Its a triumph over adversity. "I like a Jazzmaster through a Fender Twin," says Sam Fender. "I feel like it's my first proper album," says Fender. Four years ago I was on benefits playing live in August. Earlier this year, he won the Critics Choice Award at the Brits, and in September his debut album went straight in at number one. One of my earliest memories is of him accidentally jamming my finger in a door. His IG account is fully covered with music and his professional life updates. I feel like Ive started to close the chapter on that part of my life. His thumb bounces between the 5th and 6th strings, while his other fingers create a harp-like effect on the melody. Back in 2014, he suffered from a life-threatening illness, a vocal cord illness. But when it comes to buying stuff, there's still a part of us that thinks I'm still living in the flat with my mum on a council estate, and I still feel like I can't. The pandemic also exposed the struggles and poverty faced in towns such as North Shields, and his ire at the governments handling of COVID and Brexitas well as his dismay at an opposition party that seemed to have abandoned working-class communitiesburns through Aye and Long Way Off. Forthright in message and poetic in delivery, his words are set to a sound that continues to explore Americana and indie rock, funneling everything through big-hearted choruses. Sam Fender Cancels Upcoming Tour Dates to Look Life-changing things like becoming famous and having money happened all at once and I didnt feel like I deserved any of it. Sam Fender: Hypersonic Missiles review | Alexis Petridis's album of the week, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. In it, he tells young Sam not to be so serious. And so, this reckoning unfolds throughout 11 tracks. It's a banger that cuts right to the struggle of It's an honour to do what you will do, never forget that. "I think it's such a refreshing rehash of sounds we already knowit's such a refreshing rehash of '80s music. My mum was a nurse who birthed practically half the babies in North Shields. I think it has continuity. He has had a thrilling year, clearly, but it has also unsettled him. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, 'Trump or bust' - grassroots Republicans are still loyal. "That was a back lane that I used to go down and smoke weed when I was about 15 with a bunch of tearaways," Fender says in his regional "Geordie" accent. When he tells stories about human beings rather than philosophizing about the human condition, he sounds like hes on his way to greatness. I was also using every vice in the book to distract myself, and none of it was working. On the album's cover, a photograph shows Sam sitting on a brick stoop. OUT NOW!! Fender grew up in this small village, which he calls "a drinking town with a fishing problem." Celebrate the loves and friendships that you have over the journey of your life and celebrate those who arent here anymore. Read on as he talks us through all of the albums tracks. But with pop music now, a lot of ballady songs are, I love you, you dont love me, or I love you and you love me and its very nice. Get You Down The comments below have not been moderated. However, the North Shields star said he was "super excited" for Australia in late November and "everything to come in 2023", including June's homecoming gigs at Newcastle United's St James' Park, for which tickets sold out within minutes. As of 2021, he released his songs such as Spit of You, Seventeen Going Under, and Get You Down. There was a lot of riots there back in the '90s. It was his father, a guitar player himself , who bought Sam his very first guitar, back when he was eight. These songs of tribulation are resonating strongly with Britons, and landed Fender another No. Last To Make It Home is his favourite track on there., Wellers choice is an acoustic-style ballad, its simple Aadd9/E/Dadd9 chord structure nodding to the Americana/folk vibe of Ryan Adams a Fender influence circa his 2001 album, Gold. New award:Adele won the first ever genderless Artist Of The Year gong after the male and female categories were scrapped. Its that like desperate, horrible shit line of Hit the like/In the hopes Id coax you out of my derelict fantasy. In the hopes that Id be noticed. "Hypersonic Missiles" weaves a love story in between musings about "feeding the corporate machine" and "kids in Gaza being bombed." ), "I like Springsteen for the lyrics, and I love War on Drugs for the sound," Fender shares. Fender said he was "eternally overwhelmed" by the "love and support" of fans and apologised, adding that "the state of my wellbeing is starting to affect everything I do, including my performances". Dont get me wrong, nothing wrong with that, he says, some of the best songs in the world are co-written, but Im proud to say that Ive done all this by myself. "I can't express how grateful we are to have such an awesome fan base.". Its not as if Im an expert, hes quick to point out. When my brother gave us Jeff Buckley, I was like alright, he does that, and it's rock 'n' roll, and it sounds cool. Read about our approach to external linking. I was old enough to understand what was going on, but I wasnt old enough to be able to do anything about it. Details To Know, Dominique Samuels Wikipedia: Everything To Know About Journalist, WOMAN REVEALS THE SIMPLE AIRPORT MISTAKE THAT COULD