Sam Smith is unapologetically authentic and has really come into their own over the past seven months. But it didn't come easily to the singer.Â
Sitting down with Out, the 27-year-old candidly opened up about their road to accepting themself and how being authentic not only felt more freeing but also positively impacted their music creation. âIn changing my pronouns, I felt incredible freedom. Itâs like a brick was lifted off my chest, and with that freedom comes another kind of pain,â Smith said. âFeeling this free in our skin is answered with abuse. And thatâs really hard.â
Smith recalled an incident when they were 19 and being met with a senseless act of violence for wearing feminine clothes. âI used to wear lots of makeup and female clothing, and I got punched by this man, and ever since that happened, I started to dress down,â Smith explained. âWhen I started to dress down, thatâs when my music career started to lift off, but I made a decision in that moment that I felt more comfortable and safer pushing myself to that male side, and it helped.â
Smith further explained that they thought In the Lonely Hour would come across as a queer album but quickly realized people weren't understanding it. But now, with the help of friends and family, Smith is so much more comfortable expressing themself freely without caring about the judgement of others.Â
âI feel happier and more comfortable within myself when Iâm wearing more feminine clothes, which Iâm experimenting with more and more,â Smith said. âI thought living a life playing pretend would be less painful than being authentic. But Iâd rather be myself, even if it means being abused for it. Iâd rather get all this shit for being myself than lie to myself. Thatâs not a way to live.â
As for their music, Smith gave a little insight on what fans can expect on the next album. âThis album is me basically telling everyone to f*** off. Iâm trying to fly the flag a little bit and say that simple music isnât simple,â they said. âMy art has become truer and more honest after coming to peace with being nonbinary.â
Can't wait to hear it!
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