Sam Smith discusses the homophobia he continues to face as a queer artist and talks about his dream of becoming a parent.
Speaking to Zane Lowe and Apple Music, Sam Smith said that while things are moving in the right direction in terms of representation and acceptance of queer people, there are "realities that are pretty hard to swallow."
"There are still reactions. They still say things to me on the street, even now. The weirdest thing is that you can be famous properly, you can be a pop star, and still deal with that," he stressed.
"I thought I'd be a pop star and I'd never be called a bad word again and I'd never feel homophobia, I'd never experience it, if I became a star. Then this happens and it's still there," he admitted.
Sam Smith came out as gay in 2014 and as non-binary in 2019, and recently stated that he feels he has lost fans due to homophobia and transphobia.
In the interview, he emphasized that his family was very supportive, but it was difficult for them to adjust to his success.
"My family can't believe it, because they were terrified from the moment I became famous," said Sam Smith.
"It was not a good thing. It was something scary. They were afraid of losing me, of changing. And the people around you who want something from you, who hear these horror stories. I think because of Winehouse and what happened with Amy and what happened with Whitney (Houston),” he added.
He also commented on the possibility of becoming a parent at some point in the future, saying: "Once I do all the traveling, I'd love to do that, yeah." When asked by Zane Lowe if he meant 'with someone he loves', the 30-year-old singer clarified: 'Yes. But I can do it myself."
Last month, Sam Smith and Kim Petras made chart history with their collaboration on new single 'Unholy', becoming the first non-binary and trans artists, respectively, to hit No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 .
Sam Smith has announced that on January 27th he will release his fourth album, which will be titled 'Gloria'.
During his interview with Zane Lowe, Sam Smith noted that while he "loves making music with people", he often goes through a period of feeling down once he releases his music.
“I feel bad every time… I almost get upset. I'm going to sound like a drama queen, but it's kind of like a death," she asserted.
“Because the songs are mine and they belong to me and I sit with them and I love them and I imagine how people are going to hear them or if people are going to enjoy them, then you put it out there and it's not yours anymore. And people get it and people are rude,” he explained.
While public response to 'Unholy' was undoubtedly positive given its massive success, Sam Smith revealed that the song was initially disliked by his record company.
"I sent 'Unholy' to my team and everyone was like 'what is that?' They were confused, they were saying: “What is the brand? What are you trying to do here?" "I said: "I am the brand. And I, like my gender, am everything. I can be anything,'" he recalled.