Architects’ Sam Carter speaks out on impact “anxiety and constant focus” on his voice after online criticism

Architects frontman Sam Carter has spoken out over the impact of online criticism of his voice during recent live shows.

In a lengthy post on Instagram, Carter admitted that he has been struggling with his voice over the last year and has suffered anxiety issues as a result of the negative comments he has been subjected to.

“It’s time for me to be honest here, and it’s not going to be easy, as it’s something I’ve worked tirelessly at over the last year,” he began. “My anxiety and constant focus on my voice has gotten me to a place where the joy of performing has been taken away from me.

“I got to a place where, whenever I go to scream the voice inside my head stops me from being able to do the job that I’ve done for the last 20 or so years. Now, this isn’t something that I started. It’s been the online discourse around my voice and the constant judgment that have ultimately led me down a tunnel that I’ve struggled to get out of.”

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He went on to point that matters escalated after the band’s Rock am Ring performance over the summer where he had a “really tough day trying out a new technique in front of 90-odd thousand people”.

He added: “The more I tried, the crueler the comments over the summer got and it led me to a place where I was physically and emotionally shot. My performance anxiety had gotten out of control and I wasn’t able to enjoy anything about the band or being onstage.

“Since summer, I’ve worked tirelessly to try and get to a point where my scream feels back to where it belongs. I would like to thank David from Extreme Vocal Academy for his help with this and for trying to help me unlock the part of me that has been lost under all the negativity.”

Carter continued: “I want to take this time to say that everything that I’ve been doing and the stress that I’m putting on myself is ultimately making it and my mental health worse and got me to a place where the people that love me are worried.

“I’ve been in bits today describing exactly how I feel and how the weight of it all has got too much. My bandmates and wife have been so supportive over the last year I can’t begin to tell you how loved I feel but it’s time to let you guys in on how much it’s crushing me.”

He went on to say that the “comments and the judgment have got too much” that he is “a human being trying my hardest up there and some things aren’t going to be perfect”.

Carter also revealed that he has been in therapy every week and he is taking medication for his anxiety.

“Trust me when I say there isn’t a stone I haven’t left unturned,” he said. “I didn’t grow up with perfect technique. I grew up screaming and barely being able to hear myself, playing in front of nobody. So this is me being honest and letting go.

“I dreamt of having a ‘Sam’s Back’ moment, but that’s not real life. And maybe this is actually my moment to come back to a life where I’m not thinking about this shit every waking moment.”

Architects are currently touring Europe with KoRn and are due to perform with them in the UK later this month. You can purchase tickets here.

“On this tour with Korn, I’m going to scream the words from a place of passion and determination,” Carter said before concluding: “Ultimately, I want to get back to a place where I’m having fun with my friends onstage. It’s not going to be perfect, but I’m not, so that’s that. Be kind. You never know what someone is truly going through. Love, Sam.”

Architects are due to perform on the Rock For People 2027 line-up along with Blink-182 and Faith No More.

The rock and metal festival is set to return to Park 360 in Hradec Králové, Czechia next summer, and will be taking place between June 2 and June 5. Visit here for tickets.

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