DELAY YOU AT SECURITY AND RISKS YOU MISSING YOUR FLIGHT, FOUR AIRPLANE TRAVEL TIPS TO ENSURE YOU HAVE THE BEST TRIP POSSIBLE, HORRIFIC CCTV FOOTAGE CAPTURES DOG WALKER MISSING, Planning a road trip in the UK? Fender has too much empathy for Seventeen Going Under to be entirely introspective, though. Spit of You He was so angry at himself but he couldnt express it, so he just booted the wall under the staircase. When I had a girlfriend, I realised I couldnt surrender myself to people. Hypersonic Missiles, then, is the result of Fenders tunnel vision. The BRIT Awards sparked controversy last year after ditching the traditional male and female categories and switching to gender-neutral gongs for the first time in its history, causing naysayers to brand the event 'woke'. It was a divorce Christmas present, Fender says now. Sam Fender tours the UK from 22 November. While he has previously brought this to public attention, he suggests he isnt yet ready to discuss its details. Fender isnt the only one to show social media support for Depp in the wake of such a serious claim. You may feel alone currently but you will realise that your stories, when put to music, open up a side of you that actually helps people. In 2017, he published Play God.. His brother gave him a copy of Buckleys classic 1994 album Grace, and Fender has clearly picked up some vocal tics from the late singer. Im going through a phase of abstinence right now, Look, Im not going to capitalise on what happened, because theres a guilt in being a survivor. But the leveler is the lockdown itself. This songs about figuring out that you cant pay so much attention to these people who genuinely dont care about you and theyre only there to bolster themselves. That's my go-to.". Because of a series of health conditions his weight has ballooned to around 30 stones which made it impossible for him to get there. Indeed, Fender's lyrics stop you in your tracks. When Sam was 17 years old, his mother had to end her career due to fibromyalgia. Its heartening to hear you sounding so upbeat now. Lyrically it centres on a moment when Fender saw his father kiss his grandmothers forehead after she died: It was love in all its agony, every bit of me hurting for you/Cos one day thatll be your forehead Im kissing/And Ill still look exactly like you. Its toxic behavior. BA1 1UA. Sam Fender will be taking a break from his career after becoming concerned about his mental health. The star took to social media to tell fans he and his band were "burnt out". They ripped apart every safety net for people in that position. "I got a guitar when I was 8 and started mucking around with it then. Sam Fender Seventeen Going Under (Live from Brixton), Mainly Oasis (@mainlyoasis) November 15, 2021. Seventeen Going Under I think it sounds great. / For Mam and Dad and all my pals / For all the ones who didnt make the night. Ive got to keep going because Ive been preaching it! "It seems completely hypocritical of me to advocate discussion on mental health and write songs about it, if I don't take the time to look after my own mental health," his statement read. I had moments where I was so low that I thought about it. Sam Fender looked a little worse for wear when he made his way into his BRIT Awards afterparty at Four Quarters in Peckham on Tuesday night. Some of my favourite songs are the ones I write the lyrics for first, but theres something that comes out of you when you write a melody its like your soul talking, youre finding it through pure feeling.. We laugh about it now; things have really turned a corner. I'm like, "ooh, that's a lot of money." I got Slashs autobiography when I was 12, and learned all his solos I had this one blues lick that I used to just rip over the top of every song.. DONT SAY SANDWICHES: HOW TO GIVE YOUR LUNCHBOX A LIFT, How Old Is Eddie Kidd? Because of the polarity between the left and the right, I dont feel I have an identity with politicians on either side. Therapy gave me the tools to articulate what was going on in my life as a kid and to understand how that has affected me and why I am the way I am in certain situations. Heres how it works. On Mantra, you write about another kind of malaise: fame. Long Way Off It's about political polarity and how I feel a lack of identity with any of the political parties currently in my country. He lived there with his mother on a council estate, a type of British public housing. Once I hit my mid-20s, I felt like I could write about it all in a way that wasnt completely dull. Im finally at a place where I can understand it, and the things that I hated about myself are what I should be celebrating the fact that Im an empathetic little softie is probably the best thing about me. Stick with us for more details. Theyd seen their family members on wards suffering. The new Jazzmasters yet to make its studio debut, but there are other ones, plus Strats and Teles, on the record. Video'Trump or bust' - grassroots Republicans are still loyal, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. All rights reserved. I was always quite frugal. Chronicle live featured him for his New Castle Arena tour. TIDBIT: Seventeen Going Under was recorded at Wor House (Sam Fender's studio) in North Shields, England, and Grouse Lodge in Ireland. ", Sonically, the War on Drugs is one of Fender's favorite bands. Theres a sect of snooty liberalism in the media world that completely alienates working-class people. It was written around the time when all the Trump supporters were storming the capital building. Copyright 2023 From its yearning title track, to urgent cry from the heart Aye, to dark, seventh-chord heavy The Leveller, Seventeen Going Under is a remarkable record, delivered with Fenders earnest, keening vocal not unlike that of The Killers Brandon Flowers and packed with melodies, ear-catching guitar riffs, and the kind of sensitive, poetic lyrics rarely heard in the poppier sphere these days. Im realizing I need to get ahold of myself. 