Sam Smith Goes Gospel on New Single "Stay With Me"
Since Disclosure's "Latch" entered the Billboard Hot 100 this week, singer Sam Smith now leads two tracks on America's top singles chart (the other being Naughty Boy's "La La La"). And with an appearance on Saturday Night Live scheduled for this weekend, momentum is gathering for Smith to explode in America upon the release of his debut album In the Lonely Hour, which drops May 25.
For international artists, this is no small feat: it took even Adele years before she was able to conquer the United States. Smith almost certainly won't reach that level just yet (if ever), but if he does become a star in America it might be because of "Stay With Me," his latest single.
At just under three minutes, the track reveals its stadium ambition immediately, with Smith backed by a choir from the opening chorus. It's a move that could feel cheap, but Smith uses the choir only to accent his own vocals. The same restraint is shown when a deep organ comes into the mix, revealing the influence of gospel without it feeling like an experiment.
Smith wants you to feel the song's sweep in an instant, and it's hard not to get caught up in it. Listen to it above and check out our interview with Sam Smith, where he explains why he'd like to write his next album in New York City.
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