Sam Fender is one of the biggest artists rocking across the pond right now. His iconic mumbled Geordie accent adds a new flavor to his Americana-inspired sound. Dreamy guitars and moody pianos ring out over his albums' heartfelt ballads, while his upbeat pop-rock tracks are driven by flying drums, bright synths, and high-energy guitar riffs. Fender's powerful belt penetrates the soul and calls you in to sing along.

The newest addition to his growing discography has finally hit streaming platforms this month: People Watching has Sam Fender's signature North Shields twist on pop rock with the refined sound an artist can only build through years of dedicated creation and self-discovery. Fender reflects on the inevitable effects of fame. His life, experience, and perspective are in stark contrast with those of the young artist he was at home.

Hearing him reflect on his past, it is difficult not to look back on his progression as an artist. His debut album Hypersonic Missiles established the foundation of his sound in 2019. The album is a mix of moody broody emotional reflections, upbeat party rock, and political commentary. His next album, 2021's Seventeen Going Under, brought many new listeners to Sam Fender. The title track's wild success brought the singer to number three on the UK charts. People Watching takes risks while remaining true to Fender's sound. The album is raw and honest; it is the culmination of all of his work thus far. When looking back on his discography, the question must be asked: Does time improve the music or does nothing beat the original?

3 Seventeen Going Under

Sam Fender, under exclusive licence to Universal Music Operations Limited, 2021

Seventeen Going Under is the album that brought many fans to Fender. The title track and runaway hit, "Seventeen Going Under" had a huge moment on Tik Tok as people used the sound to reflect on difficult relationships and people they have grown past. TikTok s related to the struggles that Fender and his home, North Shields, have faced. The deeply personal nature of the singer's work is the most alluring aspect of his work.

This album has some incredibly fun standout tracks. "Seventeen Going Under" deserves the hype. As Noah Kahan is dominating the folk rock scene, it is not surprising to see his Kahan-esque track soaring high above the rest. "Paradigms" is a song that perfectly encapsulates this record. The strings and piano turn up the dramatics in this fast-paced song. The lyrics about feeling beaten down by the expectations and power of others bare Fender's heart and welcome in everyone who has felt less than. The arrangement and build are incredible and perfectly suited to the song's subject matter.

This album is a love letter to some of Fender's biggest inspirations. The triumphant saxophone solos that follow long dramatic guitar-driven choruses are undeniably born of his love for Bruce Springsteen. His musings about class inequality set to the sound of orchestral synths are reminiscent of the singer's favorite song, "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve.

"Paradigms" is a song that perfectly encapsulates this record.

This album builds upon the sound that Fender established in Hypersonic Missiles. The album's songs have larger arrangements, creating a wall of sound that brings life to each track. While the sound is bigger, it is not necessarily elevated. The striking impact of his deeply personal and political lyrics is dulled by the overpowering volume and energy of the instrumentals they rest upon. By leaning into the sounds of Springsteen, particularly his album Born to Run, Fender lost some originality. Another honorable mention is the lesser-loved "Better of Me," with a suave bass solo and laid-back icy delayed synth that introduced a swagger into the artist's sound yet to be seen.

2 Hypersonic Missiles

Sam Fender, under exclusive licence to Universal Music Operations Limited, 2019

Sam Fender's debut album set the tone for his career. The slight gritty edge of this album has fallen away as the English star has continued to create music. "Hypersonic Missiles" has a folk-punk sound that has faded to a softer rock over time. On this album, Fender has a lot of fun with his arrangements and the production. His upbeat tracks have infectious retro synths and a nostalgic '80s guitar tone, perfectly exemplified by "The Border." This album features some of his most stripped-back raw tracks.

When Fender wrote this album, he was the farthest from fame he had ever been in his career. His mind was the closest to his hometown of North Shields it has been in his whole career. The economic plight of his hometown is a central part of his musical ethos.

The stripped-back sentimental nature of this album gives it the edge over Seventeen Going Under which feels less humble and down to earth. While this album may not be his most mature, I love the look into his teenage angst and the unfiltered nature of an artist that has yet to have their sound influenced by years in the industry. Although this album has received flack for including his teenage singles that were previously released, I think they fit well with the project overall.

1 People Watching

Sam Fender, under exclusive licence to Universal Music Operations Limited, 2025

In his brand-new album, Sam Fender is trying to get back to his roots, and grieving the fact that it is so difficult to connect with the person he was before his fame. People Watching reflects on his career from the standpoint of a mature 30-year-old musician who is well-established in their industry.

While Fender has dreamed of being a successful musician since the moment he picked up a guitar, his deepest ions have always rested in the comfort and strife of his hometown. Success has placed a wedge between the singer and the town that inspires all of his music. In his last album, he attempted to continue writing about the plight of his hometown, while his mind and ambition lie elsewhere. This album is an honest reflection of the moment he finds himself in.

Andrew Scott is filled with grief in his "People Watching" music video performance.

Andrew Scott is filled with grief in his "People Watching" music video performance. The choice of Scott in the music video both shows how far Fender has come to cast such an accredited and beloved actor in his music video, but the actor's strong performance is the perfect portrayal of the yearning he feels as a result.

The song "Little Bit Closer" blends his pop rock and pop folk perfectly. The combinations of harmonica, bluesy leading guitar tone, and plucked intro over a dynamic bass performance create a unique sound that deviates from his previous work. On this album, all of his risks are worth it and serve the overall composition of the project.