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. Type above and press Enter to search. "I was doing therapy at the same time to try and get my head screwed on, and I ended up dissecting my whole childhood in therapy. Shes not a liar and shes not a benefit cheat. Hed say: If you think someones going to hit you, hit them first! But I could never do it, and I hated myself because I couldnt. Adele also tearfully dedicated her Album Of The Year award to her son Angelo, nine, and her ex-husband Simon Konecki because the record is 'really about them', before crediting herself for 'putting out something so personal'. I saw how the government was treating good, honest working-class people who have fallen on their back. And the fact that I never fought back against these kids that used to push us around, or constantly berate us for years on end, it wears you down. There were things that happened that I used to hold a grudge about, but a lot of it was my own fault because I never said what I needed to say. "The first record was a hodgepodge of songs written over six years. I have a tendency to write everything at the top my vocal range, because I feel like I need to prove myself. Besides, he also suffered from various mental illnesses since his childhood. For the first time, exclusive behind-the-scenes short-form content was filmed for YouTube Shorts. I had a sense of helplessness. Bruce Springsteens Born To Run was a life-changing album for him. I was raised to hate them, I still hate them, and I always will. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Fender has a homespun grit much like his idol Bruce Springsteen, whose working-class ethos and songs from the heartland resonated with Fender at an early age. "He lived in a different country. If you make a purchase using links on this page, MailOnline will earn an affiliate commission, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' The title song documents a dark time when Fender's mother was battling health issues and couldn't make ends meet. That resonated. That means I can do this as well [laughs]. Nobody sticks their neck out for the north-east. He sounds rattled as he says this, but then its been some time since Sam Fender has had anything like equilibrium. Its a roundup of all of the things that Ive thought about in the album. [The therapist] was like: all the things that you dislike yourself for, you should be proud of and that was quite intense. So I started doing therapy. Its a fighting song. Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. It was his older brother who one day introduced him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, and after that nothing was ever quite the same again. I feel like Ive got my integrity back, Im more honest with myself about who I am, about my weaknesses and strengths. Im on a path of self-discovery and trying to heal a lot of that. More info Sam Fender has opened up on his mental health struggles after admitting the Covid-19 pandemic left him "pretty miserable". The chart-topper has been busy of late filming in both Druridge Bay and North Shields for his recent single Seventeen Going Under. And I put it on and it's not as good as a Small Clone. Sam Fender has made serious waves in the music industry since his debut single 'Play God' in back 2017 - and now, his second album is taking the world by storm, with huge tracks such as 'Seventeen Going Under' and 'Spit of You'. I loved the theatricality of it all, how dramatic he was. A few years ago, the singer was struck down by a severe illness that could have killed him. My family members who voted for it voted for it because they thought that they were going to get money for the NHS. And Bramwell, he was technically a nobody, because nobody had heard of him, but now hes produced my album, and its sold well, so He laughs. He told the Daily Star: 'If you don't win, you have a party anyway and then if you do win, you have an even bigger party.'. 11 Songs, 45 minutes "It's impossible to do this work on myself while on the road, and it's exhausting feigning happiness and wellness for the sake of business.". After school, a lot of my mates got jobs, settled down. After recovering from the vocal cord illness, he only played a Ive never given myself the time of day before, and now I am its been nice. But fans at the time blasted the change as 'woke drivel' at the time, with many calling for a boycott. The worst thing about it was I could see the way I was acting, and I knew why, but I couldnt stop it. ", Fender American Pro Jazzmaster1959 Fender JazzmasterFender StratocasterMartin 000X1AETakamine acoustic (gift from Elton John), "Spit of You" is about his dad and the complicated relationships between sons and fathers. If anything, it's a just declaration of love for my old man. Not all the songs chew over familial dynamics. Grant Moon is the News Editor for Prog magazine and has been a contributor to the magazine since its launch in 2009. He was stuck in the horror mental health struggles during the Covid-19 pandemic. There are no hints about his love relationship on his IG account. Their impact on how he approaches crafting song parts can be heard in "Last To Make It Home," particularly the expansive guitar solo on the outro. