Sam Smith on Unholy, the message behind their new music and turning into assured in their very own pores and skin

Against this, a pearl dangles from every ear within the video for “Love Me Extra”, the self-affirmation anthem that’s been slow-burning within the charts this yr. Its music video, this time co-directed by Smith, begins in black and white, with a sassy pal leaving a “get your dancing heels on” voice message which Smith listens to whereas sipping tea. Moderately than keep residence and wallow, Smith emerges onto a vibrant London road. It’s a near-exact recreation of the strolling scene from “Keep With Me”, however within the older video, it’s a stroll of disgrace; in “Love Me Extra”, they’re strutting. The lyrics proclaim newfound freedom from the cruelty of bullies. Smith finally ends up on the historic queer venue the Royal Vauxhall Tavern – not taking the stage to carry out for everybody else however becoming a member of the packed dancefloor. Surrounded by different genderqueer revellers, they’re magnetic in a black lace prime, the drop pearls quivering.

Shut up, these beautiful earrings, additionally designed by Bunney, depict a deconstructed bust of Antinous, the alluring younger Greek adored by the Historic Roman emperor Hadrian. Antinous’ face, with eyes of blue stone, is the stud, from which hangs a platinum torso and the pearl. “I really like something romantic,” Smith sighs. The connection between Hadrian and Antinous is shrouded in thriller. It’s stated the emperor as soon as saved his beloved from the jaws of a lion. Antinous finally drowned within the Nile. However did he fall, or was he sacrificed? And if the latter, was he willingly providing up his life within the perception it will rejuvenate Hadrian’s well being? Antinous, without end stunning and younger, was deified and zealously worshipped by orgiastic cults. At the moment, the twink-god remains to be a muse.

Smith is now turning over a Hadrian-era coin. “They have to’ve had smaller fingers,” Smith marvels. Bunney mentions an Elizabethan coin with a small stamp indicating it was made within the Tower of London. “That’s the place I went for my birthday,” Smith studies. “Anne Boleyn obtained beheaded on my birthday, so I at all times pay my respects.” Smith speaks in whispers, however identifies as a drama queen. “I really like, I really like, I really like the drama. Not the drama as in, like, gossip or something imply or hateful…” You don’t like gossip?, I double-check. “Not likely, no,” Smith purrs. “I like drama as in Queen Elizabeth I drama. Tudor garments. Phantom of the Opera. Or, like, Liberace.”

By way of, say, music streaming, Smith is far larger than Liberace. They’ve been an enormous pop star for happening a decade, with ballads pricey to Soho media varieties but in addition to principally everybody in every single place. However not like Liberace, for all that cultural presence, Smith hasn’t been absolutely ordained a cultural icon. That’s altering. It’s within the songs – distinctive, unapologetic, layered in queer history – and it’s instantly obvious of their look. Smith has come into magnificence and is turning into a genderfluid type bellwether. Merely put, one can now have a look at a garment or object and say, That’s so Sam Smith.