The Biggest New Voice Of 2014!

BRIT and BBC Sound Poll winner Sam Smith announces the release of his debut album In The Lonely Hour on 23rd May through EMI NZ/Universal Music NZ.

The past six months have been a whirlwind for Sam after topping the coveted BBC Sound Poll and winning the BRITs Critics Choice Award. He went on to become the first ever Critics Choice Award winner to score a number one with his first single, the huge hit ‘Money On My Mind’.  This year has also seen Sam’s home-grown success catapult him across the Atlantic and with a recent performance on Jimmy Fallon alongside Disclosure, sell out dates in LA and New York, a stellar slot at SXSW and a huge performance on Saturday Night Live, his US star is born.

In The Lonely Hour is a 10-track labour of love for Sam ‘I said to myself, I don’t want to have a genre. ‘I wanted to take a risk’.  In the course of putting it together, Sam has worked with a roll call of blue chip collaborative names including Fraser T Smith, Two Inch Punch, Eg White, Disclosure, Zane Lowe, Tourist and long term writing partner Jimmy Napes.

His first single release was the album’s big pop moment, ‘Money On My Mind’, a Two Inch Punch produced smash that went straight to No.1 in the UK charts. The second ‘Stay With Me’ – Sam’s ballad of unrequited love – is the prefect pre-cursor to the album.

2013 highlights include his work with Naughty Boy on the MOBO winning, No.1 hit single ‘La La La’ to date amassing a mammoth 280 million views.  Live has seen him on tour with Disclosure playing at some of the biggest events in the music calendar from Glastonbury to Coachella and the Warehouse Project, culminating in a huge TV performance with Naughty Boy at the MOBOs.  Earlier that year, Sam posted a raw acoustic video for his aching grief ballad ‘Lay Me Down’ reaching over a million views and gaining a further army of followers.  This was followed by his debut EP ‘Nirvana’ released through PMR which was embraced by critics and fans alike. Christmas saw Sam deliver a slice of South Beach sunshine when courtesy of an afternoon in the studio, collectively Sam, Jimmy, Disclosure and the legendary Nile Rodgers decided to release ‘Together’ accompanied by a video from acclaimed illustrator and designer Kate Moross.

Live Sam has reached new heights with sold out dates here and in the US for his own UK and North American headline tours.  This summer sees a sold out show at London’s Roundhouse as well further festival performances at Somerset House, Bestival, Parklife, T in the Park and V to name a few.  He returns to Coachella with Disclosure in between his own tour dates which include two sold out shows at the Balasco Theatre in LA.  Recently Sam performed two tracks on the legendary US show Saturday Night Live that saw him trending in America and In The Lonely Hour in the Top 5 iTunes chart.
Sam Smith’s debut album In The Lonely Hour out on 23rd May 2014.