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, But I wouldnt have had the knowhow or the confidence to try and write that sort of stuff had I not had that. British songwriter Sam Fender hails from North Shields, England, an industrial coastal port town near the North Sea, about eight miles northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne. Musically, this insistent tune rides on Fenders trademark three-part indie-rock guitar arpeggios (played on the record by him and his co-guitarists, Dean Thompson and Joe Atkinson), which give movement to the main E/F#m/D/C#m/F#m/D progression. A lot of these stories were originally about you but they belong to everyone, as everyone has their own, and they will be screamed back at youfrom clubs and dive bars, even arenas. Someone at the end of the bar, complaining about their other half I would finish the story. The Dying Light However, the singer-songwriter said that he is super A lot of things that you pass off as insignificant parts of your life end up becoming very significant parts of your character. Thats insanity. So, I find the chords on piano sometimes and then I'll find interesting variants of the chords on the guitar to make it sound pretty." Seventeen Going Under is mostly in C# standard, though he did play around a bit with Nashville tuning and light gauge strings. I had a sense of helplessness. The rest of 2022 he'll be headlining arena tours, as well as supporting the Killers on four dates in London and Dublin. It's about a father and son's relationship and the inability to talk about anything other than DIY, music, or alcohol. Get You Down came as a chord progression. HisBest Rock/Alternative Act win comes three years after he was honoured with the Critics' Choice Award. As a subscriber enjoy big savings off the shop price! And he is all set to attend all live sessions throughout the world for his song Seventeen Going Under. Its about insecurities, how jealousy and feelings of emasculation and low self-worth can really, really destroy a relationshipand had done with my relationships. She was a hard-working, fantastic, empathetic, incredible woman. I was pretty miserable by the end of it. 1 album in the U.K. when Seventeen Going Under came out in October 2021. I was chewing my face off in frustration, I was that desperate to make it like they had, to write pop songs because I thought people might like them. Is He Dead Or Alive, Joey Beauchamp Committed Suicide While Battling Depression, Coroner Rules. That stays with you, and if you dont sort it out, its like a tumour. I felt like now Im famous and in a rock band Ive got to play the part but I just realised that I was paying attention to arseholes. When conversation turns to a special guitar he just bought, Fender lights up. She suffered from fibromyalgia, which affected her mental health and her ability to work. Music is the passion and pain killer of his all sorrows and frustrations. Four years ago I was on benefits I need to keep my head. 100 per cent'. This is about political polarity and how the working classes feel, or how I felt, abandoned by a lot of the left wing. Aye The British songwriter traversed the bleak thoroughfares of his past while writing his autobiographical sophomore album, Seventeen Going Undera tale of growing up down-and-out, set to an epic chorus of Jazzmasters and soaring sax. Joy's Sam Cooper - Premier Guitar , Two Feet's Blues-Trap Stratosphere - Premier Guitar , Rig Rundown: Greta Van Fleet [2021] - Premier Guitar , Sam Fender (@sam_fender) Instagram photos and videos , A Guide to Essential Effects Plugins for Your Home Studio, ESP Announces LTD Kirk Hammett Signature Series KH-V, Epiphone Introduces the 1958 Korina Flying V and Explorer, Building a Pro-Level Home-Studio Mic Closet, DAngelico Guitars Introduces Deluxe Eric Krasno Brighton Signature Model, D'Addario EXL115 Nickel Wound (.011.049), Electro-Harmonix Small Stone Phase Shifter, Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff Pi, Way Huge Red Llama 25th Anniversary Overdrive. I feel like the War on Drugs have refined it. The vast majority of popular music now isnt that kind of descriptive songwriting. