Sam Fender has opened up about how the death of his “very close” friend and mentor, Annie Orwin, inspired his latest single, “People Watching.”
In an emotional interview with BBC Radio 1, Fender shared that the song is a tribute to Annie, whom he described as “a surrogate mother in a lot of ways.”
The track reflects his walks to and from the care home where Annie passed away last year, capturing the grief and deep respect he had for her.
Fender recalled that Annie, an actress best known for her role on Byker Grove, always used to joke about how he never mentioned her in his acceptance speeches.
“She always used to guilt trip us about it,” he said. “I hope I’ve repaid her with this song. I hope she’s up there thinking, ‘about time, kid.'”
Annie was a strong influence on Sam’s career, encouraging him to step onto the stage. She also transitioned into teaching and mentoring after her acting career.
In People Watching, Fender sings about promising to take Annie out of a care home that he describes as “falling to bits and understaffed.”
The poignant line, “I stayed all night till you left this life cos that’s just love,” references the moment he was with her as she passed away.
The song has resonated deeply with fans, such as Enqruita, who shared that it helped her reconnect with grief she had felt after the death of her grandmother.
“Grief is something we’ve all been through, and the fact Sam is so brave to share this makes you feel like you’re not alone,” she said. “I feel like it made me heal a part of myself I didn’t know needed to be healed.”
“People Watching” is the title single from Fender’s upcoming third album, which follows his chart-topping 2019 debut Hypersonic Missiles and his 2021 follow-up Seventeen Going Under.
Fender described the new album as “more outward-pointing” than his previous work, saying it’s “a collection of stories” about his hometown and the people in his life.
He believes People Watching is the most euphoric track on the album and feels it captures the essence of Annie’s larger-than-life influence on him. The full album is set to release in February.
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