SAM BLANCHARD

SAM BLANCHARD AND THE NEW ORLEANS EXPERIMENT, COMING FALL 2008............When Sam Blanchard was 5 years old, in the kitchen of her small house on the grassy outskirts of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she presented her father with the conundrum. “I don’t know if I should be a singer, or an actress…” From an early age she carried around the belief that one day, she would be famous – as many young girls tend to do. But one thing was undeniable about Sam Blanchard. She had a voice, and more importantly, an ear.“I began writing songs when I was about 9 years old. I’m not saying they were any good, but that’s when I started to play with the process of songwriting.”Born and raised amongst the radiating, bluesy culture of the deep south, Sam absorbed an unmistakable soulfulness that has stuck with her throughout the years. Growing up, she used her voice wherever possible – school talent shows, the choir, and even her own singing group that would perform original songs for the kids at recess. When a particular infatuation arose with the Etta James tune “At Last”, the opportunity came for the then 12 year old to have her first encounter with the recording studio. In a small shack outside of Baton Rouge, she would record her very own songs for the very first time – analog, computer free, one take only.“There was this man with a makeshift studio near Bayou Manchac. He was obsessed with the Bee Gees and his breath smelled like onions. The place was always filled with cigarette smoke. It was quite an experience.”Despite the humble beginnings, it was clear the time had come for Sam to pursue her music career with full force. She found her way to Nashville where she would train under famed vocal coach, Brett Manning, and record her first full length album with esteemed record producer, Andrew Lane. “Music of Our Lives”, an original cut off the album, was celebrated by national lobbying group ANCOR as a rallying cry to gain support for their cause. Sam and Lane were personally invited by the director of the National Office of Disabilities to showcase the song in Washington, DC. Things were beginning to move along. But as time progressed, it became clear that Sam Blanchard was not your typical artist, not even that marketable perhaps.“I’ve never been particularly perfect looking or skinny. It wasn’t until I started to get heavily involved in this business that I realized it was going to be some sort of an issue for me – unless I did something completely different. I started to get really turned off by the standards placed on female artists, and as I got a little older my goals started to shift. The fantasy I had when I was younger of being on MTV, or winning grammys was fading. I became more interested in writing than anything else. I went to a seminar of Jason Blume’s once at BMI. He heard one of my songs and after the seminar he walked up to me and said, ‘You are fantastic. Good luck to you’. It was one of the most incredible things.”After trying her luck in “Music City USA” for several years it was time for a change. Sam headed west to California, fulfilling a life-long dream of living in Los Angeles. Newly motivated and armed with an entirely different outlook, she began taking music technology courses at the local college and reinvented herself as an aspiring record producer. Still using her voice wherever possible, she sang demo vocals and featured artist spots, and in 2005, began singing background for local Pop/Rock artist MISTY. That summer, on August 29th, 2005, tragedy hit all too close to home. Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on the opening night of her first ever performance with MISTY and the band.“What I saw on the television the next day was indescribable. This was a city I visited nearly every weekend of my life when I was growing up. New Orleans is loved by everyone that lives in Louisiana. It’s kind of like the cultural hub. To see it destroyed was like having part of my heritage obliterated.”In the months that followed Hurricane Katrina, Sam spent her time taking classes, soul-searching, and developing her artistry. Performing in and around Hollywood hot spots as a background vocalist, she furthered her on stage experience and increased her familiarity with live audiences. Breathing in the bohemian air of Los Angeles, Sam was beginning to understand the concept of the independent artist. After reuniting with producer Andrew Lane, the light bulb came on, and the idea for The New Orleans Experiment was born. Having spent nearly 8 years away from home, Sam came to the conclusion that it was time to go back.“I’ve fallen in love with the entire concept of the underground, of the unknown artist, of doing something for the sake of doing it and nothing else. For so long I thought I needed all these agents and sponsors and money behind me to succeed, and I’ve learned that I don’t need all that. If I just stick with the people that have stuck with me all this time, I’ll get where I want to go. The New Orleans Experiment is my way of getting back in touch with my roots, and making an album that’s completely mine and real. ”Coming in the fall of 2008, Sam Blanchard will embark on an 8 week tour of the New Orleans area, and will bring along her new studio album - in which a significant portion of proceeds will go directly towards a charity of her careful selection, one that’s dedicated to the continued relief from the long lasting affects of Hurricane Katrina.“I’m really excited. This is something I need to do.” ***"LATEX LOVE" IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD!!!NEW PHOTOS FROM THE "LATEX LOVE" RELEASE PARTY...AN ENORMOUS THANKS TO ZEALAND IMAGING!!!Visit SAM BLANCHARD on Mp3.com! DOWNLOAD SONGS, VIEW PICTURES, READ BLOGS, USE FORUMS..............This shit was made with Thomas' myspace editor™ V2.5