We all know what it feels like to get your heartbroken by someone you're hopelessly in love with right? Some of our favourite songs probably stem from the empathy we feel with the artist singing. So when Sam Smith wanted to pen a huge hit album he used that knowledge to help himself by "forcing" his feelings for someone so that he could write better songs.
The chart-topping singer - who bagged himself six Grammy nominations last week - has opened up about the process of creating his double-platinum selling album In The Lonely Hour in a new interview with Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe. During the chat he confesses that pressure for an album from his record label made him convince himself he was more in love than he was so he could deliver what they needed.
He said: "It was desperately sad to think of, but it was such a healing process for me, you know? I think I actually – looking back on it, the person I was in love with, I think I forced myself a little bit to be more in love with them in order to write more music. Cos my label were like ‘;we need an album'. So I was like ‘;right, let's go for dinner. Break my heart. So I think kind of it was a bit self inflicted maybe. A tiny bit. When I look back on it."
Sam Smith says he forced his feelings so he could write a better album (WENN)
Sam, 22, also admits that he is ready for love again and thinks he has found the right person althought it is "early days" yet. He continued: "People just say I shouldn't speak about this, but I don't care, I'm way too honest for my own good. But I met someone a week ago – very very early days, like a few dates in. It's the first time I've felt something really amazing since the person the album was about, it's the first time I've actually really fancied someone."
He also recalled the moment he met Beyonce at the MTV Video Music Awards and was allowed to watch her in a closed dress run as he spoke to Zane. He said: "I was the only one who was allowed to watch her. Watched her, and then she asked to meet me and I had to go to her changing room.
"Jay was outside, I was like ‘;hi, nice to meet you.' And then you walk in and she was there. And it was like – it was just incredible. She said 'your voice is like chocolate.' Which is incredible. A dream come true. Those moments – you just feel like you're ticking something off."
Zane's full interview with Sam will be available to listen to exclusively on Radio 1's channel in BBC iPlayer from today, Tuesday 9 December, and during BBC Radio 1 Stories from 9pm-10pm tonight.
