Discover Samantha Rae: From New Hampshire Stages to Award-Winning Country Music Success
9 Lounges Team
6/1/2026


The Creative Force Behind the Music
While Samantha Rae is the name audiences know, the music itself is built on a unique creative partnership. For nearly a decade, Samantha has worked exclusively with her longtime co-writer, producer, and creative partner, Jay DellIsola.
Together, they have developed a songwriting process centered on real-time collaboration, crafting melodies, lyrics, and concepts as a team. Their partnership has resulted in more than 50 original songs and a distinctive sound that blends contemporary country influences with heartfelt storytelling.
Rather than following a traditional path, Samantha and Jay built their own creative ecosystem from the ground up. They assembled a team of elite Nashville musicians, many of whom have performed with major national touring acts, helping bring their musical vision to life.
Independent country music continues to produce remarkable success stories, and few are as inspiring as Samantha Rae's. Hailing from Kingston, New Hampshire, Samantha has steadily built a reputation as one of the most promising voices in modern country music. Her hard work, authenticity, and dedication to songwriting reached a major milestone in 2025 when she earned her first nomination and victory for Country Artist of the Year at the Boston Music Awards.
The recognition reflects years of persistence, artistic growth, and a commitment to creating music that connects deeply with audiences. Samantha's momentum continues to grow as she also received multiple nominations from the Josie Music Awards in Nashville, including two nominations for the upcoming 2026 ceremony.


Sharing the Stage with National Touring Artists
Over the years, Samantha Rae has expanded her audience through powerful live performances. She has appeared as an opening act for nationally recognized artists including Parmalee, LOCASH, Sugar Ray, David Nail, and Tyler Farr.
These opportunities have allowed her to introduce her music to larger audiences while strengthening her reputation as an engaging live performer. Whether performing with her full band or as part of an intimate acoustic duo alongside Jay DellIsola, Samantha consistently delivers performances that showcase both her vocal talent and storytelling abilities.
The Success of The High Road
In 2024, Samantha Rae released her debut album, The High Road. The project quickly resonated with listeners, surpassing half a million streams on Spotify and establishing Samantha as a rising independent artist to watch.
The album's impact continued into 2025 when the song "I See in You" earned Best Original Song honors at the Williamsburg Film and Music Awards. Adding to the momentum, The High Road also received an Album of the Year nomination from the New England Music Awards.
These achievements highlight the growing recognition of Samantha and Jay's songwriting and production work across both the music and entertainment industries.

From Abbey Road Studios to Big Pink
One of the most fascinating aspects of Samantha Rae's journey is her dedication to artistic growth. Samantha and Jay have traveled to the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London multiple times to work on their productions, drawing inspiration from one of the most iconic recording locations in music history.
In May 2025, the duo took another significant creative step by spending time at Big Pink in Saugerties, New York—the historic home associated with Bob Dylan and The Band, where the famous Basement Tapes sessions took place and where Music From Big Pink was born.
During their stay, Samantha and Jay recorded tracks for their upcoming second album while also writing an entirely new collection of roots and Americana-inspired songs, further expanding their creative horizons.
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