Sam Fender hints at new material, admits he is “desperate” to do a punk record
Following the success of his recent release, People Watching, Sam Fender has hinted at potential new material, admitting he is “desperate” to work on a punk record.
Fender’s latest album marks his third release and his first since 2021’s Seventeen Going Under. Despite several personal and professional setbacks, People Watching marks a new chapter for the North Shields rocker, loosely exploring “colourful stories and observations of everyday characters”.
During a new interview with The Times, his renewed energy was evident, especially after the musician said he was already working on his next album, sharing snippets from unreleased songs called ‘Drugs’ and ‘Hornsby’. He also said he was “desperate” to write a punk record.
One of the unreleased tracks reportedly took on a Tom Petty-esque tone, with Fender singing out the lyrics: “People are going to hate you, whether you’re a saint, sinner, giver or a taker / But a big old heart is all that it’s worth / And he said, ‘You’ve got a big old heart, kid / Don’t let them own it.'”
Elsewhere in the same interview, Fender also clarified the meaning behind his new record, saying it was more a call for unity than any broader or grander political statement. He also addressed his need for a sabbatical between the last record and the new one, admitting, “I just needed a break”.
He continued: “I woke up one morning and everything in my life was unrecognisable. I always thought I’d get to this point and it would all be great, but fame is mind-boggling and some deal with it better. Though I don’t know why anyone would want it. Well, the money’s great.”
Since its release, People Watching has earned widespread praise, with some labelling it his best release yet. Others have noted the musician’s redefined parameters for success, understanding that this new cycle marks a more positive, albeit significantly broader venture for the rising star.
In a four-star-review, Far Out described Fender’s new material as “essential” and an album “that does it all, showing each and every corner of Fender’s talent and ability, but especially shining a clear light on his unrivalled knack for boiling down huge topics into deeply personal, human stories.”
Fender is currently enjoying his third tour, which commenced in December last year and is scheduled to wrap up in August 2025 at the Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast.
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