Paige Fish makes a splash in the music scene

SALT LAKE CITY — Paige Fish has been singing for as long as she can remember. In the last few years, she has competed on American Idol, gained nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok, released music and played many sold-out shows. Her superpower is her soulful voice, which has brought her fame and a fan base.

"I realized that I could write music when I was 5 or 6," Fish, 19, of Springville, said. "I remember it all clicking from a really young age. Ever since I was little, it's always been something that calls to me."

When she turned 13, Fish began working with local music producer and neighbor Mason Murphy to record and release her music. Her singles were a huge hit, and at age 15, she received an offer from American Idol to compete. She turned it down the first time, but when the opportunity rolled around again, she accepted.

During her time on the show, she made it to the Top 25. However, much of the footage of her singing wasn't put into the show. Looking back, she is thankful she didn't become famous on American Idol.

"It actually ended up being really good that it wasn't aired, so I could learn to organically grow my business without the help of a TV show," Fish said.

A year after her Idol journey, Fish began experimenting with marketing on TikTok. Her single, "26 and 24," went viral and began to gain significant traction. That song was the launching point for her entire career. Since then, she has performed at live venues, opened for popular artists such as Avery Anna, modeled for major brands like Gap, and released music to her growing fan base.

With no formal vocal training, Fish has gained popularity from her soulful voice and blend of folk, pop and country. Although her family and friends have given her tips, her voice has always been a blessing in her life. Her "glittery" sound has kept listeners coming back for more.

Fish brings her band to each show, and many of the members have been with her for years, by her design, meshing well together.

Up until this point, all of Fish's music has come from her teenage years. As she turns 20 this year, she is excited to explore what her sound could evolve into.

"I am excited to grow up and write music for people that I can see myself in — my music projects to who I am," Fish shared.

Fish's songwriting process follows a rough, three-step outline. First, she begins with a "lightbulb" moment, typically born out of a moment of intense emotion. She then sits at a piano or guitar to "noodle around" and find a chord progression that feels good to her and the emotions of the song. To finish it all off, she writes lyrics describing exactly how she felt in the moment.

"When I'm feeling something, it's almost like the song writes itself," Fish said. "I'm not in my Paige-mind, I'm in some other world where every word I'm saying is really fitting."

Throughout her journey, Fish has learned to embrace her creative side. For much of her life, she felt as though it was a burden. Now that she has gained experience, she is thankful for the gift she has been given.

"I honestly like to view it as a superpower. I can take these big feelings and use them as something to express myself and share with other people," Fish said. "I've learned how to take creativity and set it on a higher level of being, so you can tap into it and realize it is a good thing. It has changed my life."

Some of Fish's standout moments include watching fans from the stage, singing her lyrics back to her. Tear-stained faces, cameras flashing and a live band make those moments ethereal for the artist.

Her next project is an album that has been entirely co-written with other music artists. This is her first venture into the co-writing space and Fish has been in awe at the "wizardry" that can come from collaboration.

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Paige Fish (@paigefishh) • Instagram photos and videos

She will be posting updates about her upcoming album in the next few weeks.

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