Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Short.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
A storyteller by nature, I have always made it my mission to use both my voice and my pen as means of establishing my identity in today’s layered and dynamic music industry. Growing up a classically trained vocalist/pianist and musical theater performer in my small hometown of Bend, OR, it was my love for songwriting that ultimately served as the vessel for me to relocate to Los Angeles and make my musical footprint.
I attended USC for Narrative Studies with an emphasis in Songwriting and recently graduated this past spring, and am now doing music full time. My artist project is my priority right now, as I am planning on releasing throughout the rest of the year. I am also both a session songwriter for others, with cuts coming out with TikTok viral sensations Haiden and Rosse soon!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I grew up in a small town — which was amazing because I loved my childhood and love my family so much — but I did feel extremely limited by my environment, given that it didn’t provide me with means to excel musically.
After I graduated high school, I made it my mission to move to LA and pursue what I love. However, I was extremely set back when I got hit by a car my freshman year of college and suffered a traumatic brain injury that forced me to move back in with my parents and miss my first few months of college. Since that injury, I have suffered from lasting physical side effects that affect me every day.
However, in some twisted way, I am actually very grateful that that happened to me. I think that time at home provided me with time to sit with my own thoughts and truly refine my songwriting pen. It also shifted the way I think about life in general.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a singer/songwriter and actress.
I have been writing songs since I was seven years old and continue to do so every day. I have my own left-of-center pop artist project under the name Sam Short. I also am a session songwriter and actress.
I grew up doing musical theater, which is something I continued to pursue in college (and something I would love to pursue later on in my career as well!). I think musical theater is what taught me how to truly connect with an audience on a human level, which I think is something that rings true in my artistry.
I think that my biggest strength as a human is my ability to empathize with others, and I think that sets me apart from others as an artist as well because I think that rings true not only in my lyrics but in my live performance.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
This sounds so Gen Z it makes me want to throw up — but USE INSTAGRAM. Or TikTok. Or Twitter. Or whichever social media app you like!
Social media can be such an amazing tool, as it allows us to connect with others at the click of a button. And we all have access to it. So, don’t be shy: DM that person, post that story tagging someone you want to reach out to, you truly never know what can come of it. And btw — you have nothing to lose. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: samshortmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samshortmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samshortmusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/samshortmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SamShortmusic
Image Credits
Photos by Paris Mumpower and Dominique Falcone
