Sam Smith's Fourth Studio Album "Gloria"

By Chloe Chang

Photo by Michael Bailey-Gates

Sam Smith released their album Gloria on January 27th! The thirteen track album is Smith's fourth, following In the Lonely Hour, The Thrill of It All, and Love Goes.

Prior to Gloria's full release, Smith dropped three singles from the album including "Love Me More," "Unholy" featuring Kim Petras, and "Gimme" featuring Koffee and Jessie Reyez. "Unholy," which was first teased on Smith's social media, reached the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and received a platinum RIAA certification.

Sam Smith created Gloria with a sense of confidence. In an interview with Billboard, they said, "I really do feel like I’m in that place. Of course I want people to like (Gloria), but I’m on my fourth album now. I don’t feel like I have to prove so much, I just want to enjoy what I make and enjoy my job.”

The album is also full of self-expression. Smith explained that Gloria "really came about expressing the liberation I’ve been feeling over the last few years, when it comes to my sexuality, my emotions, my spirit." Gloria's opening track "Love Me More" shows these sentiments with introspective lyrics such as "Every day I'm tryin' not to hate myself / But lately, it's not hurtin' like it did before / Maybe I am learning how to love me more."

Photo by Sam Smith, Capitol Records

Along with the release of Gloria, Smith dropped a music video for the eleventh track on the album "I'm Not Here to Make Friends" featuring Calvin Harris (who is also a producer and writer on the track) and Jessie Reyez. The intro to the video is grand, with Smith in a shimmering gold helicopter wearing a hot pink tulle gown. The set of "I'm Not Here to Make Friends" is reminiscent of 18th-century France with a Versailles-esque set.

Smith is also going on their international tour, "GLORIA the tour" starting in the U.K. and Ireland this April in Sheffield, Great Britain! They will head to Europe on April 29th in Copenhagen and start the U.S. leg of the tour on July 25th in Miami, Florida with special guest Jessie Reyez. Smith will travel across the U.S. and perform for fans in Canada and Mexico as well.

Gloria is out now on all streaming platforms!