Sam Ryder

English singer and songwriter Sam Ryder, also known for his presence on social platforms, launched his professional path fronting hard rock and metal acts including the Morning After and Blessed by a Broken Heart before shifting toward solo pop material. His wide-ranging voice helped convert sudden online attention into a Parlophone contract, yielding the 2021 singles “Whirlwind” and “More,” both featured on the September EP The Sun’s Gonna Rise.

Born and raised in Essex, Ryder drew early inspiration from the commanding delivery of Freddie Mercury and Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson. After learning guitar on his own, he gained entry to the industry through vocal ability alone, appearing on two albums with symphonic metal group the Morning After and then taking the lead role in Canadian glam metal band Blessed by a Broken Heart for their 2012 release Feel the Power. Following his departure in 2013, he relocated to Nashville to pursue songwriting and label interest, even completing a 2016 album that remained unreleased.

In 2020, amid pandemic restrictions, Ryder began uploading brief, unaccompanied vocal clips of popular tracks. The response to his resonant tone quickly secured the Parlophone deal and the January 2021 arrival of “Whirlwind,” soon joined by “Tiny Riots” and “More,” whose rock-rooted energy met mainstream hooks on the same EP.

Selection as the United Kingdom’s 2022 Eurovision entrant brought further momentum. Co-written with Amy Wadge and Max Wolfgang, “Space Man” placed second—the nation’s strongest finish since 1998—then reached number two on the U.K. singles chart and entered the top thirty in eight additional countries. August 2022 single “Somebody” preceded the November full-length debut There’s Nothing But Space, Man!, which housed both tracks.