Music meteorology: predicting the next wave of earworms with the tracks they’re teasing now.
Sam Fender has started teasing new material ahead of his much anticipated third album, and one track has already started to get a life of its own.
Words: Dan Harrison.
Few artists in recent years have charted a trajectory as meteoric and compelling as Sam Fender. From his breakout singles to his chart-topping albums, the North Shields songwriter has become a near-universal icon – a Glastonbury headliner in waiting able to place himself firmly in the top tier of British music. With ‘People Watching’, a taster from a forthcoming sort-of-announced, sort-of-not new album debuted at Plymouth Pavilions earlier this month, it feels like he hasn’t just raised the bar – he’s launched it into the smooth sax stratosphere.
‘People Watching’ is a masterclass in narrative songwriting, showcasing Fender’s uncanny ability to distil complex emotions into universally resonant anthems. It’s a song that feels simultaneously intimate and vast, like eavesdropping on a heartfelt conversation in the middle of St. James Park.
What sets Sam apart is his raw, effortless authenticity. Surrounded by an industry of carefully cultivated personas, Fender’s raw honesty cuts through the noise like a clarion call. ‘People Watching’ is a prime example of this, tackling themes of homecoming and loss with a nuance that belies his years. It’s the work of an artist who’s lived every line he’s written, every chord he’s strummed.
The reaction to the song’s live debut has been nothing short of seismic. Social media has been ablaze with grainy videos, each shared clip and excited TikTok building a groundswell of anticipation for the studio version. It’s the kind of organic, fan-driven excitement that can’t be manufactured – a testament to Fender’s ability to forge genuine connections through his music.
As for Fender’s upcoming third album, ‘People Watching’ suggests we’re in for something truly special. It’s clear that Fender has used his time since ‘Seventeen Going Under’ not just to write songs, but to push the boundaries of his artistry. If this is any indication, we’re witnessing an artist already in his stride break into a full sprint, the momentum showing no sign of slowing down.
As we eagerly await the full release of ‘People Watching’ and the album that follows, one thing is abundantly clear: Sam Fender long since stopped being the new kid on the block. Now he’s sitting firmly at the top of the tree, observing everyone else file by. We must all look tiny from up there.
LINKS IN BIO
THE NEW BOPS AND BANGERS THEY’RE TEASING FOR IMMINENT RELEASE
Tate McRae – It’s ok i’m ok
Release date: TBC, but pre-save is available now
Does Tate McRae, y’know… sleep? Only dropping her most recent full-length late last year, she’s returning with a brand new single, ‘It’s ok i’m ok’. A dance-pop affirmation, she’s already previewed it live with a debut at Madison Square Garden last week. A bubbling bop, it’s perfectly set up for textbook Tate moves, giving a touch of 00s Britney with a 2024 twist. With a chorus that’s sure to trend before the leaves start falling, wherever Tate McRae goes next, it’ll be more than just okay.
mxmtoon – The Situation (feat. Kero Kero Bonito)
Release date: 5th September 2024
mxmtoon’s latest offering ‘The Situation’ sounds like anything but a sticky one. Teaming up with Kero Kero Bonito, Maia looks like she’s set to serve up a confection that’s equal parts introspection and dancefloor invitation. Previews suggest a meeting of vibes that feels like textbook mxmtoon but with KKB’s signature twist. Set to drop on 5th September, it should slot perfectly into those end-of-summer playlists.
Sunflower Bean – Teach Me To Be Bad
Release date: 28th August 2024
Sunflower Bean are shedding their petals and showing their thorns with ‘Teach Me To Be Bad’, a snarling preview of their upcoming ‘Shake’ EP. A raw, self-produced growl that’s more mosh pit than flower power, the band are steering straight into darker, grittier territories. Set to drop on 28th August, it’s a bold declaration that Sunflower Bean are ready to ruffle some feathers. If this is them being bad, we can’t wait to see how good it gets.
Victoria Monét – SOS feat. Usher
Release date: 27th August 2024
Victoria Monét is setting pulses racing with her latest tease, ‘SOS’ (Sex on Sight), and she’s bringing chart royalty Usher along for the ride. Set to drop on 27th August, Monét’s been dropping breadcrumbs on social media, serving up snippets that promise steamy stuff. Her signature blend of sophisticated R&B and pop hooks seems primed to collide with Usher’s timeless vocal smoothness, creating a collab that’s less ‘Netflix and chill’ and more ‘HBO after dark’.
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