Quite simply, Samantha Russo is a force to be reckoned with. She has the innocent appeal of a girl combined with the seductive quality of a full-fledged woman. Her velvety voice is like good bourbon — warm and smooth, with a bite. Most people are surprised to discover that such a soulful voice comes from a petite blonde. “Many people who hear my music are shocked that it is not bubblegum pop and that my voice has such power and depth,” says the Austin Americana artist. Samantha’s versatility shines through her music with the blues-inspired anthem to independence in “All Grown Up” or the sweet reminiscence of carefree summer days in “Let It Go”. She is proof that you can be tough and pretty, sweet and honest, and the doll-faced girl who can hang with the boys. Sam, as friends call her, didn’t wake up one day and decide to pursue a career in music. The aqua-eyed beauty was singing from the moment she could talk and has been performing on stage since she was five years old. “I always knew I wanted to be a singer, but I didn’t exactly take a linear path to get there,” says Russo. “I had been singing, writing, and performing since I was a little girl, but it wasn’t until college that I taught myself how to play guitar and started taking songwriting seriously.” After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Communication, she held a few office jobs before realizing she couldn’t put music away. The singer states, “I tried the ‘real world’ and began feeling a void in my life because I’d put music on the back burner. I finally accepted the fact that creating and performing music bring more joy to me than anything else. And, life’s too short not to do what you love.” With vigor and determination, Samantha is currently writing for her debut album and is already emerging as an exciting new force in the Austin music scene. Her maturity and dedication coupled with a feisty demeanor confirm that there is no stopping this firecracker.