Sam Fender (full name Samuel Thomas Fender) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He was born on 25 April 1994 in North Shields, Tyne & Wear, England, into a working-class family: his father Alan worked as an electrician (and also played guitar and piano), and his mother Shirley was a nurse. His older brother Liam is a drummer and also musically inclined. Growing up in North Shields, Fender’s childhood was rooted in a musical household—he got his first guitar from his father at age eight and by age ten he was already becoming proficient on it. The region of North East England, where he was raised, has long experienced economic hardship (including high rates of child poverty), and those social conditions later became themes in his songwriting. Fender’s teenage years were marked by both musical development and personal challenges: his mother separated from the family when he was eight, and at 17 he was forced to leave his father’s house and re-connect with his mother living elsewhere. Fender idolized his father for his talent as a musician, and viewed him as a tough man who struggled to provide for his children in a region facing an endemic lack of opportunities. Fender said he needed to become independent quickly. Whilst studying, Fender simultaneously held two jobs, working in a local restaurant and pub, and consumed alcoholic beverages daily from 17 and a half to 18, relieving him from work fatigue. Meanwhile, he played pub gigs locally and his talent was noticed by manager Owain Davies at one of those shows.
Four: Play God
“Play God” was first released on 31 March 2017 as Sam Fender’s debut single. The track was then re-issued in January 2019 ahead of his debut album. Thematically, Fender describes the song as being “set in an alternate dystopian reality that shares similarities with our own world,” borrowing inspiration from the political climate and his reading of 1984 by George Orwell. Garnering over 6.4M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube, “Play God” entered the UK Official Singles Chart and reached a peak position of No. 89, remaining on the chart for about five weeks in March and April 2019. It did not break into the top 40 in the UK. To date, the track has been streamed tens of millions of times and remains one of Fender’s recognised early works. In terms of critical reception, the song was positively received: reviewers noted Fender’s vocal control and the track’s timely social commentary. For example, Harvey James praised that Fender’s “total mastery over his voice was immediately and strikingly apparent.” The publication Clash described both the song and its video as “provocative,” while others highlighted its relevance to contemporary socio-political issues. The music video for “Play God” was released on 22 January 2019 (though the track itself had been available earlier) and was directed by Vincent Haycock; the visual is described as a “satirical interpretation of power.”
FYI
- Fender has spoken openly about having Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which he believes has aided his focus on music. He has also dealt with health issues affecting his touring, including respiratory infections and vocal strain. His political views lean left-wing, and he often uses his platform to speak about working-class issues, mental health and social inequality, rather than pop-stardom glamour.
Three: Spit of You
Spit Of You by Sam Fender was released on 27 September 2021 through Polydor Records as the third single from his second studio album Seventeen Going Under. The song is deeply personal, exploring Fender’s relationship with his father and how, as he grew older, he began to see much of himself in his dad—especially in their shared stubbornness and emotional reticence. It has garnered over 84M streams on spotify and over 12M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. Critical reception was strong: the track was described as “a profoundly proud song” addressing father–son bonds, with reviewers highlighting its emotional depth and narrative power. On the charts the track peaked at No. 41 on the UK Singles Chart. The music video, released 6 October 2021, was directed by Philip Barantini and stars actor Stephen Graham portraying Fender’s father; it was praised for its raw portrayal of the generational bond and the unspoken tensions therein. The song “Spit of You” was written solely by Sam Fender and produced by Bramwell Bronte, showcasing a seamless collaboration that highlights Fender’s signature emotional depth and Bronte’s dynamic production style. Released as part of the album Seventeen Going Under, the track gained recognition not only for its intimate storytelling and powerful arrangement but also through its acclaimed music video, which won the “Best Rock Video – UK” at the 2022 UK Music Video Awards, cementing the song’s place as both a critical and artistic highlight in Fender’s career. In summary, “Spit Of You” stands out as a mature, emotionally grounded single that reaffirmed Sam Fender’s songwriting voice and helped set the tone for his album “Seventeen Going Under”.
Two: Talk To You ft. Elton John
Serving as Sam Fender’s most recent single release, “Talk To You” featuring Elton John was released on 17 October 2025. The track emerged from the recording sessions for his third studio album People Watching, specifically tracked at British Grove Studios in London. Fender describes the song as a reflection on a long‑term relationship ending: “it’s a song about the end of a long relationship – about the regret, the mistakes and the lessons that come with it. It’s that feeling of losing your best friend and coming to terms with that.” It has garnered over 6.5M streams on spotify and over 370K views on Official Visualizer on Youtube. The collaboration is anchored by Elton John’s piano performance, layered over Fender’s guitar‑driven sound, and produced by Markus Dravs with additional production by Joe Atkinson and Dean Thompson. Writing credits list Sam Fender as the songwriter. While formal chart positions for the single are yet to be broadly reported, the track arrives amid a major career milestone for Fender—just days after he won the 2025 Mercury Prize for “People Watching”.
Awards/Nominations
- Sam Fender’s rise in the music world has been marked by consistent recognition, starting in 2018 when he appeared on the BBC Music “Sound of…” list as an emerging talent.
- In 2019, he won the BRITs Critics’ Choice Award, quickly proving he was more than just a newcomer.
- By 2022, his impact grew further, earning him both the BRIT Award for Best Rock/Alternative Act and the Ivor Novello Award for “Seventeen Going Under,” highlighting his songwriting and artistic depth.
- Most recently, in 2025, he claimed the Mercury Prize for Album of the Year for People Watching and the BRIT Award for Best Alternative/Rock Act, cementing his place as one of the UK’s most influential contemporary artists.
These accolades chart Fender’s journey from promising newcomer to acclaimed musical force.
Discography
- Hypersonic Missiles (2019)
- Seventeen Going Under (2021)
- People Watching (2025)
One: Seventeen Going Under
Seventeen Going Under — widely regarded as Sam Fender’s biggest hit of all time — this song was released on 7 July 2021 as the lead single and title track from his second studio album. Written solely by Sam Fender and produced by Bramwell Bronte, the track explores Fender’s teenage years in North Shields, including his mother’s health struggle and his own early encounters with anger and responsibility. It has garnered over 312M streams on spotify and over 47M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. Thematically, it’s a coming‑of‑age letter to his seventeen‑year‐old self, captured in anthemic, heartland‐rock form—jangly guitars, swelling saxophone, and Fender’s raw vocal. On the UK Singles Chart it peaked at #3 on 7 January 2022, making it his highest‑charting single to date. The song garnered significant critical acclaim: it was named “Hottest Record of the Year 2021” by BBC Radio 1 listeners, voted #16 in Australia’s Triple J Hottest 100, and won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in May 2022. Its resonance with working‑class experience, memory and survival earned reviewers’ praise, with one calling it “five minutes of glorious, life‑affirming rock and roll”. In summary, “Seventeen Going Under” stands as a signature moment in Sam Fender’s career—a song that marries deeply personal narrative with broad emotional impact and delivered on both chart success and critical recognition.