Sam Ryder could easily be mistaken for your average rock star at first glance—long hair, a full beard, ripped shorts, a casual T-shirt, and a bold Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse tattoo on his right arm.
But spend a few minutes with him, and something immediately sets him apart: his manners, his genuine politeness, and the warmth he radiates.
“I’ve met some big names who go stiff or just glaze over when meeting new people,” Ryder says with a grin.
“I promised myself I’d never do that. I want to be grateful for every moment of this.”
After finishing second at Eurovision 2022 with his hit Space Man, many labelled the 36-year-old Essex-born singer as a “good egg,” simply thrilled to be performing. Yet his journey to that stage was anything but ordinary.
The TikTok Spark
Before Eurovision, Ryder had already captured the hearts of global stars with TikTok videos filmed in his garden shed during lockdown.
Covers of Sia’s Elastic Heart and Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You earned praise from Justin Bieber, Sia, and Keys herself.
Bieber even messaged him to share Ryder’s performance with Sia, who later reposted it with the caption: “We all think you’re amazing! Well done dude! I love you, keep going!”
What drew these megastars wasn’t just Ryder’s impressive falsetto—it was his pure, unfiltered love of music.
“Hands down, getting a message from Justin Bieber for singing in a shed is probably the weirdest thing that will ever happen to me,” he laughs.
Faith and Gratitude Behind the Music
Ryder credits much of his sunny outlook to his faith. “Growing up Catholic, my parents instilled good manners, kindness, and putting your heart into everything,” he says.
“Prayer has been important to me during struggles. I’m not a theologian, but it’s kept me grounded.”
Before fame, Ryder balanced wedding gigs with working part-time as a carpenter with his dad.
“I accepted long ago that becoming a star might not happen,” he reflects. “You have to be grateful for what you do have, not bitter about what you don’t.”
From Punk Bands to Wedding Halls
Ryder’s musical journey began with a school band called The Morning After, and later, he toured Europe, the US, South America, and Russia with the Christian punk band Close Your Eyes.
“Christian punk is about being angry at life’s hardships but keeping the message that it’ll be okay in the end,” he explains.
By his early 20s, he returned to Essex, performing at weddings and singing Ed Sheeran and James Arthur hits. “It was an apprenticeship,” he says.
“Shouting punk during the week, then hitting Michael Jackson high notes on Saturday—it shredded my voice, but that’s how you learn your craft.”
Covid-19 ended his wedding gig career, but a garden shed TikTok video in 2020 unexpectedly catapulted him into the spotlight.
“I’m the longest overnight success story in music ever,” he laughs.
Eurovision and Stardom
Ryder signed with Parlophone Records in 2020 and quickly gained international recognition.
Eurovision in 2022, where he came second to Ukraine, exposed him to an audience of over 160 million.
“Eurovision was never something to look at with disdain. It’s a congregation of joy,” he says.
He released his debut album, There’s Nothing But Space, Man!, which topped the charts, but 2023 brought unexpected challenges.
His record label underwent restructuring, and Ryder made the decision to leave.
“Most people at a record company love music, but ultimately they work for shareholders. Those two things aren’t the same,” he notes.
Heartland: A New Chapter
Undeterred, Ryder joined his former label colleagues at Artist Theory and built a recording studio in Essex with his dad.
He also relocated part-time to Nashville, Tennessee, with his long-term girlfriend, Lois Gaskin-Barber, where he immersed himself in local music culture to create his new album, Heartland.
The record reflects a more grounded, soulful side of Ryder. “Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness,” he says of the title track.
“This album is about truth. You see someone’s true character when life keeps knocking you down.”
Staying Grounded Amid Fame
Despite his global recognition, Ryder’s lifestyle remains surprisingly normal.
He drives the same 2015 Honda HR-V he had as a wedding singer and prefers economy travel with his band’s roadies to maintain perspective. “I don’t want to buy a sports car or live in a bubble.
That takes you away from everyone,” he explains.
Even collaborations with top artists like Ed Sheeran are approached with humility.
“Losing to Ed or Harry Styles isn’t frustrating—it’s an honor. It’s about who you lose to,” he says.
Pride and Purpose
Ryder proudly represented the UK at Eurovision, carrying a Union Jack on stage, and he continues to prioritize meaning over money.
“I don’t want to live just trying to become wealthy. There has to be a purpose.
Helping people who feel like they’ll never make it—that’s what excites me,” he says.
From his garden shed to global stages, Ryder’s story proves that talent, gratitude, faith, and hard work can turn even the longest odds into extraordinary success.