Album Review: Sam Fischer – I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me
2 min read
Australian singer-songwriter Sam Fischer has just released his debut full-length album, I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me. Despite this being Fischer’s debut, the pop-rock musician and self-described writer of ‘uncomplicated, honest truths about himself and his life’ has impressively amassed millions of listeners with a number of singles and his 2020 EP Homework. On his fifteen-track record, Fischer’s heart is in his hand for the world to see as he reveals the parts of himself that are far from uncomplicated.
Opener and title track I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me comes in with simple keys and a loop of choral harmonies which remain consistent throughout. Fischer sings apologetically, occasionally aided by a choir and a churchy melody. Fischer’s sense of regret pools into his words with fluid vocals, hitting their most emotive point as he painstakingly admits “I’m so sick of starting every sentence with “I’m sorry”’ between please of “I love you, please don’t hate me.” It is a difficult feeling communicated in a way that invites listeners to understand. Afterglow follows with a quick, upbeat pop feel. The instrumentation is reminiscent of the 2010 boy band sound with a similar rhythmic quality to Fischer’s verses. Naturally, such an arrangement makes the track an easy catch that releases regret in favour of a search for a feeling. Hopeless Romantic is a shift into subtle R&B undertones to deepen Fischer’s search for love and ultimate desire for happiness.
It is clear that Fischer has an incredible amount of of passion and emotion to convey about his experiences, and he calls upon the support of other musicians for him to express this. What Other People Say is the record’s first of three collaborations, and it features a strong performance from American singer-songwriter Demi Lovato which prioritises her familiar vocal belts against a stomp and clap style rhythm. Fischer and Lovato come together to reflect on straying away from themselves as they fall into pressure in a particularly heartfelt number. In addition to a mix of pop and soulful tracks and an energetic collaboration with Meghan Trainor on Alright, the record sees some softer acoustic numbers in Landslide and High On You featuring Amy Shark.
Sam Fischer’s debut album I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me unveils the complexity of his feelings and experiences – enduring heartbreak, watching love move on, and even losing a sense of yourself. Yet he does so in a way that is accessible and stylistically varied. It is an album that can be very easily well received, inspiring hope for what Fischer might explore next and how he’ll go about doing it.
