Sam Ryder

Sam Ryder Robinson (born 25 June 1989 in Maldon, Essex) is an English singer and songwriter whose work spans pop and rock. He came to wider public attention in the early 2020s and is best known for representing the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with “Space Man”, which became a major chart hit in the UK. 

Ryder grew up in Essex and performed in local bands before moving into solo work, developing a reputation as a live vocalist and guitarist. His wider breakthrough began during the COVID-19 period, when short-form online performances helped broaden his audience and led to increased mainstream exposure and professional releases.

In 2022, Ryder placed second at Eurovision, achieving the United Kingdom’s best result for decades in the contest and significantly raising his public profile. “Space Man” peaked at number 3 on the Official Singles Chart, and his debut album There’s Nothing But Space, Man! entered the Official Albums Chart at number 1 in December 2022. 

Following his breakthrough year, Ryder continued recording and performing, including high-profile televised appearances and further singles. His post-Eurovision work has centred on consolidating a solo catalogue while maintaining an active schedule of live performances in the UK and internationally. 

Ryder’s early-2020s success established him as a prominent British pop vocalist of his generation, with a chart-topping debut album and sustained singles performance. While comprehensive global sales figures are not consistently reported across major reference sources, his Eurovision result and subsequent UK chart achievements are frequently cited as defining milestones of his career to date.