Recommended Tracks: “phones in heaven,” “almost killed me,” “time will fly”
Artists You Might Like: Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran
When something huge happens to you, whether it’s falling in love with someone for the first time or finding out someone close to you has passed away, your instincts are to tell someone. It’s like your blood starts to boil, your face becomes flush, your skin begins to crawl – your body demands that you let out these overwhelming feelings in whatever way possible. It can be a mistake to hide from them, which is why Sam Tompkins is not hiding from them anymore. Consolidating these moments into one project, the UK singer-songwriter gives us his debut album, hi, my name is insecure. Each track plays out like a heartfelt confession, intended to be told to the world. As is Sam’s nature, he is choosing to openly share these private moments with others out there who can relate or might benefit from his words, making this an album that is anything but insecure.
One of the main themes on this album, of course, is self-worth. Sam sets the tone for the album by opening with the title track, which gets into the notion of finding someone in order to feel valued. Until he does so, he sings, “Hi, my name is Insecure / And I don’t know if I wanna be here anymore / The only thing that’s making me stay here is your eyes, tonight,” looking to connect. It speaks to those out there who feel different when they’re alone versus when they’re out, or who have desires to find their person but aren’t sure where to start. He realizes, however, that these feelings don’t truly go away just because that other person is around. On “all my everything” and “see me,” he discloses the intrusive thoughts that get in his way. With the former, he shares that he needs to love himself first before he can love someone else, singing, “I just hate the mirror now / Got things to figure out / When I know what it is / I’ll give you all my everything.” On the latter, he even wonders if he would be able to open up to someone, singing, “I hate myself, but I do it in private / I’m so scared / I just can’t have you anywhere near me / ‘Cause what if you see me the way that I see me?” These songs play out like therapy sessions, where we take in Sam’s thoughts as he fully gives them away.
Although he has these doubts and concerns, Sam is still grateful for the love in his life. We learn that he is terrified for that love to go away, as he sings on “lose it all” and “thanatophobia.” The sense of urgency is apparent on “lose it all,” locked in by the fast-paced piano-driven chords. All the while, Sam tells us, “I’ve been staring at the sky / Thanking the lord that you’re mine / Still sends me shivers down my spine / That you’re mine” and “If I ever lose you, I lose it all,” his spirit ever so sincere. These ideas are also present on “thanatophobia,” where Sam admits, “I’m not scared of going under / I’m not scared of being used / I’m not scared of lightning and thunder / I’m scared of losing you.” Sometimes, the only thing stronger than fear is love, so on “thank god you talked to me,” Sam lets the fear of death get taken over by the love he has in his heart. A very personable love song, “thank god you talked to me” imparts that love does not have to happen through one big moment or huge gesture. Accompanied by acoustic guitar, Sam recounts the day he met his perfect someone, delivering lines like, “I remember when I saw you / For the very first time / You were with some friends / I remember thinking then / One day, they’d be mine.” While much has happened since then, he can’t shake the gratitude he has that this person came over and talked to him, changing his world forever.
As much as love has a hold on Sam’s life, it seems as if loss has quite a hold on him too. He can get worked up over those who have messed with his heart, coming through in full force on songs like “dead to me” and “someone else.” It’s crushing when we hear him sing, “Just tell me why / You stole my heart like a thief / Then buried it six feet deep / So take it all up with Jesus, baby / He’s more forgiving than me / I hope you rest in peace / Because you’re dead to me” or “Yeah, I’ve fallen / And I won’t fall in love again / ‘Cause I’ve been hurting / All because of love / I don’t deserve this.” At times, the music would fool you into thinking that these are not very angry or bitter songs, as they are adorned with warm chords or minimal melodies. But on “almost killed me,” Sam gives us more edge. The pronounced beats, electric guitar riffs, and decadent melodies perfectly mix with his harsher vocals, making this one of the louder songs on the album. He reminisces on a relationship that could have been everything, singing, “Thought we / Could be / A movie / A scene” and “Sad was the day we said goodbye / Love was the thing that almost killed me,” desperately wanting a different outcome. It would be fantastic if we could always have things end our way, and this rings true on “phones in heaven.” Throughout the song, Sam fantasizes about getting in touch with someone who has passed on, thinking, “Maybe those conversations could fill the emptiness / ‘Cause you’re so far away.” All he wants is for things to go back to normal, to be “crying with laughter” instead of crying himself to sleep. If only those people who are no longer around could always be a phone call away…
Through it all, there are two tracks that are on the inspirational side, that round out the messages on the album. A fan-favorite, “time will fly” is dedicated to Sam’s younger self. Knowing what he knows now, he can confirm that each painful experience or moment of heartbreak was worth it because it brought him to where he is today. We also get audio at the end of Sam explaining the inspiration behind the song, elaborating, “I think it’s a shame that you can’t talk to your younger self, ‘cause a lot of the time when I was younger, I needed someone exactly like me to show up and be there when I needed them…but I’m there for them now.” He continues to be there on “alone at the party,” which closes the project. It trades off and on from electronic and vibrant to quiet and lonely, mirroring the outward and inward struggle we all fight. In the end, Sam tells listeners, “If you hear this, don’t worry / You’ll figure it out / Yeah, you’re alone at the party / But at least you left the house.” You are not always going to be able to get where you want to be all at once; it’s a step-by-step process, and you have to accept the little victories as they come.
Overall, hi, my name is insecure. is not only an important album for Sam, but an important album for anyone who could use some comfort, guidance, or validation. He touches on topics like self-worth, love, and loss, pulling the lyrics as if from a diary and setting them to the acoustic sounds of the guitar or piano. It all ties into the many goals he has for those who listen to his music, previously sharing, “I want everyone else to feel that like there’s nothing in this world that you might feel sad about that is shameful. In terms of mental health, there isn’t anything you ought to shy away from, you should always let people know if you’re struggling.” After hearing hi, my name is insecure., Sam has achieved this goal.
You can listen to hi, my name is insecure. on platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music.
Keep up with Sam Tompkins: Instagram // Facebook // X // YouTube // TikTok // Website
