Album Review: "People Watching (Deluxe)" - Sam Fender

Tessa Brainard
1 day ago
7 min read

Sam Fender has been one of my favorite artists since the release of his second studio album, “Seventeen Going Under.” Influenced by 90s and early 2000s artists like Oasis and Green Day, Fender’s music is distinct and authentic.

Fender released his third studio album, “People Watching,” in late February of this year, and it ushered him into a new level of success. The album became the fastest-selling vinyl album by a British artist in the 21st century, with 43,000 vinyl sales in the first week. It also received rave reviews across music publications and was praised for its exceptional lyrical storytelling and signature sound. It was also my top listened to album on Spotify Wrapped 2025.

Fender announced “People Watching (Deluxe)” on October 17, with eight bonus tracks on the docket. Some of the songs on the tracklist had been released on 7” vinyl for World Record Store Day on April 12, but these tracks were mostly new to fans, especially those who couldn’t get their hands on a vinyl copy. Upon listening, it is safe to say that they were well worth the wait.

Tracklist

I’m Always On Stage
Talk to You (ft. Elton John)
Fortuna’s Wheel
Rein Me In (ft. Olivia Dean)
Me and The Dog
Tyrants
The Treadmill
Empty Spaces

I’m Always On Stage

“I’m Always on Stage” is a slower track that puts Fender’s vocal and lyricism before anything else. Set to a simple acoustic guitar, Fender’s voice is full of emotion as he reflects upon his path to fame and the things it has cost him.

As implied in the title, Fender struggles with feeling like he is always in the spotlight, even during his moments alone or with loved ones. He is not sure where the person he is onstage ends and the person he is privately begins. There is pressure to be happy and never waver in light of his success, and he is never settled.

This song sets the tone for the majority of the Deluxe tracks with its heavy themes of self-loathing, self-sabotage and major loss.

Talk to You (ft. Elton John)

“Talk to You,” featuring Elton John, is a highlight in Fender’s discography. Longtime friends, Fender and John beautifully meld their talents together on this heartfelt track. The song begins with a gorgeous intro from John on the piano, blended with a signature Fender guitar riff.

The song explores the heartbreak of losing a great young love, especially when you were the one who ruined it. Fender describes how he was unfaithful to a long-term partner and lost them as a result. It explores feelings of guilt and loneliness, as Fender wishes to reconnect with this person and gain their forgiveness even though he has caused them pain. He knows it is selfish to ask them for help forgiving himself, but he can’t help it.

He also examines how his upbringing has influenced his behavior, but tries not to use this excuse to justify it. While he may come from a background that normalized infidelity, he also recognizes that he is the one who chose to be unfaithful, not anyone else.

Fortuna’s Wheel

“Fortuna’s Wheel” is the shortest bonus track, yet it makes a major impact. With soft, quivering vocals and a melodic acoustic guitar, Fender bids goodbye to a former lover, perhaps the same person he was speaking to in “Talk To You.” Additionally, the guitar riff is similar to the one that follows in the next song, “Rein Me In,” further connecting this song to the others on the project.

As mentioned in the title, Fender mentions Fortuna’s Wheel, a concept in medieval philosophy that represents fate. The wheel belongs to the Roman goddess Fortuna, who spins the wheel at random and changes the circumstances and standings of those on it. As a result, some suffer great pain and misfortune, while others move to the top and can bask in their new luck.

In this case, Fender describes waiting to see where fate will take his connection with this former partner, and whether they will forgive him. He knows they may hate him now, but he is hopeful that time will help them heal and bring them new company. It is a tender song as he accepts his fate, no matter what comes.

Rein Me In (ft. Olivia Dean)

“Rein Me In” was one of my favorite tracks from the original “People Watching” album, but adding Oliva Dean onto it elevated it to a new level. Dean is a British R&B/pop artist whose second studio album, “The Art of Loving,” has been dominating the charts and my playlists. With hit singles like “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” “Man I Need” and “Nice To Each Other,” her voice is strong yet soothing, soulful, and romantic.

Fender and Dean’s vocals blended to create a magical new version of this already incredible song. The track explores Fender’s reluctance to be vulnerable with a partner, ultimately leading to the end of the relationship. As he reflects upon how he ruined a good thing, Dean’s vocals come in to play the role of the partner who was wronged.

