Ever since Sam Smith‘s debut album gave us smash hits like “Stay With Me” and “Lay Me Down” in 2014, we have been absolutely obsessed with the English singer-songwriter. With the release of their fourth studio album Gloria as a part of this week’s New Music Friday, it is clear Smith is beginning a brand new era in 2023 that fans are VERY excited about.
The highly-anticipated 13-track project is incredibly diverse, featuring elements of pop, dance and club music while simultaneously highlighting themes of “emotional, sexual, and spiritual liberation.” From fun-filled bops to emotional ballads, Gloria has it all, ultimately creating an album that is truly like no other.
While the whole tracklist is incredible, fans were so excited to see some of today’s biggest stars featured on five of the songs. Smith collaborated with Kim Petras on the chart-topping track “Unholy,” while Koffee makes an appearance on “Gimme,” Calvin Harris on “I’m Not Here To Make Friends,” Ed Sheeran on “Who We Love” and Jessie Reyez on “Perfect,” “Gimme” AND “I’m Not Here To Make Friends.”
Not only is Gloria filled with danceable hits, but it is also extremely heartfelt and meaningful to the GRAMMY Award winner. In an Instagram post today, Smith shared with the world just how much their supporters, which they refer to as their “sailors,” truly inspired the album itself.
The caption read, “It feels like I’ve been working my whole life for this album release, a chance to showcase to you my artistry and all that inspires me to do what I do. The force, however that inspires me more than anything in this world, is you. Humans are the greatest source of inspiration for all artists, I believe. I watch you, my friends, my family and myself; I write stories that I hope will help you and be your friend in your loneliest hours but also your happiest hours, too.”
“Sailors, you have stuck with me through every challenge that comes with growing up, all the life I’ve lived these past 10 years. I am eternally thankful to you. I work everyday for you, striving to make you proud and move you. Gloria is dedicated to you. I love you all,” they continued.
Gloria is truly Sam Smith in a nutshell, and we absolutely LOVE the authenticity and vulnerability attached to this project.
Aside from Smith’s one-of-a-kind album, more of our favorite artists put out projects that we already have on repeat. Ava Max came out with Diamonds & Dancefloors, Popcaan with Great Is He, Quinn XCII with The People’s Champ, Lil Yachty with Let’s Start Here, khai dreams with ABSOLUTE HEARTBREAK, Tyler Hubbard with Tyler Hubbard and more.
While all of the albums are incredible, there were quite a few singles on this week’s New Music Friday playlist that we absolutely love too, including “LLYLM” by ROSALÍA, “Love Again” by The Kid LAROI, “TRUSTFALL” by P!nk, “Do You Like Me” by Daniel Caesar, “Pray It Away” by Chlöe, “Sucka Or Sum” by Rae Sremmurd, “Body Better” by Maisie Peters, “MUST BE NICE” by Ruel, “Last One Standing” by Daniel Leggs, “Can’t Tame Her” by Zara Larsson, “Heartbreak Feels So Good” by Fall Out Boy, “You Only Love Me” by Rita Ora, “How To Drive” by Alexander 23, “Baby Lay Your Head Down” by Aly & AJ, “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old” by Luke Combs and more.
On top of ALL of this phenomenal music, some of today’s biggest stars collaborated to create some hot new tracks. Cordae and Anderson .Paak teamed up for “Two Tens,” Rauw Alejandro and Daddy Yankee for “PANTIES Y BRASIERES,” Gorillaz and Adeleye Omotayo for “Silent Running,” KSI and Oliver Tree for “Voices,” Kimbra and Ryan Lott for “foolish thinking,” Zach Bryan and Maggie Rogers for “Dawns” and more.
After listening to this week’s New Music Friday playlist from start to finish, we picked out some of our all-time favorite releases! Keep scrolling to see our list, and be sure to let us know what you think of it by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post, or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
Sam Smith feat. Calvin Harris & Jessie Reyez – “I’m Not Here To Make Friends”
Ava Max – “Ghost”
Popcaan feat. Burna Boy – “Aboboyaa”
Quinn XCII feat. AJR – “Too Late”
Lil Yachty – “sAy sOMETHINg”
khai dreams – “Not Enough”
Tyler Hubbard – “Small Town Me”
ROSALÍA – “LLYLM”
The Kid LAROI – “Love Again”
P!nk – “TRUSTFALL”
Daniel Caesar – “Do You Like Me”
Chlöe – “Pray It Away”
Rae Sremmurd – “Sucka Or Sum”
Maisie Peters – “Body Better”
Ruel – “MUST BE NICE”
Daniel Leggs – “Last One Standing”
Zara Larsson – “Can’t Tame Her”
Fall Out Boy – “Heartbreak Feels So Good”
Rita Ora – “You Only Love Me”
Alexander 23 – “How To Drive”
Aly & AJ – “Baby Lay Your Head Down”
Luke Combs – “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlSsYozbH2w
Cordae feat. Anderson .Paak – “Two Tens”
Rauw Alejandro & Daddy Yankee – “PANTIES Y BRASIERES”
Gorillaz feat. Adeleye Omotayo – “Silent Running”
KSI feat. Oliver Tree – “Voices”
Kimbra feat. Ryan Lott – “foolish thinking”
Zach Bryan feat. Maggie Rogers – “Dawns”
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride”
Tyla – “Been Thinking”
ghost orchard – “all in”
Red Leather – “DAKOTA”
BAYBE – “Dinner For One”
Rich Brian – “Sundance Freestyle”
Kayla Rae – “Blue”
quinnie – “flounder”
Eric Bellinger – “Decide”
Tom Grennan – “Here”
SG Lewis – “Oh Laura”
joan – “nervous”
XG – “SHOOTING STAR”
sombr – “weak”
Faith Marie – “Alleyways”
TEEN BLUSH – “Pity Sex”
Kevin Ross – “Look My Way”
Frost Children – “FLATLINE”
charlieonnafriday – “That’s What I Get”
