Sam Smith Says He’s ‘Insanely Self-Conscious,’ And That’s What Keeps Him Grounded

Sam Smith says that he’s ready to use his celebrity and his music to be an advocate for the LGBT community.

Smith recently spoke to NME about his goals to represent the LGBT community and to clarify some statements he had made last year that received criticism. Though he has been openly gay since he was very young, Sam said didn’t want to become a representative for gay men. Smith says he is ready to take on that role now.

In 2014, Sam made the statement that he didn’t want to be just a spokesman for the gay community, as Entertainment Weekly reported. Smith said that he was just trying to write music and nothing more.

“It sounds awful of me, but I’m really just trying to live my life and write music about it. I’m not trying to heal the world.”

Sam clarified his comments in December 2014. Smith said that what he wants is to be able to appeal to everyone. It’s important to Sam to be able to speak to a wide variety of people, not just a single group. Sam doesn’t mind being an advocate for the gay community, but he wants to represent everyone, including the LGBT community.

Smith corroborated that and further elaborated on it in his interview with NME. Sam said he wants his music to be relatable to everyone, regardless of what gender they prefer. Smith made it clear that he wants everyone to listen to his album and take something from it. Sam doesn’t want people to think that his past statements meant he wasn’t proud of his sexuality. Smith clarified that “there’s nothing in my life that I’m prouder of.”

“I wanted anyone, gay or straight, to be able to relate to me singing about men, like I was able to relate to Stevie Wonder or John Legend singing about girls.”

Smith talked about how he was ready to take on the role of an advocate for the LGBT community and to be a representative for it. As a homosexual, Sam said that where he sells records makes a big impact, because in some places there are people who wouldn’t buy his album for the sole reason that Smith is not straight.

“I want to be a figure in the gay community… I sell records in countries where gay men get killed… maybe one person in that country will pick up my album, realize it’s by a gay artist, and it might change their opinion.”

Smith also spoke about being sad and how he uses his sadness to his advantage. In his hit debut album, The Lonely Hour, the sadness that Sam claims to have been born with can definitely be heard. Sam said that he has always been a sensitive person, but he’s okay with that. To Sam, his sadness helps him feel more.

“I was born with a little bit of sadness in me… When you’re sad, you feel everything in a greater way… I’m a vulnerable, sensitive person.”

Sam thinks that his self-consciousness prevents him from getting a big head. Sam says that he’s always been sensitive about himself, but it keeps him level-headed. Because of that, Smith says he’s grateful for having that self-consciousness.

“I’m insanely self-conscious… that self-consciousness is what’s keeping my feet on the ground at the moment. If I didn’t have it, I’d become a bit of a pr*ck. I’m thankful for my sadness.”

There’s no doubt that Sam Smith uses that vulnerability to not only keep himself in check, but also to create his music, which has led to all of his success.

[Photo By Christopher Polk/Getty Images]