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? Fibromyalgia is a condition where one's pain is widespread. Published: 10:44 GMT, 9 February 2022 | Updated: 15:10 GMT, 9 February 2022. BBC Music Correspondent After a year of cancelled gigs, Sam Fender has discovered that going back on tour is a lot like going back to school: you're going to get 'Our story is one of hope': Conjoined twins who made history as first EVER pair survive to separation As Charles Bronson faces a parole hearing on Monday Will Britain's most violent prisoner soon be painting Is this Britain's most despicable man? [Later] I overcompensated by lifting weights and going to the boxing gym and all these things to try and become something closer to the resemblance of my father. We Well have these conversations about toxic masculinity and my dad goes: I didnt teach you anything like that, did I? Got too much empathy for that one. In a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge concert in early 2020, Fender did a solo performance of Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black," fingerpicking the melody and bass line, while nailing a rather ambitious vocal. so me and the boys are thinking about doing a stint out there for six months, and try and write a third record. But its also about how much I love him, how I saw him as a son. From Bottega Veneta to PrettyLittleThing, we've got every budget accounted for. Sam teamed his tops with black trousers and edgy lace-up boots. At the beginning, Im talking to the Virgin Mary, a Mary pendant. Or why not treat yourself? Sam Fender has announced he is to take a short break from touring to look after his mental health. How Prince Harry's chat with guru who compared Hamas terrorists to Jews who battled the Nazis has appalled JAN MOIR: Goodbye Ken, the world always seemed safer with you on the airwaves, Abstaining from masturbating RAISES risk of anxiety, depression and erectile dysfunction, study warns. And it's one knob. I had my outside life as a kid, and then Id go back home and see my mother in turmoil. Blyth Valley up here went Tory. Ive bought my first ever daft guitar, he says with a cheeky grin. Its just so stupid!". I didnt look after myself Sam Fender. Fender's sound has a tinge of throwback and noticeable nods to his influences (cough, cough, sexy saxophone solos), but the magic lies in how he connects on so many levels with cinematic arrangements, bull's-eye lyrics, and sincere delivery. Witness one of his signature chorus-and-whammy solos at 12:50 on "The Borders" from 2019's Hypersonic Missiles. At every point in the room I had tape markers down for the points where I had really good feedback one where Id get a screech, one for the high note, another for the low. The song was released as a digital download on 2 July 2019 by Polydor Records as the second single from his debut studio album Hypersonic Missiles. Does Sam Fender Have Cancer? Not for long he is off on tour imminently, in support of his recent number one album, Hypersonic Missiles. Its one of my mates sayings: Ive armed myself with a grin. Ive always played the happy-go-lucky joker. (The Boss connection has earned Fender the nickname of "Geordie Springsteen.") In spring 2020, Sam Fender had nowhere to go. (WoD frontman Adam Granduciel had signed on to mix that track, but ultimately couldn't do it because he missed the master deadline for his own album. These culture wars are valid wars that need to be fought theres a lot of bigotry, a lot of racism and homophobia. His pout is like that of a Top Man model, and he wears his heart on his sleeve, as much in real life as in song. ', as she referenced the changes the awards board had made to the ceremony. Anybody can, so dont feel intimidated by the guitar world, Hammocks Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson: People think they can do ambient music if they just have the right pedalboard, and they cant. Sam Fender Niall Lea. My parents got divorced, I got a TV offmy mum and a guitar from my dad: a Peavey Strat copy with a Peavey practice amp. There is no hint to indicate Sam being in a romantic relationship. On April 25, 1994, Sam Fender was born to his mother, Shirley Fender, and father, Alan Fender. His mother's profession was a nurse. Sam has spent his childhood with his brother Liam Fender in the North Shields. He had some exemplary artists to learn from Joni Mitchell, Adam Granduciel of The War On Drugs and Jeff Buckley. Writing was therapy before I got therapy, he tells Apple Music. By the time I was 10, I was starting to get quite proficient," Fender shares. He admits it is affecting his He was spotted by his manager when he was 18. pair of cheekbones the actor Eddie Redmayne could open letters with. For the string parts, Id just sing them to [arranger/cellist] Rosie Danvers, then she wrote them down, and wed go into the studio and record it with a string section. Taking a slow-burn route of building a following for six years before releasing a full-length likely contributed to that album instantly having wings, debuting at No. In September 2019, his debut album Hypersonic Missiles debuted at No.1 on the UK chart, winning the Critics Choice Award at the Brits, Fender garnering wide acclaim for his direct, indie-style rock and earthy, meaningful lyrics. Unfortunately for us mere mortals this piece isn't yet available to buy, but you can click the catwalk image to shop Versace's current collection at Mytheresa. And funny enough, it's his favorite song.". This record, Im like, I dont know what Im talking about, but I fucking hate those bastards over there whove got the hedge fundswhose taxes Im paying, who come after my mum, who come after the disabled, who come after all of these people, plunging them into poverty and plunging kids out onto the streets. It's got a gold scratch plate, and it came with a packet of strings from 1959 from New Brunswick. 1 on the U.K. Albums Chart. He started playing guitar at 10 and writing songs at 14. I felt like it could be powerful and delicate and all the things in between. You cant do that. Bath I didnt think I was ever going to be happy, and I drank myself to oblivion.