Gloria: Sam Smith's Spiritual And Musical Liberation

Sam Smith, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, has faced constant criticism throughout their career, especially in the past few years. This criticism has come in the form of social commentary, comparisons to other artists, and scrutiny of their fashion choices since they came out as non-binary in 2019. Despite this, Smith released their fourth album, "Gloria," which marks a new chapter in their musical journey.
The album features smooth and commercial songs, ballads, slow jams, and dancefloor anthems that are full of surprises. The opening song, "Love Me More," sets the tone with a self-care message that shows how Smith has been dealing with insecurity for a long time. However, the album as a whole is more inclined towards an "I'm getting there" attitude instead of the usual sombre and melancholic mood of their previous albums.
The album maintains the heartache, interesting layers of harmonized vocals, and introspective style of songwriting that Smith is known for, but it also adds versatility to their music. "Gloria" alternates between R&B, 2-step, country, dancehall, and hyper pop. The album features an array of artists, including Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez, Calvin Harris, and Ed Sheeran, which keeps it refreshing and interesting.
Despite the versatility, the songs in the latter categories, suitable for a lounge or a club, are considered the strongest by many. Smith admits that they wanted to make a joyful album, which was a departure from their usual heartbreak-themed music. They wanted to shed the layers that have concealed elements of themselves for too long, and "Gloria" became "this beautiful experience of expressing all these parts of myself, which I realized haven't been expressed before."
The album symbolizes a rebirth of Smith in a way, where they explore emotional, sexual, and spiritual liberation. It is a coming-of-age record for them. As Smith gets older, they become more unapologetic about who they are, and this album symbolizes that. It is about their identity, feeling proud and brave, and being able to dance, move, and dress in the way they have always wanted to.
Gloria Record Is Now Available - The Revolver Club
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