How do you show how proud you are when one of your fave artists releases their long anticipated debut album? Maybe a streaming party? TikTok edits? Feral tweets about how the album is a cultural reset and reason to get up in the morning? Same. But here at THP, we also love to squirrel away in our minds to think of all the intrigue we have about that release, and then do a little dance at getting to ask the artist all about it! So when our fave Aussie Sam Fischer rounded off 2023 with his debut album I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me, you know we just had to go digging in an exclusive interview!
Sam Fischer’s I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me is the culmination of years of music and personal development. Through trials and tribulations, heartache and love, and everything in between, Sam Fischer has painted with bright colors and dark grays across the canvas of this album, and from the first listen, we were in love. A lyrical and vocal masterclass of authenticity, reflecting the experiences shared by so many of us, and delivered with such poetry, I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me is about to become your album of the year, and rightly so.
And not content with just gifting us this stunning album, Sam has just dropped the music video for lead single and title track ‘I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me.’ Don’t talk to us, we’re in our feelings.
We got to chat all things I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me with Sam Fischer, from the journey to this release, to collaborations, emo aliens, touring, and what’s in store for 2024! Check it out!
Congratulations Sam, you just released your debut album, I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me. What would you say has been the main difference (for you) between releasing singles and releasing a full body of work?
The main difference I’d say is mostly mental. The mentality of being an artist with a full-length album out verses EPs or singles is that of validity and growth. It’s kind of stupid to think like that but it’s been what feels like 47 years since ‘This City’ came out on my EP Not A Hobby and the Homework EP feels like an ice age ago so to have an album out makes me feel like I’ve really accomplished something. Everything I’ve held onto emotionally and mentally about the last few years was released with the album and it feels great.
Looking back on your journey and the challenges you faced in LA is truly inspiring to fans and those who want to chase their dreams. What advice would you have given to your younger self?
It means a lot that it’s inspiring to fans because it was so deeply exhausting and hard. I definitely don’t recommend taking the path I took, but I’m happy it was me to have walked so hopefully others can run! The advice I’d give to my younger self is to trust your gut more and don’t be afraid to stand up for what you think is right. If someone in your life or your team is treating you like garbage, don’t wait to take the trash out, do it now.
‘Hard To Love’ feels extremely confessional and vulnerable. What was the creative process behind this track? Was it distinctly different from creating previous singles?
I appreciate you saying that because I wrote it after a fight where I was absolutely in the wrong. So, when I walked into my session there really was only one thing on my mind that I wanted to talk about. My co-writers on ‘Hard To Love’ are some of the best in the game and made what I was feeling into a song so effortlessly. Nothing was over thought, just felt and sung hard.
Everyone knows and loves ‘This City,’ is there a place or city in this world you feel a strong connection to?
‘This City’ will always be Los Angeles for me. The strong connection is probably better described as a tough connection. It’s not exactly a place I want to live to but it’s somewhere I will always return to. Otherwise, Sydney is my hometown and the pull to get back there is ever-present.
We know this album has been years in the making, through many ups and downs and experiences. How do you approach revisiting songs from your past and deciding what made the cut for this record?
It was a weird experience putting this album together because in a way when I started writing it, I wasn’t aware I had started writing it. I’m a different person now than I was when I started writing the album and these songs are 15 of the best songs I’ve ever written, and they go really hard live. So as much as I would’ve loved to have that romantic process of making an album about one event, too much had happened by the time I put the album together and these songs told the story of where I’m at now.
We previously asked our readers, if they met the alien from the ‘Afterglow’ music video, and had to recommend 3 Sam Fischer songs, which they would recommend. The floor is now yours Sam, the alien is waiting for your album recs!
Haha love this. Well obviously ‘Afterglow’ because what a walk out song for them! I’d say ‘Hard To Love’ because I’m sure their arrival would be met with some heavy opposition and they’d need to just be emo for a second. Finally, I’d say ‘Hopeless Romantic’ because it’d be a bop for when they’re abducting people, it’s just so flowy you know?
We’re so happy to see ‘Hopeless Romantic’ on the album. It’s a special one for us as we saw you debut it live in London in 2021! You’ve achieved so much since then, if you could talk to 2021 Sam now, what would you tell him?
I love that for us. 2021 Sam was in deep releasing ‘What Other People Say’ with Demi Lovato, so that was an insanely cool time. I’d say, “PLEASE FOCUS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING INSTEAD OF WHAT ISN’T YOU IDIOT.” That’s all.
Speaking of live music… We’re itching to hear I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me live. What can you share with us about any tour plans?
I’m absolutely touring in 2024!! All will be announced this month, but the plan is to tour as far and wide as possible.
You have three phenomenal collaborations on your debut album, and we know that came about because of the strength of your music. But what did you take away from the experience of working creatively with other artists?
It’s always such a good time collaborating and getting to see how other artists work. All three of the incredible artists I have on the album are all insanely hard working, brilliantly talented and know exactly what they want. They’ve made me look at the way I work and communicate and changed me for the better.
The title track ‘I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me’ feels very reflective of the darkness and light across the album as a whole, with the juxtaposition of the uplifting tracks like ‘Afterglow’ and the very vulnerable tracks like ‘Hard To Love.’ Was this a concept going into the creation, and how important is that balance?
‘I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me’ came quite late into the creation of the album but once we had it, it felt like it encapsulated the entire point of view of the project. There wasn’t one pivotal event that led to the creation of the album though I wish there had been, it would’ve been way easier to put together! ‘ILYPDHM’ felt very honest and confessional and really sets up what’s to come on the rest of the album perfectly.
‘Carry It Well’ is a deeply personal song to us, and we’ve carried it with us since its release. It’s indicative of the authenticity you constantly share with us. What message do you hope we all take away from this album?
Other than I’m not just the guy that sings ‘This City,’ I hope the message people take away is that no feeling you’ve ever felt is unique. No matter how alone you’ve felt in your weakest moment, know that there is someone out there who has felt it too and you will get through it.
What’s something about I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me that you haven’t been asked yet, and you’d love to share?
Haven’t been asked yet: “Now that ILYPDHM is out, do you know what you want to say next and when can we expect new music?”
Answer: Absolutely. I know what I want to talk about and who I want to talk about and what I want it to sound like. So, get ready because I’m not slowing down anytime soon… see you in the new year x
Thanks to Sam Fischer for answering all of the burning questions rumbling around our heads, about this stunning album! I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me is a triumph and we cannot wait to see it soar. Plus an upcoming tour announcement? We are seated. It’s clear that not only is Sam one of the greatest songwriting and vocal talents around right now, but he’s also one of the most genuine. So, here’s to 2024 and more deserved success for Sam! He is not slowing down any time soon, and we know you won’t be either, so get to streaming Sam Fischer’s I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me, here!
What’s your favorite track from Sam Fischer’s I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me? Are you ready to meet us in the trenches for tour tickets? Come and chat all things Sam Fischer love with us, by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
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