BBCWhen Myles Smith describes his journey – from an 11-year-old playing guitar and piano to a charting artist – he feels like he’s constantly surpassing his own expectations.
This year, the 26-year-old from Luton has five top singles, played Glastonbury, smashed over one billion streams and was just named BBC Introducing’s Artist of the Year.
“I guess it took a long time. But I finally feel comfortable in my own skin and I feel proud of the music,” he said.
When Myles spoke to BBC Newsbeat, he was in Montreal, one stop on his North American tour.
“What I think this year has taught me is that expectations are there to be comfortable. But they are rarely what we think.
“My expectation when we start 2024 is not in one year to have played more than 100 shows or billions of streams.”
Myles says he won’t take away the opportunity for people around the world to choose to listen to his music.
His breakout hit, Stargazing, has garnered worldwide acclaim, has been certified platinum and was even featured on former US President Barack Obama’s summer playlist.
“For me it’s just about prioritizing writing music that comes from the heart and trying not to filter the brain barrier into the mouth.
“I just wanted to write something simple, but everything we all experience and feel at some point in life.
“I think that’s how it resonates with more people around the world,” he said.
Getty ImagesThe song, which is said to have been made in about 15 minutes, has also found a home on TikTok.
And Myles also understands how important the platform is to artists looking to break through.
In 2020, during the coronavirus lockdown, Myles began posting covers, with an acoustic version of Environmental Sweater Weather going viral in 2022.
“Social media in general is very important to an artist’s journey,” he said.
“Some people feel that the responsibility of doing social media is unnecessary pressure.
“And others can see it as an opportunity to find community on a global scale.”
Myles sees it as the latter.
“We have the autonomy and control to sell ourselves the way we want and in the most authentic way for us.”
But there are some criticisms of TikTok’s influence change course the sound of music, with an impact on song length and style.
“I think that TikTok can reduce the quality of music or that you have to fit the music within the parameters is a myth for me personally.
“You give me more freedom than before to do what I want. And how I want to do it.
“Times change all the time. One time you’re cutting records on vinyl the next on CD, then MP3 and digital … it’s about moving with the times,” he said.
When Myles received the “privilege” of being able to reach many online and on tour, he felt it was important to highlight the “other side”.
Artists such as Rachel Chinouriri, The Last Dinner Party and CMAT has been mentioned before the financial challenges of touring, especially in North America.
Myles agrees that touring is “too expensive” and feels that more live music needs more support.
In the UK, Myles says the “thriving” small venues and grassroots scene are taking off post-Covid, and are struggling to support artists as usual.
The venue has often been an important starting point for artists who have gone on to become superstars, including Adele and Ed Sheeran.
“(It’s) really fundamental to an artist’s journey and luckily I was able to start my journey a long time ago,” Myles said.
“I think moving forward, thinking about support for musicians and thinking about how we can move forward and respect the arts is an important conversation.”
Another thing Myles wants to do when thinking about the future is to “keep making the music I love”.
Myles is due to support Ed Sheeran at 2025, describing him as “one of my idols”.
“I just want to have fun and have the best year ever.
“Spending it with the people I love the most.
“And that’s a priority for me right now.”
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