Discovering the music of Samantha Sharpe feels like stumbling upon one of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets. With a heartfelt songwriting style and infectious melodies, she’s rapidly establishing herself in the Australian music scene. Drawing inspiration from icons like Shania Twain, P!nk, and Taylor Swift, Samantha’s work is rich with vibrant tones and comforting acoustics. Her debut EP, ‘Gilded Cage,’ caught the attention of community radio and garnered acclaim from both fans and music publications alike. After pouring her heart into a new 12-track album that delves into the complexities of friendship breakups, navigating single life, and embarking on fresh starts, we sat down with her to discuss this exciting journey. Keep reading to learn more about this talented artist and what inspires her music!
Can you remember the first song you ever wrote or performed?
I was 11, and it was called ‘Play It Cool’ – it had a lot of rhyming in it, I have to say. I still remember every word, not just because it was catchy as heck, but because I sang it so many times. I took it to my music teacher in primary school, and she created a piano track for it. I ended up performing it not only at school assemblies, but local shopping centres too, as part of the school’s music events.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to start playing instruments alongside singing, or did it come naturally over time?
Honestly, I was sick of paying somebody else to play for me! I was playing cover gigs but as a vocalist only, to get my performing chops up and start earning some money from music. Organising others to play instruments for me became tedious, and paying others for their time was eating into my gig money! I was content to just practice and try to get myself playing “eventually”, until I hit a bit of a rough patch and really felt the need to push myself and achieve something new. I cancelled all of my upcoming guitarist hires, and vowed to do it for myself at all the upcoming gigs. Little did I know, they venue would move one of them up a few weeks.. I ended up well and truly thrust into the deep end, and I’m so glad – I proved to myself that I could do it, and under so much pressure too.
What is it about music that keeps you passionate and motivated to keep creating, even when faced with challenges?
Music has always spoken to me, even before I recognised it as a calling. I always thought I was just passionate about music and lucky to have some skill that helped me enjoy it even more, but being immersed in it and making it myself has been incredible on so many levels. I can’t truly explain it, just that it’s “the thing”, and nothing else has ever come close – and believe me, I’ve tried to follow other paths. I just always come back to the one that feels like home.
Can you share a specific performance or milestone that you felt truly marked a turning point in your musical journey?
Hearing my song on tv was a big one! Coincidentally, a song called “Turning Point”. It was played by Channel Nine during a documentary series made about The Matildas. I’ll never forget the way I felt hearing the track on national television for the first time.
How do you handle moments when you feel creatively stuck or unsure about your next step in the industry?
I feel stuck a lot! I’m a team of one, only ever collaborating with my producer (Michael Mumford), and doing all admin, creative, marketing, etc on my own. Creatively, I feel like I need to let the music and the ideas come to me, but with some structure – I can’t wait for inspiration to strike, but I can put myself in scenarios where it’s more likely, like sitting down to write often, and documenting ideas and thoughts when they occur, no matter where I am. In terms of the industry, being unsure about the next step has been most of my journey thus far. I think that’s how I’ve gotten so scrappy! If you never know what you’re about to do next, but you know you’ve got to be moving forward, you get crafty and think outside the box a lot more.
What exciting projects or goals do you have lined up for 2025, and how do you plan to push your music to new heights?
I’ve got an album coming out this year, my first ever full length release of 12 tracks. I spent months in the studio with Michael Mumford hashing out the details and laying down vocals for these songs, and they’re finally ready to be released into the world. I wrote every song myself, based on experiences I’ve had in the last few years, and I’m really proud of what’s come out of all of it. Even the bad times gave me great creative fuel! ‘Glitter, Guts, and Glory’ is set for release on Friday 18 July.
With a week till Samantha Sharpe drops her album, go show her your support with a follow on Instagram. Save the date – stream ‘Glitter, Guts, and Glory’ on Spotify from July 18. For more great interviews with our Australian music community, stick with TAGG – The Alternative Gig Guide.
