The only way is up
Rolling Stone UK|December 2022/January 2023
Sam Ryder truly changed the record when he snatched second place for the UK in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Space Man’. With a new album on the way, his feet have barely touched the ground since, as he tells Rolling Stone UK.
NICK REILLY
The only way is up

FEW ARTISTS HAVE managed to put their musical stamp on 2022 quite like Sam Ryder. When the year began, he was the TikTok sensation who garnered a massive audience during lockdown when his covers of Justin Bieber and Alicia Keys showed off those pipes and attracted millions of views.

But as the year ends, Ryder has defined 2022 by becoming the UK's highest-scoring Eurovision entry in years. He may have been pipped to victory by Ukraine, but the country's ongoing war with Russia means that the contest, at long last, will be hosted in the UK next year thanks to Ryder's impressive second place. With an anticipated debut album set for release later this month, we caught up with Ryder as he reflects on his achievements.

How’s it been hitting the road for your first post-Eurovision tour?

It’s been so good. They’re countries I’ve visited before and played to no one. I’ve done the transit van slogs with bands that I’ve been in. It’s been wild to play some of the same venues that have previously been empty, but it’s just exciting to see crowds there. I’ve been in situations before where I can hear people cashing up the till or the squeak of the mop, but I can’t now! That’s been nice.

How much has life changed since Eurovision? Have you been able to stop and take stock? 

Yeah, definitely. There’s been a semblance of checking in regularly. Ultimately, it comes down to gratitude for the new milestones I get to experience. They’re things I wouldn’t have dared to dream about, like playing with Queen and Dave Grohl [at Wembley’s Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert] because that’s a pipe dream, really. But then you’ve just got to be thankful.

この記事は Rolling Stone UK の December 2022/January 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Rolling Stone UK の December 2022/January 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

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