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British singer's incredible year continues Simply Sam Smith
By John Benson
Over the past year, Sam Smith discovered that misery truly does love company.
The U.K. singer-songwriter watched as his debut album, “In The Lonely Hour,” which was released exactly a year ago last week, went multiplatinum based on the success of powerhouse ballad and No. 1 hit “Stay With Me.” The CD also included radio songs “Lay Me Down,” “Leave Your Lover” and “Money On My Mind.”
To put Smith’s success in perspective, “In The Lonely Hour” was locked into the Top 5 for 50 weeks. The last time that happened was in 1963 with The Beatles’ “Please Please Me.” Further, the 23-year-old London native was the only artist last year to sell a million albums in both the U.S. and the U.K.
Now after taking some time off due to vocal cord surgery, the four-time Grammy Award winner returns stateside to support “In the Lonely Hour.” The tour includes his Rock Hall City debut tonight at Wolstein Center. The Vindicator talked to Smith via email about how he’s feeling these days, his amazing success and what he has planned for his next album.
Q. Sorry to hear about your vocal cord issues. How are you feeling?
A. Thank you for your concern. I am feeling a lot better. Slowly getting back on my feet, but it’s been an emotional roller coaster. My body told me to stop, so that’s what I did.
Q. Considering the incredible year you’ve had, does the vocal cord issue taint how you view your amazing run of success?
A. It doesn’t taint anything. If anything, it gave me an opportunity to sit back and really digest everything that has happened. I moved into my first house, got my Grammys delivered, got a cat. I got to be Sam again, and it made me feel so lucky and blessed. But also, clarified again how important music is to me.
Q. What’s been the most surreal moment regarding your success?
A. Gosh. There has been so many. I think texting Stevie Wonder would be up there. And also, playing Madison Square Garden.
Q. Prior to recording “In the Lonely Hour,” stylistically what was your goal for the album?
A. My goal was to create something that was a body of work. I wanted to capture what was going on in my life, so that’s what I did. It became about brutal honesty. And at that time, that was accepting how sad and lonely I was.
Q. Did you sense when you were recording “Stay with Me” that it would strike a chord with audiences?
A. I would be lying if I said I didn’t. I cried when I wrote that song, and that’s the only time that’s ever happened and probably will happen. At first, I didn’t actually like the song but after I layered my voice in the chorus it made sense and I knew others would love it.
Q. Why do you think “Stay with Me” was so successful with music lovers?
A. Because it’s empty and full at the same time. It’s three chords and very, very simple, but complex to me at the same time.
Q. Looking ahead, have you started writing new material?
A. I have started and am writing when things happen that inspire me. The content will differ but there will be similarities because this is who I am as a writer and artist. The next album will be an honest encounter of my life since “In The Lonely Hour.” I do however think it will be about many different things, not just one.
Q. Finally, regarding that highly anticipated sophomore album, how much pressure are you feeling?
A. I try not to feel pressure. I’d be lying though if I said I didn’t because I am. But what I do know is I don’t want to repeat the success of “In The Lonely Hour.” I want longevity, that’s all. And I’m gonna make albums that people will think are [expletive], but as long as I truly love them, then that’s enough. I feel pressure because everyone thinks you must. But when I get down to it, my dreams have already come true. Now, I’m just here to tell my life story through music. That’s all I can do.