Sam Fender has been handed the Critics Choice Award ahead of the Brits. The singer songwriter from Newcastle upon Tyne follows in the footsteps of both Adele and Sam Smith who won the award previously.
The accolade is awarded to ‘future stars’ or ones to watch as part of the Brit Awards and commenting to the BBC he said “it is very dizzying and wonderful.”
Sam was first spotted by his now manager in the pub that he worked in, when the landlord recognised him and told Sam to pick up a guitar and start playing which he now describes as ‘a total fluke’.
That was five years ago and since then he has played hundreds of shows with his band and throughout 2017 and 2018 released nine singes which have led him to where he is now.
His dad thought there had been a mistake in him being named Critic’s Choice and according to Sam when speaking to the BBC, his mum made ‘that long Geordie eee sound’.
A mix of garage and rock with powerful vocals, the sound is quite unique with deep lyrics delving into topics about masculinity and depression – it is easy to see why Sam Fender is one to watch in 2019.
He has previously cited George Orwell’s 1984 Bruce Springsteen and as sources of inspiration and this year saw the release of his album Dead Boys which features a track of the same name and another titled Poundshop Kardashians, we can all take a guess as to the kind of themes that feature in that song in particular.
With sold out UK tour dates at the start of 2019, Sam Fender has shown exactly why he is the Critic’s Choice award and we are sure he will be doing a lot of celebrating at the awards ceremony with his bandmates.
Check out tour dates and latest news here.
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