“Gloria became a byword for finding happiness.” Sam Smith on queer joy and what the Gloria tour means to them.

Sam Smith loves the stage - and the stage definitely loves them. It is easy to be mesmerised by the vocal range and emotion whilst witnessing them in full action on stage, and conveying years and years of memories into the two-hour set that is the global Gloria tour, giving us a tale in three acts all about love, beauty and sex. Fresh off the heels of Smith’s newest record, Gloria, this year has been monumental in their expression, sharing with us the pathway towards their own happiness, striking a chord about the limitless beauty of the human experience.

“Welcome to my gay cabaret!” were the words ushered as they took the stage, performing their biggest dance hits, alongside their most personal of ballads, sharing a journey of queer expression, and the queer spectrum of emotions endured throughout life. As London’s O2 Arena lit up under the massive golden statue on stage, Smith came out to perform a special number in a green custom Maison Valentino gown, with a custom headpiece by Stephen Jones spelling out Brianna Ghey. The touching tribute celebrated the memory of the brutally murdered 16 year-old, who became a victim of a transphobic attack on the 11th February.

Their gateway towards discovering true self-expression has further inspired the LGBTQIA+ community to continue having the difficult conversations about equality, and to keep protesting the ever-increasing hateful agenda being set out by governments across the world. Speaking to Perfect before their show, Sam Smith talked about how much Gloria means to them, and how the illustrious openness of fashion’s community has helped them become the image of themselves that they always have wanted to see, touching upon the special relationship with Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli.

Angel: Sam, what does Gloria, the tour represent to you? 

Sam Smith: Escapism and joy. When I started making the album, Gloria became a byword for finding happiness. As queer people, we know a lot about sadness, but we know a lot about euphoria too and I wanted to lean into that. The tour is the most brilliant, rewarding extension of that search for joy.  

Angel: Looking back at your relationship with incorporating fashion on stage, how did you approach this tour's visuals? 

Sam Smith: Wardrobe is in many ways the best way to communicate how I feel personally and worked really hard to develop a language in the styling which shares exactly where I am right now. It can be cheeky and mischievous but it’s always delivered to an exacting standard and we’ve worked with the greatest of the great to facilitate that. It’s about communicating emotion through clothes. Wearing the most phenomenal Valentino gown with a Stephen Jones headpiece spelling out ‘Brianna Ghey’ was hugely moving for me. I want to translate that feeling to the audience. 

Angel: Your relationship with Maison Valentino has been a very close one, how do you and Pierpaolo Piccioli approach the looks together? 

Sam Smith: It is so inspiring to work with a masterful creative like him. I met Pierpaolo at his couture show and after working very closely with Valentino over the last year, I could not have asked for anything more. He understands exactly where I am coming from and has told the story of this tour so beautifully, Valentino have been the most incredible, chic ally on this stretch of my path.  

Angel: How has fashion contributed towards the making of this album and era?

Sam Smith: It’s fundamental. This period of my life has all been about self-expression and what better way to do it than through fashion. The marriage of my music with the clothes for this album and tour has been totally joyous.