Sam Fender: Everything is possible
Sam Fender might just be the buzziest boy on Planet Indie right now, but he’s not just about the hype - he’s got something important to say too.
From appearing all over 2018’s tips lists to recently being snapped up by Polydor Records (home to current Dork cover star Maggie Rogers, buzzy faves Troye Sivan, Years & Years and Haim, and megastars Take That), Tyneside’s Sam Fender has had a successful year.
Speaking to him now, mid-bag of the Netherlands’ version of Doritos and full of cold, it’s no surprise that he’s still pretty chirpy. Having just sold out his third London date at Omeara, how could you not still have a spring in your step?
“It’s ridiculous!” he exclaims. “I didn’t think we’d sell out one… I’d have been buzzing with one. I’m completely overwhelmed.” It’s clear that this is completely true, too. It’s hard to miss the genuine surprise running through his voice.
He’s an artist with only a handful of singles, yet masses of fans prepared to sell out a venue three times over. “It’s really good that people are latching on to it now, I’m really excited… I have a lot more stuff to come.”
Ask Sam what his personal highlight of the year has been and he’ll tell you the tale of when the guy behind the counter in McDonald’s let him run wild with the Big Tasty sauce gun, always quick to make a joke and downplay his success, before honestly revealing that it’s “all of the stuff to do with playing to people who have actually come to see me, it really opens my eyes.”
Touring is something Sam is no stranger to, with a few UK stints under his belt and another one on the way followed by a string of dates overseas, including Australia. It comes as a bit of a surprise that the UK leg of the tour is the part he’s most excited for.
“Before, when we’ve done a UK tour, it’s been incredible, it’s been really special for the boys and me,” he enthuses. “I tour with my friends, like how Bruce Springsteen used to run his show.” He stops to explain how Springsteen is his idol; “I shamelessly compare myself to him,” he laughs.
“We’ve worked our arses off, so to see that people from the UK were resonating with my stuff, it’s the greatest confidence boost for writing new stuff and lets us see that we’re not fucking idiots and that this is possible… we’re not stupid for not going to uni and doing that stuff to become a miserable teacher like my Dad,” he laughs.
“So yeah, I’m excited to go and get a big dopamine rush off of that,” he adds. “There’s an EP coming halfway through or potentially just after; there’ll be new merch and videos as well. Lots of new stuff, I’m excited for people to see the vinyl for this too,” he reveals.
“This will be the ‘Dead Boys’ EP, there are six tracks,” Sam tells us. “It’s a pretty hectic ride through the six tracks and then calms down with ‘Leave Fast’ at the end. I’m really proud of everyone who’s worked on it; it’s all of our original team from before we signed to Polydor. Our half-Geordie, half-Cornish family.”
Speaking to him now, mid-bag of the Netherlands’ version of Doritos and full of cold, it’s no surprise that he’s still pretty chirpy. Having just sold out his third London date at Omeara, how could you not still have a spring in your step?
“It’s ridiculous!” he exclaims. “I didn’t think we’d sell out one… I’d have been buzzing with one. I’m completely overwhelmed.” It’s clear that this is completely true, too. It’s hard to miss the genuine surprise running through his voice.
He’s an artist with only a handful of singles, yet masses of fans prepared to sell out a venue three times over. “It’s really good that people are latching on to it now, I’m really excited… I have a lot more stuff to come.”
Ask Sam what his personal highlight of the year has been and he’ll tell you the tale of when the guy behind the counter in McDonald’s let him run wild with the Big Tasty sauce gun, always quick to make a joke and downplay his success, before honestly revealing that it’s “all of the stuff to do with playing to people who have actually come to see me, it really opens my eyes.”
Touring is something Sam is no stranger to, with a few UK stints under his belt and another one on the way followed by a string of dates overseas, including Australia. It comes as a bit of a surprise that the UK leg of the tour is the part he’s most excited for.
“Before, when we’ve done a UK tour, it’s been incredible, it’s been really special for the boys and me,” he enthuses. “I tour with my friends, like how Bruce Springsteen used to run his show.” He stops to explain how Springsteen is his idol; “I shamelessly compare myself to him,” he laughs.
“We’ve worked our arses off, so to see that people from the UK were resonating with my stuff, it’s the greatest confidence boost for writing new stuff and lets us see that we’re not fucking idiots and that this is possible… we’re not stupid for not going to uni and doing that stuff to become a miserable teacher like my Dad,” he laughs.
“So yeah, I’m excited to go and get a big dopamine rush off of that,” he adds. “There’s an EP coming halfway through or potentially just after; there’ll be new merch and videos as well. Lots of new stuff, I’m excited for people to see the vinyl for this too,” he reveals.
“This will be the ‘Dead Boys’ EP, there are six tracks,” Sam tells us. “It’s a pretty hectic ride through the six tracks and then calms down with ‘Leave Fast’ at the end. I’m really proud of everyone who’s worked on it; it’s all of our original team from before we signed to Polydor. Our half-Geordie, half-Cornish family.”
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