Alex Sampson
Atitokan Singer-Songwriter Embarks on North American Tour
By Ava I. Penney
Alex Sampson came from humble beginnings in his small hometown of Atikokan—a complete 180 from the lifestyle he climbed mountains to reach. Now a multi-talented Warner Music Group recording artist, an America’s Got Talent semi-finalist, and an internationally touring singer, Sampson has already defied the odds by the young age of 22. Last month, Sampson embarked on his first headlining North American tour, Thank You For Loving Me, and with Canadian dates in March, he’s ready to give his fans an unforgettable experience.
“I’ve always wanted to have my own tour,” Sampson says. “I think it’s every artist’s dream.” This month, the “Pretty Baby” singer kicked off this dream in Anaheim, California, and will spend two months on the road, performing hits from his 2024 EP, Hopeless Romantic, alongside singles released throughout his career. “I don’t want to go on stage and do a song, next song, a song, next song,” says Sampson. “My goal is to create an atmosphere that people could not only have a good time in, but get away from the rest of the world.”
But how did such stardom come about for such a young artist from our region? At 14, Sampson began posting covers and original songs to TikTok. While the algorithm did not always work to his advantage, Sampson says he’s “learned to be patient, to stay consistent no matter what the results are, and to push through.”
And push through he did, because by 2024, Sampson was standing on “America's biggest stage,” in front of America's Got Talent season 19 judges, including renowned record executive Simon Cowell. “I made it to the semi-finals, and I think I came in 14th place,” Sampson says. “Which is so crazy because they audition like 100,000 people online.” Through such mainstream exposure, Sampson’s singles “Pretty Baby,” “If You Were My Girl,” and “Wallflower” gained global recognition, skyrocketing his career to where it is currently and amassing millions of listeners worldwide.
“It’s gonna happen for me one day, I just don’t know when or how,” Sampson says he remembers thinking back in his Atikokan school days. And now, with his first headlining tour underway, that day has certainly come. Despite his international appeal, Samson remains true to his Canadian roots. “I’m never going to forget where I come from,” Sampson insists. “I'm always gonna be coming back to the country that created me.”
For more information, visit alexsampsonmusic.com.