Mick Jagger has disclosed that he is a fan of Sam Fender, calling the singer’s album People Watching “excellent”.
Speaking with NME ahead of the July 10 release of the Rolling Stones’ new album Foreign Tongues, the band’s frontman hinted at its availability.
Asked about recent listening habits, Jagger said: “I’ve had my Sam Fender moments lately, because I like a lot of his stuff. That People Watching album was stunning. I thought the record was excellent; earlier tracks like ‘Seventeen Going Under’ also showcase strong material.”
“It’s always the same when you hear songs for the first time,” he added. “You pick up on the overall vibe and the grooves. It’s rock music, but his songs feature strong choruses – which is essential. I find many of his lyrics really interesting and reflective of his upbringing.”
Jagger observed that Fender’s writing has started to move beyond the working‑class themes that defined his early work.
“He’s obviously very pop‑oriented,” Jagger commented, “and he’s not only writing about working‑class topics. The collaboration with Olivia Dean proved quite successful.”
He specifically praised the track ‘Crumbling Empire’ from People Watching, calling its lyrics “lyrically interesting”.
NME suggested that Fender could be a guest on a future Stones performance, perhaps on ‘Tumbling Dice’. “Yeah, he might be really good for that,” Jagger replied.
Fender released People Watching in February 2025, following his 2021 debut Seventeen Going Under. In a four‑star review, NME described the album as “reflective, analytical and vulnerable”, adding that “he approaches each track with sensitivity as he looks back on his life so far – perhaps even with an inkling of guilt – and contemplates who he may be next.”
The album subsequently won the 2025 Mercury Prize, and Fender donated his £25,000 prize money to the Music Venue Trust.
Jagger’s remarks follow recent comments in which he praised other younger acts he has been listening to, including Geese – calling them “very experimental” – and Rosalía for her conceptual album Lux.
Meanwhile, the Rolling Stones have previewed Foreign Tongues with the singles ‘Rough And Twisted’, ‘In The Stars’, ‘Jealous Lover’ and ‘Divine Intervention’.
Speaking to NME about Paul McCartney’s involvement, Jagger said it was “very easy” working with the former Beatle, who plays bass on ‘Covered In You’.
Robert Smith also appears on ‘Divine Intervention’, despite initially turning down the collaboration because he “wasn’t really prepared for it”.
The Stones have also launched a six‑part podcast series titled Speaking In Tonguesexploring the making of the album.
Jagger also recently cited Sticky Fingers, Beggars Banquet and Hackney Diamonds as his favourite Rolling Stones albums, while naming ‘Sympathy For The Devil’, ‘Start Me Up’, ‘Angie’ and ‘Honky Tonk Women’ among his favourite tracks.
