Latest news with #HypersonicMissiles
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
British chart-topper axes full comeback album amid fears it would flop
MABEL scrapped an entire album before making her new self-titled mixtape – after being 'crippled' by the expectations. 9 Mabel scrapped an entire album before making her new self-titled mixtape It won her a Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist. "I kept waiting for this moment like, 'Now's the time to put out an album', but inevitably you change, you grow, and the music you made last year or the year before, you've kind of outgrown it.' She added: 'People expect you to do certain things and get certain accolades again like it's easy. Read More on Showbiz "But that has been crippling, mentally and creatively, for me for years.' Cardi's love boat The WAP rapper has been rowing with the 9 Cardi B put the boot into her ex-husband Offset by going Instagram official with American football player Stefon Diggs 9 Cardi confirmed her romance with Stefon in sexy snaps on a yacht But Cardi made it clear he's the last thing on her mind as she confirmed her romance with Stefon in sexy snaps on a yacht. Most read in Bizarre Good for her. SAM IN THE KIT PARADE Iain Stirling jokes about Toby and Mabel as sexy star performs in the villa I revealed last week how the Geordie singer had signed a massive deal with 9 Sam Fender is out on the Toon as the star of an ad to launch Newcastle United's new third kit 9 Sam walks towards the venue for the ad 9 Sam in a Toon tracksuit My exclusive pictures show Sam on set at the Tyneside Irish Centre, just over the road from St James' Park, as he filmed the new ad with more than 100 extras. My source said: 'As well as the Adidas ad tying in to Sam's massive People Watching tour which kicks off in London on Friday, it will be used to launch Newcastle's new third kit. 'He arrived at 3pm and filmed for five hours with loads of extras. Sam was decked out head to toe in Adidas and played his guitar. He was on top form and everyone who met him said he was absolutely lovely. 'It was a long shoot but everyone who took part got to take home a pair of brand new trainers as a treat. 'Sam is really pleased with how the ad looks and so are the big cheeses at Newcastle United.' Since his debut album Hypersonic Missiles, which went straight to No1 in 2019, Sam has been on the most incredible rise. I've no doubt the journey is going to get even more exciting for Sam in the years to come. And now he's got some lovely new clobber to wear while he's doing it. Her album Something Beautiful is in the lead to top the charts. But just behind her is Garbage's new record Let All That We Imagine Be The Light. They may face opposition from Taylor Swift, whose album Reputation is at No8 in midweek figures. NADINE TO TELL ALL IN MEMOIR She reunited with 9 Nadine Coyle has risked falling out with her Girls Aloud mates again with a memoir that promises to 'tell all' But I imagine they might be more than a little worried about what Nadine has written in the book, called Loud: Diary Of A Derry Girl. It is due to be released in time for Christmas, with details about it leaking online after Amazon put up a pre-order link early, seemingly by accident. A description said it will be 'an intimate tell-all account' of her life. It added: 'This is her story, a story full of friendships, a lot of laughs, some bust-ups and just a whole lot of pop.' It's also likely to touch on her close friendship with bandmate Sarah Harding, who died from cancer in 2021, so I'm sure it will be an emotional read. RADIO 2 In The Park is heading to Chelmsford, Essex, for three days from September 5-7. The annual music festival will take place in Hylands Park, with tickets going on sale at 8.30am tomorrow. That will follow the line-up announcement during Scott Mills' breakfast show this morning. JOJO: HEAD OVER HEELS FOR CHRIS Jojo split with her partner hours after leaving the ITV show in April. 9 JoJo Siwa has finally confirmed her romance with reality no-mark Chris Hughes She said in a new interview: 'It's not platonic any more. 'It's been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I'm absolutely head over heels for him and he's the same way.' Hitting back at critics, she added: 'Anyone who suggests the relationship is a PR stunt is only telling on themselves. 'Clearly, you've never been around us. 'I won't ever speak for him, but for me personally, the happiness in my life just radiates off of me right now.' Alexandra vamps it up She got into character ahead of the UK tour which starts in Birmingham on July 10. 9 Alexandra Burke looks incredible as she prepares to take on the role of Morticia in The Addams Family musical comedy The production will tour other spots including Leicester, Salford, Canterbury and Blackpool. But while Alexandra has made a name for herself as a stage actress, she will return to music. On taking a break to have her two children, Alexandra said: 'Babies happened. One planned. Another baby happened . . . wasn't planned. 'But the plan is music. I'm hopefully coming back, I promise.' Alexandra, whose last album The Truth Is came out in 2018, added: 'Life just happened and I'm so grateful for my gorgeous children. It's slowed me down, it's made me realise the most important things in life.'
