Features : Sam Fender planning next album: “I’ve got a load of new songs already”

Sam Fender has opened up about the plans for his next album and revealed that he’s already got some new songs for it.

The BRIT award-winning rocker is set to release his third album ‘People Watching’ tomorrow (February 21) and has previewed the project with four tracks: ‘Remember My Name‘, ‘Arm’s Length’, ‘Wild Long Lie’ and the album’s title track.

While appearing as a guest on Apple Music 1‘s The Zane Lowe Show, Fender opened up about working on the album with The War On Drugs‘ Adam Granduciel and revealed that he is already working on its follow-up.

Speaking about working with Granduciel, Fender said: “It was an honour. I mean, he was one of my biggest heroes. The first time I heard ‘Lost in The Dream’, that record, I was really ill at the time and I was in hospital for a while, and that whole year that I spent kind of recovering, that record, it was the only thing I really listened to. So his music means a lot to me anyway. So the first time, it was one of those, it was such a weird thing. I was like, ‘I would love to work with him, but I know that he’s never produced outside of The War on Drugs.'”

He continued: “We have a saying in the North East and it’s ‘shy bairns get nowt’, which means shy kids getting nothing. And I was like, ‘I’m just going to have to get a hold of him and see if he’d be up for it.’ So I asked the label and I got a hold of him and I was on the phone and I was just like, ‘Look, I would love you to do this.’ And then we got talking and we realised that we’re both listening to all the same stuff or just all the references, all the music that we love. It was like Tom Petty and The Replacements and Springsteen and Dylan and The Waterboys.

“And then it was like it just made so much sense, so then when we went out there, it all happened really quickly and that’s always a great sign for me. I feel like if things are moving fast, then you know it’s happening. As soon as it’s done, it’s like wiping the hard drive in your head and now I’m ready to do another one. I just want to get back in the studio, if I’m honest. I’ve got a load of new songs already.”

Elsewhere, Fender recently announced further dates to his forthcoming UK stadium tour in the summer, including Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on August 16, Edinburgh Summer Sessions on August 22 and Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast as part of the VITAL Series on August 28.

Support for the first two shows will come from Olivia Dean, while CMAT will be opening the show in Belfast. Visit here to buy tickets and find a list of UK tour dates here.

The singer-songwriter was announced as the official ambassador of Record Store Day UK 2025 – set for April 12 – and will release two new songs as part of a special EP to celebrate.

He is also nominated for two BRIT Awards at next month’s ceremony: Artist Of The Year and Alt/Rock Act.

In other news, it was recently announced that Fender will be one of the headlining acts at this year’s Formula 1 British Grand Prix.