THE BRITISH crooner in his “Writing’s on the Wall.” SCREENGRAB FROM MUSIC VIDEO
(Conclusion)
LOS ANGELES—In this part two of our column on Sam Smith, who’s looking forward to performing in Manila on Nov. 21 and savoring Filipino cuisine (take note, promoter Renen de Guia), he talks candidly about a variety of topics. The singer-songwriter behind “Writing’s on the Wall,” the latest James Bond theme song (from Daniel Craig’s “Spectre”), opened up about his journey, coming out as gay, regrets, Catholic education, dating and his plan to slow down a bit and act his age (he’s only 23 years old).
About his journey, the artist whose real name is Samuel Frederick, pointed out, “I feel like my artistry and me as an artist have changed hugely over this process, because before I had my album and came into the industry properly, I was so hungry and I still am very hungry in both ways (laughs). I was very passionate and willing to do anything—and everything. I was working in a bar. I had been working since the age of 15, having the sh-ttiest jobs you can imagine.
“I wanted it so bad. At some point, I was willing to give up my credibility and write certain ‘pop’ jobs. Thank God, I met Jimmy Napes, who helped me write my songs.
“And thank God I met my management team and Disclosure (English electronic duo), who taught me so much about being credible, being true to your music, and bringing out something that is classy and timeless. That is always my aim in what I do.
“I have learned so much over the last few years. Being in this industry, I have started to see what I don’t want, which is sometimes more important than what I do want. Going into my next album, I know what I don’t want.
Sam came out as gay to the public in May last year. But, he told his mom much earlier. “I came out to my mom when I was 10—but, I didn’t actually have to come out.”
Breaking into a smile again, Sam quipped, “My coming-out story is very disappointing. I told my mom I was gay, and she was like, ‘We know.’ So, it has been very depressing.
“But in the industry, I found it very scary in the beginning,” he admitted. “People haven’t been openly gay in the pop market and have not released music saying it was about a guy. I still get scared sometimes.
“Now, more people are aware of my sexuality, so I sometimes wonder what will happen with my second album—but, we have come so far. I have this album as an openly gay artist, and the response has been unbelievable! It’s uncharted territory, so it’s always going to be weird.”
SMITH. “I am not a religious person, but I’m very spiritual.”
Negative reaction
On any negative reaction about his coming out last year, Sam revealed, “Oh my gosh, I get homophobic abuse every single day. You just have to go on my Instagram. But, it’s the same if you are a woman in music, you get abused, if you look on Instagram. If you are black in music, it’s the same thing.
“But we are definitely moving forward in music, which is great and inspiring. My main thing is that I want to make music for everyone. I can listen to a Stevie Wonder record and relate to it as much as I can to any other record. And Stevie is talking about a woman. I am talking about love, and love is a universal thing.”
As far as regrets go, Sam laughed as he answered, “There are so many—you don’t know the half of it. Some of the music I have made when I was younger, I genuinely thought I was Britney Spears for a moment. My whole life has been this journey to try and find myself, from when I was a kid. I don’t think I will ever find myself, but I have good fun trying to.
“We were just having a conversation the other day with my team in the car. There were some outfits that I wore a few years ago that were horrific—but, at the same time, I don’t think I would want to hide them, because they show the human side of it. It’s just unsettling to me when you see certain artists who look like they’re OK all the time, because no one is OK all the time.”
About his earliest memories of watching cinema, Sam chuckled as he volunteered, “This is quite embarrassing. The first film I ever remember seeing was ‘Pete’s Dragon’—what a movie! My grandmother showed it to me. There’s a song in there called ‘Candle on the Water.’ Even now, if I play that song in the car, my sisters and I start crying because it reminds us of my grandma. I just love it so much!
“‘Pete’s Dragon’ is closely followed by ‘Mary Poppins.’ I don’t remember this, but my mom and dad tell the story all the time. I was 3 years old, and I used to be so obsessed with Mary Poppins that I used to dress up as Mary Poppins, with an umbrella and a lunchbox. I would shuffle myself into my dad, and he would have to fly me (demonstrates his dad holding him up with both arms and swaying him).”
Laughing again, he said, “I was gay, I’m gay.”
For once, here’s a celebrity who doesn’t bash his Catholic education. “I went to Catholic school from the age of 3. My mom didn’t want me to go to a private school, and the Catholic schools were some of the best in my area. Her main reasoning was, although we aren’t very religious as a family, she felt that they (Catholic schools) nurtured your spirit a little more in school, which is true.
“I am not a religious person, but I’m very spiritual. I feel that Catholic schools nurtured our spirits a little bit, but my relationship with God is very different—and it’s definitely my own. But Catholic schools helped me take a path that I think was good for me.”
On whether he’s been more fortunate with dating these days, Sam smiled as he disclosed, “I’m trying to find that balance. I’m trying to start dating. I have never had a proper boyfriend before, which is great, because I can’t compare it to anything else. Next year is going to be about finding my feet in where I stand in the music industry and in my personal life.”
Sam hopes to slow things down a bit. “I started singing at the age of 8,” he said. “I started singing lessons when I was 9. I have been singing ever since. Basically, my plan is to walk away a little bit. I made the decision recently. I sat down and thought, am I going to be this type of artist who churns out music as quickly?
“I write songs all the time, so I could bring out an album soon if I wanted to, but it’s very important for me to make sure that the music is as personal or as true as possible. To do that, as much as my life has been inspiring over the last year, I do need to step away and try my best to go back to how everything was before. That is my aim, because I miss it!
“I love my life now, but I also want to be with my family and friends, date some people and go to Tesco (UK’s popular grocery chain). I want to act my age, make mistakes without everyone looking at me, then write songs about the mistakes that I’ve made.”
Can he go grocery-shopping without being mobbed? “Yeah, I can,” he replied with a grin. “It’s crazy! I can do pretty much everything, if I just put my hair down.”
At what point did he feel that he has made it? “I still haven’t felt like I made it,” Sam answered. “Seriously. I am racked with insecurities and stuff. But, when I go back home to London with my family, I feel completely normal, as if nothing has changed, which is a beautiful thing.”
E-mail rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com. Follow him at https://twitter.com/nepalesruben.