in the number one spot, it’s not saying that we think it’s her best song; it’s simply saying it’s our favorite. And that could change every day. Additionally, there are many more songs that we love from her that we wish we could have showcased on this list. However, for the sake of time and other reasons, we try to limit these lists to 10 songs, hoping that you’ll check out the rest on your own. Our job is to turn you onto an artist or to celebrate an artist with the rest of her fans. So here’s our favorite Samantha Fish song, I’m Done Running” from her most recent album, Paper Doll. It’s just stunning. That guitar sound melts me in my tracks. What’s yours?