Sam Smith Admits They’ve Always Felt Uncomfortable Hearing Their Own Singing Voice: ‘I’m My Own Toughest Critic’

The singer revealed that they have experienced feelings of vocal “dysphoria” since they were 13 years old.

Sam Smith may have earned five Grammy Awards throughout their career, but the singer says they still sometimes have difficulty hearing their own voice the way other people do.

In a recent interview with The New Yorker Radio Hour, the 34-year-old artist discussed experiencing what they describe as vocal “dysphoria” and admitted that they have long felt uncomfortable listening to recordings of themselves singing.

Smith explained that they tend to be extremely critical of their performances. Even when they believe they have delivered a poor performance, they said people around them often tell them that they sounded better than ever, leaving them confused by the contrast between their own perception and that of others.

The singer recalled recording their voice for the first time at age 13 while performing “When You Believe,” originally made famous by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Hearing the playback left Smith in tears because they felt their voice sounded far worse than they had imagined.

According to Smith, that moment marked the beginning of years spent struggling to appreciate their own vocal abilities. They said they have gradually worked toward recognizing the strengths in their voice rather than focusing entirely on what they believe is wrong with it.

Smith also noted that their voice has changed considerably with age. They can now sing lower than they could previously and described their current sound as fuller. However, they believe years of constant touring and performing have also affected their vocal range.

Having performed close to 1,000 shows, often singing at full intensity for two hours at a time, Smith acknowledged that such a demanding schedule can take a physical toll on a singer’s voice.

As they prepare to release their upcoming album Hazel Eyes on Aug. 21, Smith said they have become more comfortable with the idea that their voice will naturally sound different from one song to another. They hope listeners will enjoy discovering those different sides of their vocals throughout the new record.

Hazel Eyes follows Smith’s 2023 album Gloria, which featured the hit collaboration “Unholy” with Kim Petras. Smith has described the new project, which was written over the past three years, as deeply personal and highly romantic.