Samantha Foss was initially bitten by the performance bug while in the car with her mother as a young child. Her mother was a single parent who worked tirelessly to maintain Samantha and sang in local cover bands. While her mother drove her to work, she would play Samantha at an oldies station and taught her how to harmonize while the two sang together.
It was difficult to grow up in Atlanta at the time. Foss did not always get to spend much time with her mother due to her mother's need to work many jobs. Most of her time was spent at home preparing meals for her mother upon her return from work. This gave Foss the maturity and independence she needed to thrive when the music called.
Early on, Foss also took guitar and piano lessons, with her mother paying local teachers what she could afford. Samantha mastered both early on and began writing songs at nine. The school was difficult for her, and she was frequently bullied for her interest in music other than top 40 radio. Others made fun of her since she had a single mother, which was uncommon at the time.
She channeled the inner upheaval this situation brought her at the time into her lyrics and singing. Her teachers saw her talent early on and encouraged her to play consistently.
Samantha Foss discovered her true calling after graduating from high school: music. Through the music program, she acquired acquaintances who acknowledged her innate gift. Not only did she play in several school-related bands, primarily as a rhythm guitarist or vocalist, but she also founded multiple groups with her friends. They predominantly performed a blend of rock and soul, with Foss frequently performing lead vocals.
During this time, Foss also acquired music theory and increased her arranging abilities. She became the band's resident songwriter, singer, and arranger and frequently composed intricate vocal harmonies. Foss also frequently mastered other instruments, including bass guitar, everything with keys, and even tuned percussion and drum sets. This made her handy in a variety of contexts.
Others showcased her as a side musician, but most highlighted her talents. However, her talent was often too obvious to be overlooked for an extended period. Eventually, she ended up taking over virtually every band and experimenting with distinct styles and sounds with each to better develop her skills.
Samantha Foss began performing at open mic evenings, but they quickly gained opening spots with local bands. Her ability to play in any style and pick up songs without using sheet music surprised her peers. Foss, who can play by ear and read music, has performed not only in rock bands but also in soul groups, rap ensembles, jazz performances, and even classical concerts.
