BIOGRAPHY
21-year-old singer/songwriter Samantha J has quickly blazed her own trail in the accelerated runway of pop music. Her unique blend of pop, reggae, hip-hop and R&B has captivated audiences not only in her native Jamaica, but has been eagerly embraced by the rest of the world. Now in the studio recording her highly anticipated debut album with industry powerhouses such as Redone (Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj), R. City (Miley Cyrus, Beyonce), JR. Rotem (Rihanna, Sean Kingston), Jim Jonsin (T.I., Lil Wayne), Supa Dups (Bruno Mars, Drake) and The Stereotypes (Justin Bieber, Chris Brown), Samantha J is well on her way to becoming a global phenomenon.
Born in Kingston and raised in Saint Ann, Samantha J has always been a free spirit with a talent for the arts and an insatiable ambition. “I believe in going out and raising the bar higher than what is expected of you,” confides Samantha, who was originally discovered by The Si Mi Yah Modeling Agency before getting signed to Columbia Records via Oceanic Tradewinds Music. The young pop sensation certainly did raise bars when she first erupted onto the music scene with her debut single “Tight Skirt.” The irresistible track was praised as “an infectious dose of island flavor, mixed with just the right amount of pop to do what ‘Pon De Replay’ did for Rihanna” by MTV Buzzworthy and became a worldwide hit, quickly surpassing 4 million views on YouTube.
The commercial appeal of Samantha J’s signature sound, influenced by her deep Jamaican roots, is undeniable. Her second single “League of My Own,” featuring Dej Loaf, peaked at #25 on the Media Base Rhythmic Chart. More recently, her unofficial remix to Omi’s “Cheerleader” became a viral sensation, with major radio stations across the U.S. playing Samantha J’s remix exclusively. Her latest single “Bad Like Yuh” has quickly generated heat on the Caribbean airwaves and is making its rounds worldwide.
“I always tell people they should take a trip to Jamaica and this is the trip I would take them on,” divulges Samantha J about the video for ‘Bad Like Yuh.’” Shot in her hometown of Ocho Rios, the video features a reunion with her closest friends and brings the sights and sounds of her native country to life.
With just a few tracks released, Samantha has amassed an ever-growing fan base (her “loyal J’s,” as she calls them), and she couldn’t be more at home performing live in front of them. “It’s so great to see them all out there singing, waving their hands. I am so grateful,” she says. Samantha has performed on some of the biggest stages in the world, with highlights including HOT 97 New York’s On Da Reggae Tip, the BET College Tour, and opening for Ludacris.
Over the past few years, Samantha J has been on the journey of a lifetime, but she is only just getting started. “It gives me shivers to think about how big Samantha J is going to be in the next couple of years,” proclaims Redone. “She has music for all the world and on par with the all-time greats. I can’t wait to watch this all unfold.” With her debut album set for a 2016 release, Samantha J couldn’t be more excited to put her pop edge on the sounds of the Jamaica she loves and share her new music with her fans across the globe.
