Samantha Smith - Soulful Songstress

New Album in Production…

Anil — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:21:54 +0000

Samantha Smith is back in the studio working on her long awaited album along with Rich Huxley from the well established Leeds band “Hope & Social.”

The new material will be fresh to your ears, recorded with live instruments at “The Crypt” recording studio, just outside of Leeds. Have a look round the studio.

Samantha says…

“The working relationship between me and Rich is awesome; I am really excited about this project. This is the first time I have been able to drive the production to match the visions I had in my head when I wrote each track, but have also been lucky to have Rich’s influences too. The sound is dependant on where I see each track, there have been no barriers to stick to certain genres, it has been nice to go along with each vision – however, the definitive sound thus far is live rock, pop.”

Samantha’s album is set to be launch in April 2012, for more information gets social with Facebook or Twitter

BBC Introducing…Samantha Smith

Anil — Sun, 15 May 2011 14:33:48 +0000

Samantha Smith will be interviewed on BBC York Introducing (107.3fm) on the 21st May, at 6:30pm. The presenter, Jenny Eells (@JennyNYorksNews) will be chatting about what Samantha is up to at the minute and what 2011 holds for her. The show will also include Samantha performing various tracks of her own in a live acoustic session.

Don’t forget to tune in! Listen to BBC Radio York online

Just one step away from the O2

Anil — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:06:33 +0000

Samantha Smith from Harrogate has taken the judging panel of the UK’s biggest original music competition by storm and qualified for the Area Finals of Live and Unsigned. Samantha will be competing against the most talented bands and artists in the country in the North East and Scotland Final on Sunday 24th April 2011.

Watch Samantha’s Performance Below

Samantha battled against the best talent in the region, to secure a coveted spot in the Area Finals and now has the opportunity to prove that they are the hottest unsigned act in the UK. Acts taking part in the live Area Final Showcase in front of thousands of spectators also get to perform to a professional judging panel, including judges from Kerrang, NME Radio and Radio One.

Live and Unsigned is the biggest original music competition in the UK for unsigned bands and artists. Attracting over 50,000 entries in the past five years, it has set itself apart from its predecessors by offering and promoting originality. It’s established as the definitive music competition for original acts and it’s open to all genres of music from Heavy Rock to Rap.

All the acts in the competition are battling it out for the chance to play the Live and Unsigned Festival at the 02 in London! The overall winner of the competition will be offered a recording and management contract with Future Music with an investment of up to £50,000. The winners will be awarded the title of the UK’s best unsigned act in front of a capacity crowd on the main stage of the festival. A&R and celebrity judges involved in last year’s final included former Slade front man Noddy Holder, R’n’B star Shola Ama, Radio 1’s Annie Nightingale and Ras Kwame.

Radio One’s Annie Nightingale is set to Judge Live and Unsigned for the third year running in 2011. A staunch supporter of new talent, Annie is all set for Area Finals: “I look forward to hearing and seeing all the finalists at Live and Unsigned, and will do my best to encourage them on their way to an exciting and successful future. Bring them on!”

Samantha, is now just one good performance away from making the O2 and competing in the Grand Final, after making it through the auditions from over 10,000 acts and now the Regional Finals. Samantha is now preparing for the Area Final Showcase on Sunday 24th April for the opportunity to progress to the National Final at Live Fest, which will be held at the O2 in London on the 23rd July.

For more information go to the website www.LiveandUnsigned.UK.com.

Come and support your local talent! Contact Samantha for Ticket Info

Samantha Smith Reaches the Regional’s of Live and Unsigned

Anil — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:41:44 +0000

Samantha Smith has recently been put through to the regional finals of Live and Unsigned and we need your help!!

The performance is on 13th March at the The Journal Tyne Theatre in Newscastle, tickets are £7.50 and have some of the best acts in the area competing to get to the next round, plus special guests!

Support Samantha and come along to the show, Contact Samantha to buy tickets here, or alternatively get the tickets through the Live and Unsigned website.

Can’t make the date?

There are other ways you could support Samantha.

1) Tell all your friends online and offline! Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Blogs.
2) Follow Samantha on Facebook and Twitter!
3) Do you have any industry contacts? Journalists, radio presenters, celeb twitter/facebook friends who could help??

