Apple Music Home Session: Sam Fender

Sam Fender is definitely one of the UK’s most self-deprecating artists. “I don’t do myself any favors with the Bruce \[Springsteen\] comparisons,” Fender admits to Apple Music. “And I’m going to make it worse by doing his songs, but he’s my favorite artist of all time and a massive influence.” If you’re going to cover your idol, though, signing up another beloved musician to lend a hand is pretty smart. “Me and Dave \[Le’aupepe\] from Gang of Youths spontaneously covered ‘I’m on Fire’ when they were supporting us on the arena tour last year \[2021\]—I jumped in on their set, then he jumped in on mine. It took us a bit of practice to get the harmonies right, singing in the loos backstage, basically. Dave is a good mate and such a legend, so it was fun to record together.” The pair managed to find time on tour during a sound check in front of friends and family to lay down an “I’m on Fire” cover for the first track of Fender’s Home Session, while the other offering is a little more unplugged. “I chose ‘Last to Make It Home’ because it’s a tune from the new album \[*Seventeen Going Under*\] which works really well being stripped back,” he says. “My mate Heidi Curtis jumped on this one with some stunning backing vocals.”