The fourth original album of Sam Smith, Gloria, has arrived today and shows they most creative and confident version to date.
After three years since the last album, Gloria is “an emotional, sexual and spiritual release” that breaks with her old sound. “Strangely enough, it sounds like my first album,” says Smith. More than a creative revelation, it is also they personal revolution – the sound of handcuffs falling to the floor, the act of destroying boundaries, and the discovery of what it means to be truly free and in touch with one’s innermost side. This is the record they wish they had had growing up. It is the most surprising, satisfying, and vital work of they career.
The album title is not a reference to a person, past or present, but to that enigmatic, chilling life force that Smith calls Gloria. When talking about the album, Sam explains that “Gloria is also a celebration of all genres and all the pop divas, vocalists and songwriters I love. I grabbed all those memories and put them on an album. I wanted to be challenging. Is this my diva album? I think so! I think I finally let my Gloria out.”
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“Gimme“, with dancehall influences and the participation of Colombian-Canadian singer Jessie Reyes and Jamaican reggae artist Koffee, “Who We Love” with Ed Sheeran, “Lose You“, “Gloria” and the worldwide hit “Unholy” with Kim Petras are some of the highlights of the album. This latest single garnered nearly 2 billion streams worldwide, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and made history with Kim Petras. The single was nominated for a GRAMMY® and remained #1 on the Spotify and Apple Music global charts for over 4 weeks after release.
The brave spirit runs through the entire album, expressively and exuberantly. The juxtaposition of religion and sexual liberation that distinguishes Gloria feels like a second major as Sam Smith comes to they truth. And it is this truth that we will know live when they take the NOS Stage at the 15th edition of NOS Alive on July 8. Tickets are on sale here.