Sam Ryder Robinson, known professionally as Sam Ryder, is an English singer, songwriter and social media celebrity from Maldon, Essex. He started work in the industry as a session musician and released his debut single in 2019.
During the UK's first lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, he rose to prominence on the social media app TikTok for his song covers, which caught the attention of prominent artists like Alicia Keys, Justin Bieber and Sia, and were also shared by Ellen DeGeneres on her popular syndicated talk show. He currently has over 14 million followers on the platform.
On 10 March 2022, after much speculation, the BBC announced that Sam would represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin with the song Space Man. With a total of 466 points, Sam finished in 2nd place to earn the UK's best result in over 20 years, becoming a widely-recognized celebrity across the nation.
On 9 December 2022, Sam released his first full-length studio album There's Nothing but Space, Man!. It debuted at #1 on the UK album chart, also hitting #1 in Scotland and charting in Switzerland.
Trivia[]
- One of Sam's earliest gigs was playing in the parking lot of a vegan restaurant in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, according to an interview he did with CBC News anchor Heather Hiscox prior to the Platinum Party at the Palace concert.
- He believes in aliens.
- He is a vegan and also enjoys surfing, snowboarding, travel and meditation.
- His musical influences include David Bowie, Elton John and Queen.
- He credits Canadian band Sum 41 as his main inspiration to pursue a music career after seeing the group at a concert in Toronto.
- 2006 Eurovision winners Lordi inspired Sam to learn to play guitar.
- When Sam worked as a construction worker, he and his dad helped build the new Wembley Stadium. On 12 June 2022, he played there as part of the Capital FM Summertime Ball.
- He was a last-minute substitute for Bebe Rexha for a performance featuring a medley of David Guetta's songs at the 2023 BRIT Awards, where he was nominated for Best New Artist. He received high praise for his version of "I'm Good (Blue)".
- Sam is the first British male artist to have his debut album reach #1 on the UK chart since Sam Fender in 2019.
- In 2023, Sam was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for the song "Fought and Lost", which was featured in an episode of Ted Lasso (co-starring 2023 co-presenter Hannah Waddingham).