Sam Smith Talks Breakups, Oscars Drama with Elton John for New Interview

Elton John interviewed Sam Smith for the latest issue of Attitude magazine, where the 25-year-old crooner opened up about his new album, breakups and his Oscars controversy.

Speaking with John, Smith said a recent breakup almost prevented him from making new music.

"There was a period, when making this record, that I was in a really bad place. I got dumped, which wasn't very nice," he said. After taking two months off, Smith explained he eventually got his team back into the studio where he powered through his emotions.

"I feel like the year I spent writing new stuff was a recovery period, to get used to this new job that I have. This new world that I'm living in," the "Stay With Me" singer said in his interview.

He and John then discussed his Oscars drama. At the 88th Academy Awards last year, Smith won an Oscar for Best Original Song for the "Spectre" song "Writing's on the Wall." During his acceptance speech, Smith said he was the first openly gay man to win the award, which is not true. Later, Dustin Lance Black, who is openly gay and won a screenplay Oscar for "Milk," took him to task on Twitter.

"Basically, I just fucked up. I was so nervous," he told John. "I'd read Sir Ian McKellen's interview the day before saying that no openly gay man had ever won the Oscar for best actor, and in that moment my brain and my mouth didn't work together. That's nerves for you."

Smith apologized for the flub and said after a few weeks of agonizing about it he moved on.

Smith released his new single "Too Good at Goodbyes" last week. His sophomore album is expected to be released this fall.

Click here to read Attitude's interview and purchase the issue.