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sam Fender's life off stage – health struggles, 'stoner', and social issues
Singer-songwriter Sam Fender has always been open about his mental health and the struggles he has faced over the years, as well as his journey to fame Sam Fender has never shied away when it comes to sharing an insight into his life and his mental health. The musician, 31, will today headline BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool, performing alongside the likes of Myles Smith, Sugababes, Blossoms and Inhaler. However, off-stage, Fender has been widely praised for being a positive influence on young men, as well as initiating conversations about mental health and toxic masculinity. After the coronavirus pandemic, Sam released his second solo album, Seventeen Going Under, following his chart-topping 2019 debut, Hypersonic Missiles. In the album, he chronicled his struggles during the pandemic, revealing that he received a letter from the NHS instructing him to shield for 12 weeks. Earlier this year, he went on to score his third Number One album with People Watching, spawning hits including a track of the same name, Arm's Length and Tyrants. Speaking about the record, Fender said: "Our third album, People Watching. Feels pretty surreal saying that, it was a baptism of fire making it over the last 3 years. I want to send a huge thank you to Markus Dravs and Adam Granduciel for helping us steer the ship, it was a hell of a journey! I want to thank the fans for their unwavering support and patience. I'm eternally gobsmacked by the response to these songs, and humbled to see so many familiar and new faces at the shows." Before achieving worldwide recognition, the singer-songwriter confessed to being "a little stoner" and failing his A-Level studies in his hometown of North Shields. Sam and his mum, Shirley, lived in a flat plagued with black mould. Reflecting on his lockdown experience, Sam admitted he coped "horrendously", neglecting self-care by overeating and drinking, which left him feeling "miserable". His father, Alan, struggled to express emotions, leaving Sam concerned that he had been taught toxic masculinity due to his father's emotional reticence. Despite appearing confident now, Sam admits he was filled with self-loathing after finding fame, leading to intense self-hatred. "I was dealing with abandonment issues, my folks split up when I was young and I lived with my dad, but then he and I stopped getting on," he shared with The Guardian. He also revealed that he was bullied at school for having long hair and being "sensitive". Although he didn't retaliate against his bullies, Fender remembers "snapping" in his 20s, resorting to hitting walls to release his pent-up anger and frustration. His debut album featured the poignant track Dead Boys, which has been a lifeline for fans grappling with dark thoughts. Sam opened up about the personal significance of the song, revealing in 2021: "I lost a good friend to suicide last year, and I'm not going to lie to you – over lockdown, and even before, I was in that sort of place myself. I had moments where I was so low that I thought about it," before he clarified that he never attempted it. In a candid chat with NME back in 2018, he shared: "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." He also touched on the damaging effects of "toxic masculinity" on mental health discussions, particularly among men who are often pressured by outdated notions of stoicism. "I was told not to cry as a kid," he disclosed, before condemning the harmful mindset: "It's that sort of backwards attitude, so when we feel bad we feel ashamed or we feel like embarrassed." Sam previously spoke openly about taking time off to prioritise his wellbeing. In 2022, he cancelled several performances, citing "burnout" from touring. At the time, he explained that it would be "hypocritical" to continue working while neglecting his own mental health. In a statement released in September 2022, Fender said: "It seems completely hypocritical of me to advocate discussion on mental health and write songs about it if I don't take time to look after my own mental health. I've neglected myself for over a year now and haven't dealt with things that have deeply affected me. "It's impossible to do this work on myself while on the road, and it's exhausting feigning happiness and wellness for the sake of business. My friends and colleagues have been worried about me for a while and it's not going to get better unless I take the time to do so." He later explained he was beyond grateful to his fans for understanding before adding: "Me and the boys are burnt out and we need this time." Over the course of his career, Sam has also tackled the injustice within the socioeconomic scene and used his platform for the better. His working-class background has remained strong throughout his music, with millions relating to Seventeen Going Under He's spoken openly about the tough times when his mum couldn't work due to fibromyalgia and mental health issues. Reflecting on his previous album, Sam shared: "To be honest, with this record, it wasn't actually a real aim to tackle social issues, it was just I'd done therapy for two years once I started getting famous. That, basically, opened up a whole can of worms with my upbringing. I just ended up writing about home a lot more, writing about my life, and writing about my mother. Them stories just have a social conscience in them, because it's talking about very, very normal things that happen to very normal people." In an interview with The Big Issue, Sam remembered how his mum Shirley felt "embarrassed" by their hardships, but now that his circumstances have transformed, he remains tightly knit with his North East community. Proudly off benefits, Sam expressed: "It's amazing, I love that."
