Samantha Fish, Armed with Gibson ES-335 Dream Guitar, Releases New Album

The opening riff of “Sweet Southern Sounds” from Samantha Fish’s newly released album Paper Doll hooks me in with its fuzz and twang that stays on my mind long after the organ-drenched song ends. So I was both surprised yet not surprised at all to learn that the blues rocker’s guitar of choice was a sparkly Gibson ES-335 — one of my personal favorites!

“There were just a lot of factors that pushed me in that direction,” she recently told Guitar Player. “It was just about getting that massive sound.”

The presence of a new guitar is just one of the cool apsects of Paper Doll, the follow up to her 2023 Grammy-nominated album Death Wish Blues with Jesse Dayton, showcasing Fish as an artist who likes to delight, but also to surprise.

The album is loaded with catchy guitar riffs and long, extended solos, saturated in organs and attitude. It’s also a study in versatility, incorporating elements of garage-pop, vintage soul, and rock n’ roll throughout. Notably it’s both ambitious yet familiar, produced by Bobby Harlow, who also produced her 2017 LP Chills & Fever. Her touring band Ron Johnson (bass), Jamie Douglass (drums), and Mickey Finn (keys), reportedly cut most of the album in the midst of a busy touring schedule that included a run of dates with Slash on the legendary guitarist’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival in summer 2024.

Overall, the album feels a bit different than 2021’s Faster, trading the sexy, synth-pop percussive beats of tracks like “Twisted Ambition,” for meandering, fuzzy solos, especially on “Sweet Southern Sounds.” Tracks like “I’m Done Runnin’” and the poetic, psych-rock tune “Fortune Teller” highlight Fish’s lyrical grit, as well as her genre-defying artistry. The title track “Paper Doll,” in particular, emphasizes the joy of rebelling against other peoples’ expectations. 

As she heads out on her U.S. tour, we’re stoked to see her play some of these tunes on her ES-335 — as well as (hopefully) a few legacy hits on her trusty Gibson SG or beloved Cigar Box guitar. Grab a ticket to see her on her upcoming tour here.