'Brought a tear to my eye' - Watch Yorkshire NHS choir join Sheffield artist on his viral Love Island song
A Yorkshire-born singer-songwriter has released a new version of his hit song in collaboration with an NHS choir to raise money for charity.
Sam Scherdel, whose song ‘Somewhere in the Middle’ has been streamed over two million times, said the choral rendition ‘brought a tear to my eye’.
Profits from the version’s release will be donated to charities supporting healthcare in Yorkshire.
Hull NHS Choir initially performed the track without Scherdel, who got in touch to organise the collaboration after seeing their video on social media.
The choir’s leader and co-founder, Lucy Vere, said she always tags musicians when they post performances of their songs, but said Sam is the “very first artist who ever replied”.
She added: “Within just six weeks of that original tagged video, we found ourselves in the studio with him recording our version together.
“The fact Sam wanted to work with us has given the choir a huge boost and offered our members the experience of a lifetime.
“We’re so proud to be working with Sam as a Yorkshire talent alongside a Yorkshire-based choir.”
The original recording of ‘Somewhere in the Middle’ initially went viral after being featured on Love Island, after which Scherdel says he gained one million views on TikTok in four days.
He has since toured the UK and the US, with more UK dates set to be announced.
Amid international success, Scherdel said he was “just stunned seeing the song grow beyond anything I’ve ever released before”.
“It’s something I never thought would be possible when I first put the song out,” he added.
Hull NHS Choir was founded in 2014 to support NHS staff, helping them “to relax, feel good, and reconnect, with music and with each other”.
They have previously performed for King Charles, singing at his Coronation Concert in 2023, an experience they described as “an honour and a privilege”.
All proceeds from the release of their choral recording of the track will be given to Yorkshire-based healthcare charities Health Stars and Wishh.
The choir chose the causes because they “reflect who our choir is and where we come from,” Vere said; the two charities support Hull University Teaching Hospitals and Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, where the majority of the choir’s members work.
Lucy said the partnership was ‘especially meaningful’ as Wishh helped to set up the choir.
“We’re incredibly proud that through busking and our Christmas concert we’ve already raised £1,100 this year, split between the two charities,” she added.
“ Knowing that the proceeds from this single will continue to support the people and places so closely connected to our members makes this project even more special.”
Scherdel said he is pleased the single is ‘giving something back’, helping the choir’s members in their day-to-day lives.
Alongside the single, which is available to buy now, Scherdel will perform the song live with Hull NHS Choir, at Hull venue Social on Friday, May 22.