Sam Tompkins ‘Hi, My Name Is Insecure’ Album Review

After a few lockdown EPs, singer-songwriter Sam Tompkins has pulled together this collection of intimate, gentle songs into his debut full-length album ‘Hi, My Name Is Insecure’. Living up to it’s title, the former Brighton busker has turned in an album where the overarching theme of the material couldn’t be more suited to the title of the album if it tried.

Emotional and vulnerable are two words which come up frequently in the company of Tompkins and, as he starts off the album with the title track, honesty is one that can be added to that list. Starting off an album where the songs have been crafted through years of personal anxiety, the title track truly sets the tone for what is to come throughout the rest of the album as Tompkins, over and over again, delves into his own emotions for a stark, honest appraisal of his feelings.

Exploring the world of loss, both his and others, recent single “Phones In Heaven”, the song took on extra meaning after the loss of his own father to suicide at the end of 2024. The tender approach to the song almost belies the darkness of the inspiration but one which shows Tompkins’ unmatchable ability to put his words and feelings to song and capture them perfectly.

Further into the album there is a sense hopelessness to “Numb” as Tompkins sings “how could this have happened? I feel so abandoned. I’m breaking up…” before a more determined side rears its head and, underneath all of the loss and heartbreak, there is a man who simply won’t let these emotions get the better off him.

“Alone At The Party” wraps up this album with Tompkins reflecting on the awkwardness of attending social gatherings. The track forms the perfect bookend for this incredibly raw insight into the mind of someone who simply screams “Hi, my name is insecure…”

To order your copy of ‘Hi, My Name is Insecure”, head over to the Official Sam Tompkins Website.