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Sam Smith tops BBC's 'Sound of 2014' list; London Grammar playing 'Fallon' before Disclosure's T5 shows

by Andrew Sacher

Sam Smith

Congratulations on being the Sound of 2014! How does it feel?

It feels incredible. I’m so involved in the charts, I love pop music and I love female pop artists. With this award, Florence and the Machine, Ellie Goulding and Adele have all been on it, which is incredible. Even to be a part of it is amazing.

What was the first song you learned the words to?

It was Aretha Franklin’s Say A Little Prayer. Cameron Diaz sings it, really badly, in My Best Friend’s Wedding. Great film. I love Julia Roberts.

There’s a diva quality to your voice – is that sort of music the inspiration?

It’s all I listened to. I actually didn’t listen to male vocalists until about two years ago. I just listened to Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan. Massive voices. [BBC]

Congratulations to Sam Smith for topping the BBC’s Sound of 2014 list! The 2-5 spots went to Ella Eyre, Banks, Sampha, and George Ezra, respectively, and Sam also beat out Chance the Rapper, FKA twigs, Chloe Howl and others. Sam first gained widespread attention when he contributed his vocals to Disclosure‘s “Latch” and he’s since begun releasing some impressive solo material which will culminate in his debut album, In the Lonely Hour, due out on May 26 via Capitol Records.

As discussed, Sam is going on a North American tour soon which hits NYC on March 24 at Webster Hall. Tickets for that show are on sale now. All dates are listed below.

In related news, another group of Disclosure collaborators, London Grammar, will be in NYC much sooner for two sold-out shows next week at Baby’s All Right (1/15) and The Box (1/16). They’ve also since announced that they’ll perform on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on January 13.

London Grammar’s shows wrap up the day before Disclosure begin their sold-out three-night Terminal 5 (1/17-1/19) run (DJ afterparties at various venues included). Considering Sam Smith and Jessie Ware made unannounced appearances at Disclosure’s last NYC show, it doesn’t seem like a coincidence that London Grammar are here the same week.

All Sam Smith dates are listed, along with some streams, below…

Sam Smith – “Money On My Mind”

Disclosure – “Latch” (feat. Sam Smith)

Sam Smith — 2014 North American Tour Dates
03/18 – Atlanta, GA @ The Loft at Center Stage
03/20 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
03/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
03/24 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
03/25 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
03/26 – Montreal, QC @ Le Belmont
03/28 – Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
03/29 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
04/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco
04/17 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
05/30 – London, UK @ Roundhouse

Sam Smith — 2014 International Tour Dates
Jan 15 EuroSonic Groningen, Netherlands
Jan 16 EuroSonic Groningen, Netherlands
Feb 23 Old Market Hove, United Kingdom
Feb 24 O2 Shepherds Bush Empire London, United Kingdom
Feb 27 Ritz Manchester, United Kingdom
Feb 28 Institute Library Birmingham, United Kingdom
Mar 01 Liquid Room Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Mar 04 POINT EPHEMERE Paris, France
Mar 05 People’s Place Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mar 06 Blue Shell Cologne, Germany
Mar 07 Privatclub Berlin, Germany
Apr 30 The Roundhouse London, United Kingdom
May 30 Roundhouse London, United Kingdom