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Sam Smith wins Best New Artist at the Grammys: 'I tried to lose weight and was making awful music'

The British singer also nominated for Album, Record and Song of the Year

Kiran Moodley
Monday 09 February 2015 02:27 GMT
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Sam Smith accepts the Best New Artist award.
Sam Smith accepts the Best New Artist award. (Kevork Djansezian | Getty Images)

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Sam Smith said he "tried to lose weight" made "awful music" before he finally wrote In the Lonely Hour as he picked up Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album.

The British artist won the awards after his debut album shifted over one million copies in the US and the UK last year, with hits such "Stay With Me" proving particular popular.

"Before I made this record, I was doing everything to try and get my music heard," Smith said. "I tried to lose weight and I was making awful music and it was only until that I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen."

He competed for the Best New Artist Grammy with Iggy Azalea; Bastille; Brandy Clark and HAIM. The 22-year-old British singer is also nominated for Album, Record and Song of the Year and is the first British male in history to make the shortlist in the four major categories. He is level with Beyonce and Pharrell Williams in having six nominations.

Smith is hoping to follow other Brits who have experienced great Grammy success in recent years. Back in 2012, Adele won a staggering six awards in one night after the release of her top-selling album 21. Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011, won five Grammys in 2008.

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