By Alisha Lawton
Photo Credit: Polydor Records
Sam Fender’s sophomore album, Seventeen Going Under, solidified his place in the indie and alternative rock scene, and his newest album, People Watching, proves he’s not leaving any time soon.
The opening, titular track of this highly anticipated album, was released last November, and was our first glimpse into Fender’s new era – and it definitely did not disappoint.
After playing the song at his first performance since his return in 2024, it was clear to see that not only Fender himself, but the fans too were ready and recharged for what was in store.
The song highlights the feeling of taking yourself out of your own life, and being curious about everyone else’s around you – with the inevitable dread of losing someone you care deeply about, watching them fade away. With hard-hitting lyrics and familiar instrumentals, the track is quintessentially Sam Fender.
The second track of the album, Nostalgia’s Lie, is a song fans have been eagerly waiting for since its debut performance. Beginning with a guitar riff that sounds like it’s taken straight from the 80s and placed into the musician’s third album, it captures exactly what the title states; nostalgia.
Chin Up immediately tells you a story from the first lyric all the way to the last, with themes of self-sabotage and poor mental health. As we move through to the chorus of the song, there’s a definitive change from the negative to positive, with a melody that is immediately catchy and easy to sing.
Fender sings: ‘I will try to keep my chin up’, though as the song continues we soon realise that he isn’t just singing about himself, but everyone around him and the position they are in – shining a light on the injustice that people in the North, and all over, currently face.
A stand-out track on the album is definitely Arms Length, and Fender begins the song with a snippet of an early melody developed in the studio with his band. The song immediately transports you into a feeling of wanting to be loved though not wanting to commit completely to avoid the hurt. The song offers pop-focused lyrics with an indie music sound, and is all about keeping people at a distance. Fender stated on social media that the song originally wasn’t meant to be on the album, but his bandmate Brooke Bentham convinced him to add it to the track list, which fans are grateful for.
One thing Sam Fender has mastered during his time in the spotlight is how to songwrite so vividly about his surroundings, and Crumbling Empire does just that. Fender begins singing about his time touring around America, humorously commenting on the potholes on the road, and dwelling on the sights he’s seen while driving through countless cities. Though, quite fittingly, Fender immediately acknowledges his privilege, stating ‘I’m not preaching I’m just talking’, followed by the lyric ‘I don’t wear the shoes I used to walk in’.
Sam Fender acknowledges the privileged life he now leads, but constantly thinks about what his life could have been if this had not been his path: ‘I can’t help thinking where they’d take me, in a crumbling empire’
Furthermore, Fender sings about the way that the country responds to its people, and how his privilege and fame doesn’t seem to match up. He directly mentions his family here, highlighting how his mother was a nurse and his stepdad was in the forces, but the system wasn’t there to support them when they had to stop working, leaving them ‘homeless, down and out’.
The track is a powerful sentiment, and a humble reflection on his life, his beginnings, and how he values his success.
Continuing through the album… we are met with Rein Me In – an easy listening song and a prompt break in the album where the listener is invited to sit back and enjoy the music, without there being too much in the background to focus on. Although the song may initially appear upbeat, it is equally heart-breaking and sad when you take the time to understand the lyrics: ‘Sometimes it’s easier to throw away your love, instead of accepting defeat’. The music masks the sadness in the lyrics incredibly well.
The song Tv Dinner starts with piano, which immediately feels heavy and as if you know what is to come, Sam is about to make a statement. Singing on top of the piano at a faster pace almost feels anxious, but it works well with the topics of the song, speaking on the impact of celebrity culture – ultimately putting his feelings from pen to paper when stating: ‘like Winehouse, she was just a bairn…they love her now but bled her then’.
Using Amy Winehouse as an example, Sam states that she was just a child when she came into the spotlight, and discusses the irony of how the media and public tore her to pieces when it was convenient, though as soon as she tragically passed, she suddenly became everybody’s favourite.
Speaking of much more in such a short space of time the song reflects a racing mind, almost as if Fender needed to get everything out right there and then, which he did with great impact.
It’s clear to say that Sam Fender has mastered his process of creating music that is emotional but ultimately makes you want to dance, and this next song is proof of that. Something Heavy is built up on the universal understanding that everybody feels pain at some point in their lives, when stating: ‘God, she’s full of pain, and I know it’, while later in the song sharing guilt of not being able to spot the signs of somebody’s mental decline with lyrics: ‘My friends reached for the rope and tied, Oh god, how can we keep missing signals?’ Sam has never been one to shy away from tough topics like those mentioned in this track, evident throughout his discography, especially the ever-so poignant, Dead Boys. It is highly important they are continued to be spoken about in such an open way on such a high platform.
Finally, finishing the album on a deeply emotional note, Fender has stated that Remember My Name is a love letter to his late grandparents and that he wrote the song in honour of them, written from the perspective of his grandfather caring for Fender’s grandmother who was battling dementia. Losing all of the consistent guitar sounds that every one of his songs are filled with, the sound of the Northeast England’s Easington Colliery Band fills the space, along with Sam’s powerful vocals and touching lyrics. Remember My Name is emotional, raw and beautiful. As it’s about dementia, it is easy to take this track and relate it to people you have lost but also those that are still here, leaving it open for anyone to find comfort and peace within it.
Overall, Sam Fender’s brand new album is a masterclass in songwriting and musical genius, offering a cohesive LP from start to finish. Fender is fiercely confident, filling the tracks full of hard-hitting, heavy topics, but these are also done with great sensitivity and heart.
Check out Sam Fender’s latest offering here.
Text Copyright 2025 © Alisha Lawton/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Photography Copyright 2025 © Polydor Records
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Jack Walsh 
Georgie Lloyd-Kitchen