Any promotion is a massive help.

Official News coming soon…

Thank you.

Samantha Smith Teams up with Local Recording Studio

Anil — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:12:10 +0000

Samantha has teamed up with Bradford’s Peak Studio for her latest project. The album is set to be a seven track recording of Samantha’s music which will be available on iTunes once complete. Samantha says,

“I cannot wait to get back into the studio again, it has been too long. Since the last EP I have been focussing on my writing and concepts for my next album, I decided to work with Peak Studios because I wanted to keep it local and was really impressed with what they have to offer.”

Samantha’s next album, titled “different heartbeats” is set to be released April 2011.

Percussionist joins the team!

Anil — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:55:40 +0000

Samantha is now playing her live and acoustic sets with her very own percussionist. This has added a vast amount of sounds ranging from congas, chimes, bongos, various shakers, bass/snare drums (there are too many sounds to mention) check out the main instrument – the Korg Wavedrum. This is an electronic drum head which has lifted Samantha’s sound onto a higher level.

The pair has played various festivals in 2010 including, Culture Shock, Limetree, and Harrogate Fringe, and have gone down a storm; they have also been very well received at Weddings. The acoustic ensemble plan to carry on performing together and develop further into 2011 and onwards. New videos coming soon.

Samantha Smith Unplugged EP – Reaches the Top 10 in Harrogate Music of 2009

Anil — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:01:39 +0000

Singer / Songwriter Samantha Smith was recently added into the Top Ten for Harrogate Music in 2009, her Unplugged EP reached a respectable 6th.
Samantha plans to continue focus from 2009 to create an even bigger 2010, Samantha said,

“My musical career has already had so many ups and downs, now I just do this for my love of music and I have learnt that I have only really just begun. The EP was recorded in one day on a tight budget with some great local musicians; I look forward to working with them again. I am really happy with my developments in 2009 and I really appreciate everyone’s support and all the purchases of my CD so far, I am currently working on my song writing and look to get my gig dates sorted out in the next couple of months.”

Samantha Smith Unplugged EP Review – Harrogate Advertiser

Anil — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:55:36 +0000

NOPE, she won’t take him back and she ain’t falling for any of his deceitful tricks. The Unplugged EP is the sound of a young woman not only taking back control of her career but her whole life. Having been burnt, a little, by the industry, Harrogate singer Samantha Smith isn’t going to forgive and forget anyone for a few tears and a free dinner. At first I didn’t like these four tracks much. The aggressive lyrics, sparse sound – just the feisty vocals and an abrasive acoustic guitar backing. Where’s the romance?
But I don’t suppose there’s much of that in the music that Pink makes or Lily Allen or any famous rapper, for that matter. The days of the lilting wallflowers are, indeed, over but I was wrong to dismiss this EP so quickly.
After several listens the sheer high quality of the songs emerges to reveal two solidly good self-penned tracks (Lazy Girl and Taken) and one very good one (It’s Too Late) which nearly rivals the cover version which closes the CD, Heartless by a certain Kanye West. And the back to basics approach does at least allow Sam to show off her vocal strengths; packed with character and honesty but, also, as it happens, melody.
Part KT Tunstall and part urban r’n'b songstress, the prettiness of the quietly played pastoral lead guitar lines suggest Samantha’s impressive grasp of shaping an infectious song would sound even better with proper backing in a proper studio. But for now, let’s just salute a genuine new talent – again.
By Graham Chalmers – Editor of the Gig Scene

Samantha Smith Unplugged Ep now available

Anil — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:44:19 +0000

Samantha Smith has been working hard on developing her EP and it is now available to buy. Samantha will be attending various open mic nights throughout Harrogate, Leeds and York to promote the new EP and her music.

Want to know what you’re getting??

The EP has 4 tracks on it, including 3 of Samantha’s. This was recorded with two other local artists Bob Fleming and Tom Flanagan. Support your local artists and buy a CD today! At only £3.00 you can invest in the promotion of a truly gifted artist and look forward to the full album.

Please be sure to come and see her in action over the coming months and get a copy of her CD, check the gig dates section to find out when you can next see Samantha play.