A couple of years ago, if you'd spoken to anyone about young musician Sam Smith they'd likely have looked at you puzzled and refused to give his music even a chance. He was of course not famous just yet, but plugging away at the music industry, determined to succeed and one day see his name in lights.
Sam Smith
Then came along 2013 and a smattering of success meant that this past year - 2014 - would be without a doubt his best to-date.
Kicking things off in January, he took to the stage with Disclosure for his American television debut on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, wowing the States with his faultless vocals as they performed a fantastic rendition of their collaborative hit 'Latch'. It was to kick off a loving relationship with the States that was all new to Sam. He wasn't the main guest on the show and in fact turned up in support of Disclosure, but it was he that the Americans grew close to.
Saturday Night Live came calling and though he came close to pulling out because of his nerves, Sam took to the show like a duck to water and the trip to super stardom truly started.
His debut album 'In The Lonely Hour' was released in the middle of the year having spawned hit after hit and went on to become the second biggest selling album in America, just behind Taylor Swift's '1989'. It was later announced in mid-December that he was the only artist to sell a million copies of his record in both the UK and US.
The LP went to number one in the UK and peaked at number two in America's Billboard 200, making it an instant success and body of work that Sam described as an album "all about unrequited love" by Sam himself, who at the time had never been loved back by any of his love interest.
Coming out as gay in an interview this year he went on to inspire millions further, cementing once more the fact that sexuality is close to meaning nothing in the world of entertainment.
His debut American headline tour took place in the spring which saw scores of fans hit venues, and the same could be said for what was likely to be his last UK string of dates that take place in a selection of intimate settings up and down the country, even being joined at one date in Manchester by Ed Sheeran for a flawless duet.
Sam took to huge stages to show off his vocal talents including the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, and in November he was asked to join Band Aid 30 for a whole new rendition of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' in aid of the Ebola crisis.
The MOBOs saw Sam dedicate his "dream come true" four prizes to his parents at the event, after he won Best Album and Best Male alongside Best R'N'B/Soul Act and Best Song Title.
With what is his biggest single to-date, 'Stay With Me' has proved a timeless future classic, hitting number one in the UK and number two on Billboard's Hot 100. It was named Variance Magazine's 'Song of the Summer', and has picked up Sam half of his Grammy nominations, for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
The other half meant that he is the first male artist in 34 years, and first UK male artist ever to earn nominations in all "big four" Grammy nomination categories following the release of a debut album.
And now he's looking to kick off 2015 with similar success and events, kicking off a tour in North America from January 9 which will see him travel across venues for almost an entire month.
A talent with so much further potential, the next step in his career should be an exciting one as Sam continues his world domination on the charts - he's somebody that can make the British proud and prove that his country still has a hell of a lot to offer in terms of talent.
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