Sam Smith teases new song, with heartache still on mind

[NEW YORK] Sam Smith, the English soul singer whose debut album three years ago quickly propelled him to stardom, is back with new music - and heartache apparently is still on his mind.

Smith said that a new song, "Too Good at Goodbyes", would come out Friday as he posted on social media a black-and-white picture of a decaying bouquet.

He offered a snippet of the lyrics, starting with the line "Every time you walk out, the less I love you." The track is expected to be the first on his second album, the followup to his breakthrough debut "In the Lonely Hour" from 2014.

Smith - blessed with a voice that is rich and soars comfortably into falsettos - is best-known for the debut album's song "Stay With Me", a tender ballad about longing for more than a one-night stand.

The 25-year-old Londoner has said that the song was rooted in dark times, as he would hit the gay bars looking for love.

But the song also won him a fan base and he was soon packing arenas. At the 2015 Grammys, Smith won Best New Artist, Song of the Year and Record of the Year - three of the four most coveted awards at the music industry's premier gala.

Since the first album, Smith found success with the James Bond theme song "Writing's on the Wall" - but was also forced to take a break as he underwent surgery for a hemorrhage on his vocal cords.

AFP