STACK #157 Nov 2017

MUSIC FEATURE

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SAM SMITH

haemorrhage. At the Billboard Music Awards, he wins Top Male Artist, Top New Artist, and Top Radio Songs Artist. Sep 2015 Smith and Jimmy Napes’ co-written track Writing’s OnTheWall , composed as the theme to the 24th James Bond film Spectre , becomes the first James Bond theme to reach #1 on the UK charts. Oct 2015 Smith receives two Guinness World Records; one for his chart achievement with Writing’s OnTheWall , and the other for clinching the the most consecutive weeks in the UK top 10 by a debut album (for InThe Lonely Hour ). Dec 2015 Sam completes his InThe Lonely Hour tour, having been on the road for 12 months. Jan 2016 Smith receives both a Golden Globe and an Oscar in the Best Original Song categories at each of the awards ceremonies, for Writing’s OnTheWall . Sept 2017 After a year-and-a-half hiatus, Smith releases single Too Good At Goodbyes , which debuts at #1 on the ARIA Singles chart and becomes his sixth #1 single in the UK. Oct 2017 Smith reveals that his second album, TheThrill Of It All , will be released on November 3. He also announces that all profits from his one- off Sydney Opera House show – scheduled for January 16, 2018 – will be donated to the Australian charities ReachOut (Australia’s leading online mental health organisation for young people and their parents), Twenty10 (which supports LGBTIQA+ youth aged 12- 25, their families and communities) and the Equality Campaign (a national campaign to win marriage equality for all Australians). Nov 3 2017 TheThrill Of It All is released, via EMI.

This month English popstar Sam Smith releases TheThrill Of It All ; despite the fact it's only his second album, Smith has sardine-packed his 25 years with more than a few impressive hallmarks. Here're the details of his ascent into pop stardom.

19 May 1992 Samuel Frederick Smith is born in London, England. 2002 – 2011 During his teen years, Smith studies singing and songwriting under the tutelage of jazz pianist Joanna Eden, performs in numerous jazz ensembles and graduates fromYouth Music Theatre UK. Oct 2012 Smith’s vocals are featured on the track Latch by English electronic duo Disclosure; the song reaches #11 on the UK Singles chart. May 2013 English DJ/producer/songwriter/musician Naughty Boy releases his single La La La , which features Smith’s vocals. It peaks at #1 on the UK Singles chart. March 2014 Smith performs the gospel-influenced single StayWith Me on Saturday Night Live; it goes to #1 on the UK Singles chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. 26 May 2014 Smith’s debut album InThe Lonely Hour is released. It moves to #1 on the UK Albums chart, and within five-and-a-half months is the second biggest-selling album of the year in the US (behind Taylor Swift’s 1989 ) and the UK (behind Ed Sheeran’s X ). In the same month, Smith comes out to the public as gay. Nov 2014 Smith joins Bono, Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, One Direction, Chris Martin and others in the charity supergroup Band Aid 30, and together they record DoThey Know It’s Christmas ? to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in Western Africa. Jan 2015 It’s revealed that in October of the previous year, musician Tom Petty reached an out-of-

court settlement with Smith regarding the royalties of StayWith Me , after Petty notices similarities between the track and his own 1989 hit I Won’t Back Down . At the time, Petty released a statement which read (in part): “All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen. Sam's people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement. The word ‘lawsuit’ was never even said and was never my intention. I wish Sam all the best for his ongoing career. Peace and love to all.” This month Smith begins his massive In The Lonely Hour tour, which covers North America, Europe, the UK, Australasia, Asia, and South America. Feb 2015 Smith performs StayWith Me at the 57th Grammy Awards, and wins Best New Artist, Song Of The Year, Record Of The Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album. During one acceptance speech he says: “I want to thank the man who this record is about, who I fell in love with last year. Thank you so much for breaking my heart, because you got me four Grammys.” May 2015 Smith is forced to cancel 17 scheduled shows between May and June – right in the middle of his album tour – due to a vocal chord

The Thrill Of It All by Sam Smith is out now via EMI.

052 NOVEMBER 2017

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