She tells Fender that there is no bravery in running away from tenderness and that being too afraid to love is more cowardly than allowing her in. Being alone is the easy way out, and while experiencing vulnerability is scary and at times difficult, he needs to give up his pride and open his heart to her. Having this added perspective of the partner on the other side of the relationship enhances the song’s story and is a refreshing addition to an already stellar track.

Me and The Dog

“Me and The Dog” is another favorite of mine from the nine deluxe tracks. The lyrics are clever from the first line, and instrumentally, this song is a blend of rock and funk influences.

“The dog” is a metaphor for depression, and was referenced in “Something Heavy” as something that “so many good people [are] falling victim to.” The dog may also be a reference to Newcastle Brown Ale, a local brew from North Shields that is commonly referred to as the dog. In this case, it also amplifies how Fender and those around him may use substances to escape their current realities and get out of their heads.

Self-sabotage is a common theme in Fender’s work, and in this track, he expresses that he does not need other people, as “it’s just [him] and the dog.” In this way, he is isolating himself in the midst of his depression as he feels like “the dog” is the only one who understands him. His depressive state is one he feels he has inherited and therefore must live with forever. Additionally, he states that, “[He doesn’t] need a nemesis // [He’s] got [his] hands full with [himself].” These feelings are amplified by his surroundings, giving him “small town induced psychosis” as he sees the way the dog is going after other people in his small bubble.

Tyrants

“Tyrants” is a track that has a more hopeful feeling than the others, as it spreads a message of taking control of your mental health and fighting the urge to self-destruct. This song is a rallying cry to “rail against the tyrants now // the ones who rattle in your head.”

There is also a mention of Fortuna’s Wheel, as Fender states he is running on it and trying to “evade the low side of the road,” meaning that he is running against fate and hoping that it does not tip him into a depressive state again. He recalls times he has allowed his ego to take control of him and ruin his chances of true connection. In this song, he encourages listeners, as well as himself, to love as though they have never been hurt before.

This is one of my favorite songs from the Deluxe release, and the instrumentals are a beautiful mix of creamy guitars, amplified percussion and 80s-style synth keys in the background. Fender’s vocals are strong and clear, and when mixed with the tones of background vocalist Brooke Bentham, something magical happens. This is an excellent track, and one that I will return to when I need it to lift me up.

The Treadmill

“The Treadmill” is an early-2000s Britrock-inspired track that likens Fender’s place in life to being stuck on a treadmill. While he may seemingly be progressing, he is still staying in one place while everyone around him is moving on in life.

He is terrified of being alone forever, especially as he watches his friends get married and settle down. He also references running into an ex-lover as she “looks like [she] came out the spa,” while he is praying that God will improve his appearance. He feels lightyears behind in the healing process and is convinced that she is doing much better than him, even though he is only judging that from the outside.

While sonically upbeat, the lyrics subvert the tempo by being extremely sad and self-flagellating. This duality is something that Fender has a true knack for, and this track is another highlight of that skill.

Empty Spaces

“Empty Spaces” is a heartwrenching piano ballad that exposes the fullest extent of Fender’s vulnerability and insecurities. Wrapping up the album, this track embodies the hollow, cavernous feeling in your chest in the midst of great sadness. Fender looks at himself in the mirror and realizes he doesn’t recognize himself as his depression has even overtaken his appearance.

He remembers that someone he once loved is now a stranger, and he longs to connect with someone again to combat his loneliness. He also recognizes that he “know[s] it was [him] who pulled the trigger” and ruined things, but he is still confused as to how he ended up here. There is a profound emptiness within him that he has attempted to fill since, yet nothing helps.

As his mental health spirals, he also grapples with the concept of mortality and the afterlife as he recounts the story of his friend’s young daughter crying over being alone one day. Fender’s heart breaks at this story, and he believes that the concept of Heaven was invented as a way to provide some solace and explanation in the face of loss.

This is a somewhat painful track to listen to, but ultimately relatable for anyone who has experienced the anguish of depression. Fender’s lyrics and vocals are raw and touching, amplified by a simple piano track, creating a beautiful, tragic end to this project.

Overall, these eight tracks are the perfect bookend to the “People Watching” album. The original 11 songs on this album blew me away from the first listen, and these are no different. It has been remarkable to witness the way Fender has progressed throughout his career, and his already strong lyrical and vocal abilities have only improved with time. “People Watching Deluxe” is a true triumph in his career, full of emotional depth and raw instrumental talent, and I look forward to savoring it for months to come.

Written By Tessa Brainard