BRIT Award winner. Arena filler. Chart-topper. And now, technological maven?
In what can only be described as an unlikely career move, indie poster boy Sam Fender has shelved plans for his forthcoming sophomore album in favour of launching what he describes as ‘like a WhatsApp group chat, but for families’.
Titled ‘Fam Sender’, the new app boasts all the handy communicative qualities of a WhatsApp group but wrapped in a safe, filtered, and family-friendly shell.
Put simply, the application’s clever algorithm automatically replaces a number of commonly utilised swear words with a word that is a source of sincere comfort to Sam and his fellow Geordies: ‘Greggs’. Of course, not only does this move serve as a savvy boost for Fender’s campaign to become the undisputed #FaceOfGreggs, but it also ensures that even the slightest of ‘bairns’ isn’t disturbed by Uncle Drew’s senseless effing and blinding in the family group chat after a Saturday night in the local boozer.
Of course, this latest development may, to the uninitiated, appear to be little more than an ill-advised business move from a singer-songwriter who should “just hurry up and write some Greggsin’ music”.
Fender, however, has higher hopes for his latest project. In fact, the Geordie singer-songwriter hopes that the app will soon extend its reach beyond the realms of mere family chit-chat. In an exclusive chat with One on One, Fender proudly explained that ‘This ain’t just for yer fam, pal – yer can use it for yer mates an’ all. I’m in a group chat with Ant, Dec, Sting, and Alan Greggsin’ Shearer, pal! It’s mega.’
Whether or not Fender will regret his latest venture remains to be seen. Is he attempting to Play God, or Will We Talk of this moment marking the occasion where the worlds of indie-rock music and unicorn tech start-ups finally cross paths? Only time will tell. One thing we know for sure, though, is that One on One will be there to document every step of Sam Fender’s latest unpredictable – nay, unbelievable – career move.