At only 25, British soul singer Sam Smith has already brought the music world to his feet.<\/p>\n
But despite the success and fame, his second album \u201cThe Thrill of it All\u201d coming out on Friday paints another picture altogether \u2014 one of pain and heartbreak.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went on a bit of a spiral since I released \u2018In the Lonely Hour\u2019,\u201d Smith told AFP at a London recording studio, referring to his debut album.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a mental and thrilling three years of self-discovery and loss and heartbreak,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Sticking to the formula he deployed with great success in his first album, Smith\u2019s second opus is filled with gospel-infused ballads that tell poignant tales of lost love and longing.<\/p>\n
In \u201cToo Good at Goodbyes\u201d, the Londoner describes the breakdown of a relationship, singing \u201cevery time you walk out, the less I love you\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBaby You Make Me Crazy\u201d sees him trying to move on, doing \u201canything to drown you out tonight\u201d.<\/p>\n
Writing from a place of sadness comes easier to Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I\u2019m happy, I don\u2019t want to write music,\u201d Smith said, adding that he\u2019s \u201chappy a lot\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut just like anyone, there are dips and times when I go deeply into myself and deep in thought and it\u2019s these times that I go to the studio and pick up a pen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like a managed to write something that\u2019s honest and from my heart,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m ready to work\u2019\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Released in 2014, \u201cIn The Lonely Hour\u201d went to number one in several countries and won Smith four Grammys, including Best New Artist, Song of the Year and Record of the Year \u2014 three of the four most coveted awards at the music industry\u2019s premier gala.<\/p>\n Seemingly unstoppable, he then won an Oscar for his Bond movie theme \u201cWriting\u2019s on the Wall\u201d.<\/p>\n Unprepared for this level of success, Smith retreated from the public eye for a year and a half to \u201cget used to fame and really sit with it and understand it\u201d.<\/p>\n Now, though, he appears calm, collected and comfortable with the attention.<\/p>\n His transformation is also physical as Smith lost over 50 pounds (23 kilos) during his hiatus, making him appear even taller than he already is.<\/p>\n Gone also is the boyish look of his early twenties.<\/p>\n Nowadays, he sports short hair and three-o\u2019clock shadow, making his blue eyes pop out even more.<\/p>\n Still, making a second album off the back of a successful debut is nerve-wrecking and Smith didn\u2019t escape the pressure.<\/p>\n \u201cI did feel it and it affected my writing for the first 2-3 months,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n But with the difficult second album done and dusted, the soft-spoken singer is now \u201cready to work\u201d.<\/p>\n Smith is preparing to go on a tour between March and September next year that will take him to Europe, Canada, Mexico and the United States.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to take as big a break in between second and third record,\u201d he said, adding: \u201cThink I\u2019ve already got a title for the third record!\u201d<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Source: AFP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At only 25, British soul singer Sam Smith has already brought the music world to his feet. But despite the success and fame, his second album \u201cThe Thrill of it All\u201d coming out on Friday paints another picture altogether \u2014 one of pain and heartbreak. \u201cI went on a bit of a spiral since I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[137],"tags":[623,2080],"yoast_head":"\n