Sam Fender shares Elton John collaboration ‘Talk to You’ following Mercury Prize victory
After winning the Mercury Prize, Sam Fender has shared ‘Talk to You’ with Elton John and announced details of the deluxe version of People Watching.
Fender announced the track with Elton, who has become a mentor to him over the last few years, earlier this week, and the pair have also discussed the collaboration on Elton John’s Rocket Hour on Apple Music 1.
The tender new cut, set to appear on the deluxe edition of the Mercury-winning People Watching on December 5th, features John on piano and was recorded at the same time as the rest of the record in London with producer Marcus Dravs.
Fender explained of the heartfelt track, “‘Talk to You’ was written during the People Watching sessions at British Grove – 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.”
He then said of John’s contribution, “I was playing around with the riff and thought what I need is a really good pianist and then hmmm, I wonder who I can call? And of course, who better than Elton John.”
Meanwhile, Elton added: “Sam was writing and recording in a studio in West London, and called to say he’d written a song with a piano riff that he thought would sound great with me playing it. I couldn’t resist, and it was so much fun playing it for him. I truly love Sam. He’s been a friend for many, many years and it’s incredible to see him grow into being a truly world class artist.”
‘Talk to You’ is one of eight bonus tracks that are set for inclusion on the deluxe edition of People Watching, also including ‘Tyrants’, ‘Me and the Dog’, and ‘The Treadmill’, as well as ‘Rein Me In’ with Olivia Dean.
People Watching was honoured with the prestigious Mercury Prize in Newcastle on October 16th, beating competition from the likes of Fontaines DC, Pulp, CMAT, FKA Twigs, Wolf Alice, PinkPantheress, and Pa Salieu.
In his victory speech, Fender said, “I want to say thank you to all the other nominees tonight, there’s some very good friends among the nominees, CMAT, Fontaines. We are in great company, and I want to say thank you to the person that I never did, to the person that People Watching is about.”
Fender emotionally continued, “I want to dedicate it to Annie Orwin.” He then, in a nod to his hometown, shouted at the top of his lungs, “This is the best region in the world.”
See the additional tracklist for the deluxe edition of People Watching below.
Sam Fender – People Watching Deluxe additional tracklisting:
- ‘I’m Always On Stage’
- ‘Talk To You’ (feat. Elton John)
- ‘Fortuna’s Wheel’
- ‘Rein Me In’ (with Olivia Dean)
- ‘Me and The Dog’
- ‘Tyrants’
- ‘The Treadmill’
- ‘Empty Spaces’
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.