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SAM FENDER
Dead Boys
"There's this out of date idea of how a man should behave - I think that's what's killing men"
- Sam Fender
Sam Fender is an English actor, singer-songwriter and guitarist. After starting his acting career, he was signed as a singer and released several singles independently, and was named one of the BBC's Sounds of 2018.
Rising singer-songwriter Sam, has spoken out about mental health, tackling ‘toxic masculinity’ and the inspiration behind his new single ‘Dead Boys’.
Recently signed to Polydor Records, Fender’s latest track furthers his reputation for searing guitar anthems with an eye for ‘social consciousness and political awareness’.
“It’s a song about male suicide, particularly in my hometown,” Fender told NME. “I lost some friends very close to me because of that. This song came from that place, and I have been playing it to other people ever since. It’s raised a conversation and I realised how much of a present issue it is. Everybody that I spoke to from all different parts of the country have all got a connection to someone they’ve lost."
“It really opened my eyes to how much of an issue it is. If it gets to one person and they feel like they should reach out and talk to somebody, then it has done a good job.”
WHEN SAM SPOKE TO NME
- TOXIC MASCULINITY
What do you think it is that holds people back from speaking out?
Sam: “I genuinely think it’s toxic masculinity and the idea of what a man is supposed to be. This really archaic, out of date idea of how a man is supposed to conduct himself. I think that’s what kills men, genuinely. I have personally struggled with that, growing up and being a young lad in 2018 in Newcastle. I think everyone does. There are a lot of challenges we are facing; like how you are supposed to react to emotional stress. I’ve got no shame in it. I was told not to cry as a kid. It’s that sort of backwards attitude, so when we feel bad we feel ashamed or we feel like embarrassed.
What does it mean to have a track like this out there and received on such a huge scale?
“It’s pretty fucking overwhelming, to be honest with you. I’ve had messages on Instagram from loads of people who have come out and talked about their stories or their experiences. I expected there would be a little bit of that but I didn’t realise how much I was going to get. In the first night of it being out I had loads of people sending messages, saying ‘Thanks so much for raising the conversation’ and then being like ‘My brother or my friend or someone took their life and it’s unfair’. I don’t want to act like I’m on some kind of crusade because I’m not – but I do think it’s important to acknowledge that it’s a problem. It’s OK to come forward and talk."
