Sam Smith Releases New Single To Be Free, Schedules New York Residency For October
Friday, 25 July 2025
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Collier Schorr
Sam Smith has released a new single, To Be Free.
A deeply personal acoustic ballad, the intimate track serves up the Grammy, BRIT, Golden Globe and Oscar-winning British artist's signature soaring vocals backed by TwoCity Chorus, a collective of recording artists from Philadelphia and New York City.
Co-written and produced with long-time collaborator Simon Aldred, the song was originally penned five years ago during sessions for the singer's 2023 album 'Gloria' but held back because it didn't fit the project. Smith said:
"I've never had a recording experience like I did making this song. It’s one vocal and guitar take from start to finish – one live performance of me and my friend Simon Aldred in a pure state of music and expression. I wrote it five years ago while writing my last album 'Gloria' and then parked it because I knew it was not a song for that album. It was created during a time in my life where I became free within myself."
He continued: "With this song, the visual of rivers kept coming into my mind and into my heart. I grew up next to a little river in Cambridgeshire in the countryside of England. Then I moved to London and lived by the Thames, and now I live by the Hudson River. Rivers have been in my life a lot. So I found it interesting to think of my music and my expression as an artist as a river. Over the last five years, Simon and I started to create music that fit into this world of To Be Free and during this time, I've continued to turn to this song in happy moments, sad moments, lonely moments and angry moments. It’s become my sister, my family member and ultimately calms me. Now, I’m ready to let it go and hopefully it can do the same for someone else."
Head below to view the song's accompanying video, directed by (La)Horde and filmed at the historic, intimate venue Warsaw in Brooklyn, New York.
The same venue will host Smith’s newly announced 12-night residency, billed To Be Free: New York City, set to take place from October 8 to October 31. Tickets go on general sale at 10am local time next Friday (August 1).
In February, Smith released the single Love Is A Stillness as a gift to their fans. Last summer, they put out a 10th anniversary expanded edition of their debut album, 'In The Lonely Hour'.
Sam Smith Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Wed October 08 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Fri October 10 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Sat October 11 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Wed October 15 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Fri October 17 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Sat October 18 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Tue October 21 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Wed October 22 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Fri October 24 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Wed October 29 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Thu October 30 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
Fri October 31 2025 - BROOKLYN New York - Warsaw (USA)
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