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The Independent
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Sam Fender scores fastest-selling album by a British artist this century with ‘People Watching'
Sam Fender has said he is 'overwhelmed' as his third album secured a record-breaking opening week at the top of the UK chart. The North Shields singer-songwriter released his latest album, People Watching, last week to glowing reviews from critics. In the seven days since, it has shifted 107,100 chart units including 43,000 on vinyl alone, making it the fastest-selling vinyl album by a British act this century. Fender, 30, also scored the biggest opening week for a UK act since Harry Styles released his Grammy-winning album, Harry's House, in 2022, to first-week sales of 113,000. Just nine artists in total have managed to sell 100,000 albums in their opening week in the UK: Fender, Styles, Adele, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Take That, Abba and Arctic Monkeys. 'This is completely overwhelming,' Fender said. 'Thank you to everyone who's supported us and listened to the album this week.' People Watching achieved a significantly bigger first week than his first two albums, including his 2019 debut Hypersonic Missiles and his 2021 follow-up, Seventeen Going Under, with sales of 40,900 and 43,700, respectively. Martin Talbot, chief executive officer at the Official Charts Company, commented: 'What an incredible week for Sam Fender, who takes a place at the head of the top table this week by claiming the Number 1 spot in the Official Albums Chart with a blockbuster opening week. 'His new album People Watching not only sets a new first-week high for himself, it's also a record-breaking first week on vinyl.' Reviewing the record for The Independent, critic Mark Beaumont said: ''Rein Me In', concerning a drunken breakup, is built around some vivifying junk piano and Coldplay arpeggios. The darkly fascinating 'TV Dinner' stands out like a Guggenheim in a swamp, with its sci-fi synth sizzle, shivering poetry, austere orchestrations and trip-hop edge. ''Something Heavy' is a rare display of country pop catchiness. And the record closes with 'Remember My Name', a moving and heartfelt tribute to Fender's lost grandparents on which he contemplates mortality backed by a sensitive and resonant colliery band.' Fender is due to perform at the 2025 Brit Awards on Saturday 1 March, where he is nominated for Artist of the Year and Best Rock/Alternative Act. He is also scheduled to play a series of massive summer shows, including at London Stadium on 6 June, three nights at St James Park in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
The Guardian
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Sam Fender: People Watching review – a lonely yet brilliant document of fame
Over two albums, Sam Fender has cast an increasingly astute eye over the working-class struggles of his native North Shields while wrangling with his own parallel narrative. But after his acclaimed 2019 debut, Hypersonic Missiles, and its hugely successful follow-up, Seventeen Going Under (2021), the 30-year-old clearly feels the weight of other people's attention. On his troubled yet brilliant third album, People Watching, that shift hangs heavy. The lead-single title track is a natural continuation from the widescreen Springsteen-isms of Seventeen…, on an adventurous record that takes in rootsy fingerpicking (Wild Long Lie) and a subversively breezy duet with singer Brooke Bentham (Arm's Length). Lyrically, however, the sad yearning of the opener signposts the turmoil to come, whether it's new parents back home who 'can't heat the place for fucking love nor money' (Chin Up) or industry vultures 'fetishis[ing] struggling' on the vitriolic, pitch-black highlight TV Dinner. Ultimately, this is a lonely document of fame, and of a man clinging on to the community his talents have propelled him away from. And where his previous album revealed Fender to be a songwriter of depth, People Watching explores life's ugliness and finds excellence.
