Samantha LaPorta is learning early in life what it means to be an artist. At the tender age of 12, Samantha recently travelled to Nashville to talk with a recording group who wants to train her for a long term singing career.
“At first I didn’t think it would be anything big,” said Samantha, “but then everyone starts talking about it and it feels good having everyone recognize you.”
Samantha’s mother, Terry LaPorta said their first trip to Nashville was two years ago but the change happened this summer when PCG signed Samantha to train and record her first recording, “Suburban White Trash.” PCG, an artist development company in Nashville TN. Terry said Samantha works with mentors, including co-writer Britton Cameron, two days each month and returns home to Santa Rosa County to be a normal 7th grader. Samantha said she was inspired by country singer Kacey Musgraves because she likes how she uses metaphors in songwriting and her style as she performs. With her co-writer she said she works for about 5 hours twice a month, honing her craft.
Samantha said this summer she was interviewed on the radio and did a local television show called Nashville Spotlight. Samantha said she felt shy at first and didn’t know what to say but she finally felt comfortable. She also said she was surprised her song was so popular on the radio.
Terry said 4 radio stations picked up “Suburban White Trash” and is considered to be in the top 20 on Vradio out of Nashville. Recently, Samantha posted her single to Reverbnation music site. Terry said by the next day over 1,000 plays was verified on the website for Suburban White Trash, requested by 2 online Radio Stations; Music Road Radio and VRADIO Nashville. VRadio in Nashville showed about 4.6 million listeners in Nashville, and 16,000 online listeners tuned in to hear her single. A 3rd radio station, Clays Country Radio in KY called to let Samantha know her song would be playing and Music Road Radio's CEO recently invited Samantha to walk the red carpet at the New Country Music Awards Event just outside Nashville in April, said Terry, as Samantha was nominated for Teen Music Award.
Now Samantha is back in school at Sims Middle School, she said most of her friends know about it but not everyone. “Its one of those things you have to get used to in life,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pace student records single, working on big time career