is known for their soulful voice and its satin falsetto. But the singer's lyrics, whether in a ballad or a bop, aren't just about loving or losing others: They're also about the love of the genuine, the true, the self. The artist joined NPR's Scott Simon to talk about their new album,, out Oct. 30. Hear the radio version at the audio link, and read on for an edited transcript.
Completely. This song for me was very fresh after a breakup with someone, and my heart was just really, really heavy when I was writing it. There's an element of desperation in there, I think, and also just realizing that I can't move forward unless I forgive myself for the things that have happened. And I think that's in terms of relationships but also in terms of life, you know?
Yeah. I mean, I have mental health [issues] in my family, and I think no matter how my life was going to go, I probably was always going to have to battle it at some point — just from a genetic standpoint. But for me, becoming famous, becoming successful, really, really wreaked havoc on my insecurities and my mental health. And it's taken a good four, five years to get into a place where I just feel positive again about stuff, about life.
I want to point out, before I explain this: I am a singer. I've only been known as they/them with my pronouns for the last year and a half. So if anyone wants to know more about it, I would implore you to read, to go online and just search up nonbinary activists, because they're way more eloquent than I am.
Please stop this narcissistic nonsense....🖐 ....This is silly. Their They samsmith
Thank you for using their pronouns
Thank you for respecting pronouns!
Just out 👉 samsmith “Non Binary” parody song 🎶🤣samsmith nonbinary
Them and Adele, they need to get over it
There must be some other way to refer to someone without using a plural pronoun.
Annoying vocals. Hard pass!
How is Sam Smith 'their' if Sam Smith is a 'Grammy-winning (why is that hyphenated?) artist?'
I have missed their music. Exciting. 🎧🎶
Look at you with the proper pronouns! You go NPR!
His
This tweet makes it seem like they dropped three albums this week. Lol.
They have the most annoying voice in the world. They sound like a bloodhound that ate a bunch of estrogen.
'Their' - is Sam Smith a group?
kudos for those pronouns. You didn't have to, but I'm sure they appreciate it
So Sam & Smith are a group now?!? 😎
So it’s a duets album?
Pronouns 👌
They sells sea shells by the sea shore
Imagine the social justice boner the author of this tweet had when they typed 'their'