Quotes from Sam Fender

I think the best writing is full of honesty and conviction. A lot of people are afraid to reveal much of themselves.

When you have these moments where a song connects with people and creates a conversation, it's quite a humbling experience because it's like, 'Maybe there is a little bit more weight to this job than I thought there ever was before.' Which was wonderful that that happened with 'Dead Boys.'

I put enough pressure on myself already - I can sit here and work myself into an anxiety-filled breakdown without worrying what everyone else is going to think.

I'm the worst. I get on my Instagram, put up a picture of my face looking all cheekbones and blue steel, and get massive dopamine hits when I see the likes come in.

I'm relentless when it comes to writing and recording.

The Cure wrote 'Boys Don't Cry,' and it's the same today: as a boy, you're not meant to show your emotions, but if you don't have a job or any prospects, you're going to be depressed, and it will be much worse if you can't express that. I hate the term because it's become a buzzword, but it's toxic masculinity.

I'm hopelessly addicted to Instagram.

The thing about Springsteen, his music, although he's writing about, you know, New Jersey and Asbury Park, all of them places, it's blue-collar towns that, like - it's similar to Newcastle, where I'm from.

I've been lucky enough to support some absolute legends and incredible songwriters over the years, including Hozier, Daughter, Willy Mason, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Nick Mulvey, and Benjamin Francis Leftwich.

I'm not like a university-educated scholar. I just sing what I see.

My brother was a drummer, and he was always, like, smashing the kit around when I was a kid, and my dad was, like, one of them old musicians, and he played in, like, loads of different bands in the '70s and '80s. Him and my brother were kind of like my main inspirations.

I messed around with the guitar from the age of about eight, but when I hit 13, it was the only thing I wanted from life.

When I was about 18, I started playing restaurants for £150 a night. I felt like a millionaire.

I'm asking questions that most people are asking, but just putting a melody or a song to it.

I recorded 'Play God' in a shed. I don't know how we got it to sound as good as it did.

I would cry if I met Bruce Springsteen, man. I don't think I'd be able to handle it.

I think honesty is an important thing when writing a song. If you can't sing it with conviction, then no-one else is going to believe it.

I wanted to change my name when I first started because I thought, 'No-one is going to believe that it is my name.'

Back in the day, you could have a crap gig, and nobody would film you. Now, everybody's got an iPhone - you have a bad day, and it's going on the Internet.

The reality is, the only thing I can control is whether my songs are good and if I can turn up and sing. All the rest is background noise.

I remember specifically, for me, as a kid growing up or as a young teenager, if I ever cried or got upset in front of anybody, I would be so humiliated.

I think I'm the last generation that remembers life before the smartphone. I'm going to be one of them old geezers going, 'You know, when I was a kid, we used to play with sticks.'

It's impossible to let fame go to your head when you still live in North Shields in a flat with your mum.

My mam and dad were blasting Steely Dan when I was born; the music hasn't stopped since then.