Samantha Hatano
A San Diego native with a multicultural background, Samantha Hatano grew up surrounded by several musical genres that influence her as a vocalist today. From the rich and velvety tunes of sixties and seventies soul she would grow up singing along with her father, to the fiery passion of the seventies and eighties rock n roll that her mother exposed her to, to the expressive and adventurous world of musical theatre that she did in high school and college, she finally found her true passion in metal. Samantha started her musical career much later than some at the age of 26, joining the theatrical industrial band Squirrelly Arts in 2011. “Joining Squirrelly Arts was a dream come true being a huge fan of their music beforehand. As my stage character Emma-O, I’m still able to get my theatre fix through our costuming and special effects and shifting into a horror villain that I created. This band is hard work but crazy fun!” Between the years of 2012-2015, Samantha picked up the bass guitar when she played for the female hardcore punk band, Masteria, fronted by guitar great Gaylene Goudreau, “Bass is an instrument I have always had a great appreciation and love for, I always had an attraction to that deep rich tone. I jumped at the opportunity to play it live!” In Spring 2015, Samantha took on her biggest challenge yet, fronting the multitalented artists of the first female Pantera tribute, Cowgirls from Hell. “[Members] Rose Deocampo, Wena Velasco, and Christina Sousa are all musical geniuses and I am a total fan. The fact that I get to perform with these women is a dream come true. Portraying Phil Anselmo onstage is challenging yet a blast! With Wena, Rose, and Christina it just comes naturally cause they nail the music and bring the party soul of Pantera back to their fans we have the honor of playing for. We’re fans playing for fans and we’re just getting started!”
