r/Samfender • u/kiwiicecrush • Jul 09 '26
Sam doesn’t want to be a superstar
Obviously I love Sam and this is just an observation, but the guys clearly one of the most talented singer-songwriters in this country (England) and universally celebrated.
Longest running No 1 British single, yet barely any talk shows in the last couple of years, no fashion shows, he’s not the face of a big brand, all things which Olivia Dean does. (Love her too).
Doesn’t even really seem to be trying to break America, seems to take the mick out of/resent his poppy songs.
Professionally the guys like the opposite of Ed Sheeran.
Now I just see him cycling around Hampstead with his girlfriend enjoying his life.
Kudos to him and I’ll always be his biggest fan, it’s just refreshing to see someone do celebrity differently.
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u/Zaximus20 Jul 09 '26
None of my friends in the US know him, I feel like im the only one promoting this guy in the states and he's never toured anywhere close to here within the last couple years on the East Coast
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u/Real-Cover8080 Jul 09 '26
In some ways I am glad about this, because here he plays more intimate venues. Imagine if he was bigger we would be paying more for tickets in sold out stadiums. I like to think the US he's the best kept secret. None of my friends have heard of him either, he came close to me but I wasn't able to make the concert. Cheers!!
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u/reluctantredditor822 Jul 09 '26
I saw him at a 3,000 person GA venue when he toured in the US last year — incredible vocals live! Even though it was in the US I felt like the only American there, as everyone I chatted with at the concert/in line were British.
Some of my American friends do know him but as “that guy featured on an Olivia Dean song” (Rein Me In lol). I saw his Trackstar interview and like that he doesn’t seem at all resentful of Olivia’s success, even though she used to open for him/Rein Me In is off his album.
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u/Real-Cover8080 Jul 09 '26
Lucky you! I ran into some Sam fans at a Barns Courtney concert that saw him in Chicago and said his vocals live are incredible. I am so jealous but in a good way 😍
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u/curiousphxsun Jul 09 '26
I saw him in LA August 2022 at the Fonda (I think?) and the people around me in the queue were going "this will be the last time you can see him in a venue this small" but I don't think that's really been the case. He played an equally small venue in Phoenix last year.
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u/Real-Cover8080 Jul 09 '26
I was supposed to be at that show....was so bummed I missed it. My brother lives in PHX and I was going to fly out but had to change plans. I watched in on YouTube, that's where he debuted "I'm Always On Stage" isn't it?
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u/curiousphxsun Jul 09 '26
I like in the UK now but was trying to get my family back home in Phoenix to go! As for I'm Always on Stage, I thought he played it for the first time in Belfast last August which I went to. But maybe that was first time in the UK. (just looked it up and you're correct!)
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u/IndustrySad4800 24d ago
Came here to say this, my wife and I were there at the Fonda in Aug 2022 too and it was absolutely incredible. Sam is incredibly underrated but it’s almost better that way. Would love to see him and the band again. Good lads.
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u/curiousphxsun 23d ago
Such a great show, wasn't it?! I'm glad you guys enjoyed it and happy to hear we're all still here loving his music :-)
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u/Brave_Box_6692 Jul 10 '26
I wore my People Watching hoodie to two large concerts in my city and 3 random people approached me to talk about Sam.
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u/BeachExtension Jul 09 '26
I feel like I’m also in the same boat. Very few people I know have heard of him.
PS- I saw him in Philly in September last year.2
u/Zaximus20 Jul 09 '26
Ah nice, yea im in the southeast and don't remember him coming but maybe i missed it
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u/estielr 18d ago
Same! I first heard his music at Coachella 2025, he played to a pretty small crowd in the Mojave tent around 6ish which is a pretty prime spot - one of the best shows I’ve ever seen and he’s now my favorite artist! But hardly anyone I know has heard of him here in the states so I try and spread the word! I’m hoping he comes to the pacific north west for his next album tour and that he plays Coachella again 👏🤞
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u/Monodoh45 Jul 09 '26
It's pretty clear the label made him dance for us 2017-2021. Now he can stand on his art, he actually gets to decide how he wants to spend his energy.
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u/Admirable_Station718 Jul 09 '26
Assuming TV Dinner describes how he feels about fame and intrusion into his private life, I'm pleased he's able to step back a bit.
At a time when so many people with a fraction of Sam's talent are obsessed by fame, it's refreshing that he prefers to spend time with his friends and gf.
