Interview: Sam Fender — When The Horn Blows

After immediately selling out the original two nights, Sam Fender has announced a third night at London’s Omeara this November, we recently had a chat with him about his new single ‘Dead Boys’.

Talk us through the process of writing the new single. You’ve chosen such a poignant topic of conversation.

Dead Boys is a song about male suicide, it's a real problem in the UK. I wrote from my experience of losing a close friend last year, and it's also about the influx of suicides in my home town.

I’ve read that you sometimes write poetry as a base to creating a song. Who are some of your favourite poets?

I really like Charles Bukowski and John Cooper Clarke. They're both total scumbags.

You’ve cited your musical inspirations as Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Buckley and Joni Mitchell. Is there anyone else that influences your sound that people wouldn’t normally guess?

I like a wide variety of different music. I think there's great stuff in all genres, I’m a songwriter so I love great story-tellers. Kendrick Lamar is exactly that. His lyrics are poignant and compelling and I love the Jazz elements that he brings to his tracks.

You’ve done a lot of touring this year and have another string of dates coming up. What motivates you and keeps you from boredom whilst on the road?

We play cards. We have a nerf foam missile that we throw around service stations. We eat lots of nugs. We chuck hard boiled sweets at each other. We tie Drew the drummer's shoelaces together when he falls asleep. We spend most the time laughing, it's pretty great.

Are there any artists that you’re dying to tour or collaborate with?

I would love to tour with the War on Drugs

Can you give us an idea and what to expect from the upcoming EP?

Expect grit, heart and honest stories.

Feature by Tyler Damara Kelly

Sam Fender’s song ‘Dead Boys’ is out now and is on tour this fall, catch him at the following dates -

29th October – Mash House, Edinburgh

30th October – Fibbers, York

31st October – King Tuts, Glasgow

2nd November – Chapel, Leeds

3rd November – Leadmill 2, Sheffield

5th November – Soup Kitchen, Manchester SOLD OUT

6th November – Shipping Forecast, Liverpool

7th November – Thekla, Bristol

9th November – Rock City Basement, Nottingham

10th November – The Castle & Falcon, Birmingham

12th November – OMEARA, London SOLD OUT

13th November – OMEARA, London SOLD OUT

14th November – OMEARA, London NEW DATE

17th November – Newcastle University

3rd December – Academy, Glasgow (w/ Blossoms) SOLD OUT

13th December – O2 Academy Brixton, London (w/ Blossoms) SOLD OUT