Eurovision Star Sam Ryder Faced Existential Crisis after Label Shakeup
Sam ryder, the UK’s 2022 eurovision sensation, experienced a profound sense of worthlessness after leaving his record label in solidarity with his team, a move that ultimately stalled his momentum and threatened his musical career. Ryder’s second-place finish in Turin, Italy, had been the culmination of a lifelong pursuit, but the subsequent events nearly derailed his dream.
Ryder’s initial success,fueled by viral TikTok covers that caught the attention of stars like Alicia keys and Justin Bieber,led to a record deal and a debut album,There’s Nothing But Space Man. While the album topped the charts and sold out his tour despite critical reviews - The Evening Standard called it lacking in surprises, and The Guardian deemed it “toothless” – Ryder discovered his label had dismissed the team responsible for discovering and developing him on the final date of his tour. He chose to leave the label as well, turning down a second album to pursue independence.
The singer quickly realized the challenges of navigating the music industry without the infrastructure of a major label. “You go to the tap, and it’s not connected to the plumbing,” Ryder explained, describing the loss of resources and support. “You don’t have the manpower and the battering rams to move things along. So you start to think that you’ve failed and you’re on a downward trajectory.”
Prior to Eurovision, Ryder spent years honing his craft, singing in numerous bands from age 16 while working jobs in construction and a vegan cafe in Essex to make ends meet.The sudden shift from a whirlwind of success to a period of uncertainty triggered a deep fear of losing everything he had worked for. “And the biggest fear any human being will have when they’ve achieved a dream is losing it,” he said. Ryder is currently working to rebuild his independant career,facing the realities of self-funding and self-promotion in a competitive industry.