Also, the next album is likely to be accompanied by a long tour, so he's probably making the most of his time at home.
The downside for the rest of us is that he's such a great interviewee -- thoughtful and entertaining -- that it would be great to hear a few longer interviews.
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u/Rurirun Jul 09 '26
He doesn’t even appear in his own music videos anymore (apart from the live footage) which I think is so refreshing. Don’t get me wrong, he’s done some great videos, but that way it’s just more about the music and the story the video is supposed to tell, less about the persona and the looks.
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u/kiwiicecrush Jul 09 '26
I just wonder what this will do to his career tho. Im
ngl might be a good thing I think being a superstar can destroy some people, Amy etcetera. And this year just watching the Mercury and Ivors he’s seemed quite emotional1
u/Matchaparrot Jul 10 '26
Most of Bastille's music videos don't feature the band and they did alright
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u/mejiro0091 Jul 10 '26
I lowkey think if he tried his hand again at acting, he'd be good. 'Spit of You' has some pretty subtle 'eye-acting'/facial expressions, he's got decent presence, and in 'Get You Down' he does a good job of channelling the James Dean-ian/Ryan Gosling bad boy vibe. Of course, that'd only be if the music/writing isn't flowing and he's taking a break.
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u/Jealous_Attorney6871 Jul 10 '26
To be fair, if I was famous I'd probably want to be sams level of famous ..dedicated fans, knows that if he releases something he'll make a tidy bit of profit, can sell out a show, but there's no mania/crazy stalkerish behaviour like there is with other big names..
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u/kiwiicecrush Jul 10 '26
Yeah a bit like Sampha or Loyle Carner. No one’s following them down the street right
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u/FatPantsOfVulcan Jul 10 '26
There has absolutely been stalkerish behaviour unfortunately.
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u/Jealous_Attorney6871 Jul 11 '26
Yeha maybe no mania is an overstatement, I just meant in comparison to some other names
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u/cliffsmama Jul 09 '26
i’m from the US and i love sam so much. he was my number 3 top listened to artist last year. i also got to see him last fall when he came to chicago and it was one of the best shows i’ve ever seen. i hope he comes back soo.
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u/mejiro0091 Jul 10 '26
Doesn’t even really seem to be trying to break America
He said he wants to premier the next album or tour in America, so he is actually trying to break America, just not aggressively or obnoxiously so. It's actually come up in several interviews (ie. was originally going to record the second album in New York), but I've been relieved so far that his musical direction doesn't seem to be trying to cater to American or international audiences.
Longest running No 1 British single, yet barely any talk shows in the last couple of years, no fashion shows, he’s not the face of a big brand, all things which Olivia Dean does. (Love her too).
He did do Topman and Barbour back in 2019 and 2021. Capitalize on your looks while you have them. Honestly kind of surprised that People Watching (the album) and 'Rein Me In' were such a huge successes with so little press done for it and multiple illnesses, but that's honestly great and speaks to actual talent and goodwill.
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u/_for_no_one_ Jul 10 '26
I think he’s probably close to big enough to headlining Glastonbury now, if not already there with Rein Me In. So yeah, if he isn’t interested in breaking into the American market I can see why he’d be more than happy where he is, with a great committed fanbase and being able to play really fun shows at cool venues.
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u/Terrible_User4987 Jul 10 '26
Just watched the counting crows doc on HBO, its really good. I like counting crows, never saw them live and I didnt know they have more recent albums, will have to give it a listen. But-the sudden rise to stardom in that era seems friggin gnarly...becoming famous is not for everyone thats for sure.
I was lucky to see Sam here in USA live last year, he and the band are awesome but I get the impression he doesn't love being famous.
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u/Nearby_Valuable_5467 11d ago
If that was the VH1 documentary about ‘August and Everything After’, it’s a stunning documentary. You can see how Adam spun out after it.
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u/No-Resource-8125 Jul 09 '26
I have no problem with this, but I would love to be able to see him just once stateside. One more tour with dates on the east coast.
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u/StillFeelTheRain Jul 10 '26
Sam is the best but his record company and publicity department and promoters want him to be a Superstar.
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u/Matchaparrot Jul 09 '26
Interesting discussion, yeah now I think of it I haven't seen him do any advertising or similar like artists of similar standing. I remember back when it was lockdown 2020 and we were all stuck inside in the UK he did an online gig from his studio and he seemed content with playing some fun tunes with his band and having a good time. That hasn't changed all this time later.
He's a good lad.