Samantha Russo

Take a soulful yet crystalline voice, songs that blend folk, soul, blues, and rock – and wrap it all up in a dynamite petite package. That's Samantha Russo.

The Texas native has been singing since she could talk and performing on stage since she was five years old, but it wasn’t until Russo’s senior year of college that she began dipping back into her musical roots and teaching herself to play guitar. “I bought a Johnny Cash chord book, learned the fundamentals and soon after started writing songs,” says the singer-songwriter. Since then, Russo has been a finalist in the Austin Songwriters contest for her song ‘Let It Go’, and was selected from numerous artists to contribute a track to the Holiday HAAM Jam, Vol. 2 album — along with Clint Black, Ray Benson, and other Texas music legends. She has performed at Antone’s, Strange Brew Lounge Side and other iconic Austin venues, and she diligently continues to hone her craft through Girl Guitar workshops. 

Russo’s versatility shines through her music with the anthem to independence in ‘All Grown Up’ or loving someone despite the obstacles in ‘Right As Rain’. It is evident that her songwriting ability isn’t just surface material. She digs deep on ‘Revolution’ and ‘Seed of Change’, which illuminate the financial concerns faced by the middle class today. The singer says, “Off stage I’m pretty reserved, so I use my music to say what needs to be said. My songs are inspired by the injustices I see, the uncertainty I feel, the love stories I hope for.”

The singer-songwriter is releasing her debut EP in November 2015 and is already emerging as an exciting force in the Austin music scene. Her maturity and dedication coupled with a feisty demeanor confirm that there is no stopping this firecracker.