When it came to “I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me,” Sam Fischer was deliberate in including his 15 best tracks on the album. This well-deserved achievement represents a watershed moment in the Australian singer-songwriter’s career. The record has been long overdue, but Sam explains, “It’s taken a while, but we’re finally here.” Everything is fitting into place quite fine, and I can’t complain.” 

Prior to the album’s conception, Sam had achieved some success in his career with the publication of This City. It was his debut single, and it presently has over 750 million global streams and 4 million global sales. Unfortunately, by the time the single was out, the pandemic had begun, and his chance to ride the wave and enjoy its full ecstasy was passed. “I felt like my moment was robbed from me,” Fischer admitted openly. 

The song was not only phenomenal, but it was also empowering. Sam mentioned that he still receives messages from people who use his songs to express themselves when they can’t find the words. 

“I’m lucky to be here still putting out music that people want to listen to,” Fischer said. 

He made that statement because his musical journey was fraught with challenges that caused him to question his place in the industry and himself as an artist. Because of the open, raw, and transparent moments he conveys through his storytelling and music, his audience identifies with him. “It’s for everyone. I found that my audience and those who come to my shows are going through something or feel misunderstood,” Fischer responded when asked who this record is for. 

It’s no surprise that Sam chose the album tune “I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me” as its title. Sam joked that it’s his favorite song on the record, but This City keeps him afloat. But the title track, he explains, “encapsulates the entire album,” and it’s about him gazing in the mirror and having an honest conversation with himself. I tell myself that I adore you, but you haven’t been terrific.” We can all identify to such moments when we realize that we have work today and that only we can aid and promote change. 

He created this album primarily to remind listeners that honest conversations with ourselves and those around us are necessary. “This is what you can expect from this album when you listen to it through,” Fischer said. 

Sam went on to say, “You get to experience different versions of myself and my voice throughout the album.” This is due to his musical inspirations as a vocalist and musician, which include R&B, soul, and pop. And, while his team and most others consider him a pop musician, he revealed that his initial loves as a child were R&B and soul. “I grew up listening to Whitney, Casey, and Jo-Jo, Michael Jackson, Destiny’s Child, and Donny Hathaway,” Sam said.  

He was going more towards a soulful vibe at the start of the album’s production. His management informed him that his fan base discovered him as a “pop artist,” thus he needed to stay on track with that. So, in order to satisfy his audience and himself as an artist, he combined all of the components. 

This is obvious because songs like Afterglow, Alright, and Hopeless Romantic have that pop vibe to them. And you get true R&B and soul with This City, Hard to Love, Carry It Well, What Other People Say, High on You, and You Don’t Call Me Anymore. Despite the fact that I classify the songs as such, there are notes, chords, and choruses from the various musical genres from which he takes inspiration and influence. 

Sam’s favorite tracks are from the albums Landslide and Somebody Cares. Landslide was written a year before This City was released. “During that period, I had been dismissed by my label and abused badly by the individuals I trusted, “said Fischer. He thought he was finished as an artist at this point. The song expresses his current self-perception and transports us through his looking glass. 

According to Sam, Somebody Cares was not originally on the track list. “It’s the most honest I’ve been about how low I got during the pandemic,” Fischer went on to say. He didn’t want it on at first because of the weight of the message. But he claimed he owed his fans an honest Sam who said nothing. As a result, it made the track list. He goes on to clarify that he chose Somebody Cares because his platform is utilized to promote mental health awareness and education since “we are all going through stuff.” 

Sam concluded our interview by saying that he wants audiences “listen to the album and know who Sam Fischer is.” People must comprehend his creativity since he has poured his blood, sweat, and literal tears into this industry for over a decade. “I don’t want them to think of me as just the This City guy. I want them to know who I am, Sam Fischer, who writes bangers and has a dope voice,” Sam stated.