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Music discovery · Influence explorer

Artists like Sam Smith — and the music that made them

Pop Soul · 2012-present
Soul-baring vulnerability meets powerhouse vocals and pop perfection
Sam Smith is a British singer-songwriter who broke through with their emotionally raw debut album 'In the Lonely Hour,' establishing themselves as one of the most compelling vocal talents of the 2010s. Their ability to channel deep personal pain into universal anthems of heartbreak and self-acceptance has made them a defining voice for a generation navigating love, identity, and belonging.
Essential tracks
Stay With Me
Too Good at Goodbyes
Unholy
Did you know
They were discovered after being featured on Disclosure's breakthrough hit 'Latch' in 2012
Sam Smith won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Writing's on the Wall' from the James Bond film Spectre
They publicly came out as non-binary in 2019 and use they/them pronouns
“Gospel-trained vocals meet confessional songwriting in pristine pop arrangements.”
2
generations
of influence
Influence tree
Trace Sam Smith's roots back through history
Every sound has a source. Click any node to hear the connection.
Sam Smith
2012-present
Adele
2008-present
cited
Amy Winehouse
2003-2011
cited
Whitney Houston
1985-2012
cited
Aretha Franklin
1960-2018
sonic
George Michael
1981-2016
sonic
Stevie Wonder
1961-present
sonic
Mahalia Jackson
1937-1972
movement
Ray Charles
1947-2004
movement
↑ Click any influence node to see the connection and where to start listening.
What makes the sound
Sonic elements
Multi-octave vocal range with melismatic runs
Gospel-influenced chord progressions
Sparse, piano-driven arrangements
Confessional, LGBTQ+ themed lyrics
Start with these tracks
Stay With Me
Too Good at Goodbyes
I'm Not the Only One
Unholy
If you like Sam Smith, try these
Adele
Both deliver emotionally raw ballads with powerhouse vocals and universal appeal.
2000s · Soul Pop
John Legend
Shares piano-driven arrangements and smooth R&B-influenced vocal delivery.
2000s · Neo-Soul
Lewis Capaldi
Similar vulnerability in lyrics and dramatic vocal builds in pop ballads.
2010s · Pop
Calum Scott
Both British artists with falsetto-heavy delivery and heart-on-sleeve songwriting.
2010s · Pop
James Arthur
Combines soulful vocals with contemporary pop production and personal storytelling.
2010s · Pop Soul
Lianne La Havas
Shares sophisticated vocal arrangements and jazz-tinged soul sensibilities.
2010s · Neo-Soul
About this page

Music like Sam Smith — Sam Smith is a British singer-songwriter who broke through with their emotionally raw debut album 'In the Lonely Hour,' establishing themselves as one of the most compelling vocal talents of the 2010s. Their ability to channel deep personal pain into universal anthems of heartbreak and self-acceptance has made them a defining voice for a generation navigating love, identity, and belonging.

Artists like Sam Smith today include Adele, John Legend, Lewis Capaldi, Calum Scott. If you enjoy Sam Smith, these artists share similar sonic qualities, influences, and emotional range.

Bands like Sam Smith and songs like Sam Smith are among the most searched music discovery queries — rootz.guru goes deeper by tracing the roots of the sound itself, not just surface-level similarity.