Sam Smith: "To make a Queer Olympics is the most amazing release for a queer kid!”

Talking to Hot Press's Roe McDermott last week, Sam Smith opened up about the concept behind the music video for their acclaimed collaborative single with Demi Lovato, 'I'm Ready'.

The video, released on Friday, April 17, sees the cast redefine sports in beautiful, artistic, unapologetically queer ways. Wrestlers and swimmers don sparkling, glittery outfits, corsets and sky-high stilettos; wrestling turns into dancing, running turns into a rainbow display, cheerleaders and gymnasts twirl and leap and contort around podiums that declare that when you love yourself, everybody wins.

Portraying this kind of inclusivity was important to Sam, following their own experiences with bullying at school.

“The moment the director came to me with the treatment, I just fell in love, because as a queer person, sports for me is just really, really triggering,” they revealed. “My memories of doing Sports Day at school and being in the locker room with boys and them bullying me are horrible, and sports is just something I’ve always been scared of."

"So for me, to make a Queer Olympics is the most amazing release for a queer kid!" Sam continued. "And on the day, it just made me smile. I’ve never, ever done wrestling, but I’m learning to wrestle in stilettos! It was the most amazing, exciting experience, and I’m so glad it looks so good!”

Having already clocked up nearly 18.5 million views on YouTube, the video has clearly struck a chord with fans.

Sam has kept busy over the last 12 months with a series of acclaimed singles,  including 'Dancing With A Stranger', a joint release with Normani. 'I'm Ready' follows Sam's recent announcement that they will be renaming their highly anticipated new album, and pushing back the release date. Further details are expected in the coming months.

Read our full interview with Sam Smith here, and listen to 'I'm Ready' here.