Ahead of the release of his third album People Watching, Sam Fender has been slowly drip-feeding fans with new tracks from the LP with each one being bigger and better than the last. After already gaining immense popularity on social media, Fender has finally released ‘Arm’s Length’, the third single from the album. For fans who were able to get their hands on tickets to his People Watching tour, the track won’t be a surprise, as the musician played the song in full at all of the shows.
Fender revealed in a post on social media that the track wasn’t originally going to be on People Watching. He said: “For a while, it wasn’t even going to be on the album… but thankfully Brooke joined and was like, are you mad?? It originally came from one of those magic moments where you’re just messing around, and a song literally falls out the sky. It’s about being avoidant and flighty. But also just a simple pop song, which I love.” Thanks to the recent addition to the band, Brooke Bentham, fans have been blessed with this addictive song.
The track starts with a clip of Fender and his band writing the song in the studio, which is a nice insight into the creative process behind what is sure to be a huge hit. You can hear Fender practising the twangy guitar riff that is repeated throughout ‘Arm’s Length’. What Fender joked about being a “shit little riff” at his Leeds gig has become a key part of the track that just scratches an itch on the listener’s brain.
The rest of the instrumentals are kept quite simple with a constant drumbeat and light acoustic guitar. Fender doesn’t need to show off much to grab the attention of his audience, his iconic Geordie twang is enough to keep you engaged. The addition of a harmonica in the latter half of the track is a pleasant shock. It’s not something you would usually hear in a Fender song but somehow it feels right at home.
What makes ‘Arm’s Length’ so special has to be the layered harmonies throughout. Both Bentham and Fender’s guitarist Dean Thompson lend their voices to the track. Their voices match Fender’s effortlessly and Bentham’s adlibs in the outro sound heavenly, which elevates the track even further.
Fender’s usual verging on self-deprecating lyrics creep into the track and make it relatable to his largely 20-something fanbase. With lines like “Holding hands back of the ride / Baby, you’re looking like you’re out to kill / I’m selfish, and I’m lonely / Arm’s length, small talk, and then some company”, ‘Arm’s Length’ highlights Fender’s honesty and self-awareness, which makes him infinitely more likeable despite the less-than-likeable protagonist depicted in the song.
If the rest of People Watching follows similar themes to ‘Arm’s Length’ and the previous two releases, ‘Wild Long Lie’ and ‘People Watching’, February 21st cannot come quickly enough. Fender’s sincerity and ability to take simple instrumentals and turn them into huge hits make him one of the best musicians of the 21st century.
Words by Amy Britton
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