Sam Smith started 2018 by taking a seat with friend (and long time fan) Sarah Jessica Parker for a no-holds-barred V publication interview .

The singer-songwriter, 25, looks more dapper than ever on the cover of the publication’ s “ Discovery ” concern, which strikes newsstands on Jan. 11. His chat with Parker discuss whatever from music to sexuality to his much-talked-about weight reduction .

In in between the release of his 2014 launching album, “ In The Lonely Hour , ” and its well-known 2017 follow-up, “ The Thrill of It All , ” Smith states he “ ended up being a gay guy appropriately. ” Most significantly, he includes, he ’ s had intimate relationships with other gay guys, too.

“ When I composed that very first album, I loved a straight guy, he didn ’ t enjoy me back, and I was really comfy in my yearning, ” he stated. “ With this record, I ended up being a gay male. I began having correct relationships with males. In some cases they remained in the cured and incorrect me in a bad method, and in some cases I remained in the incorrect. ”

Smith has, obviously, had a couple of stumbles along the method. In 2014, he stated the queer neighborhood ’ s usage of dating apps like Grindr and Tinder was “ messing up love , ” a remark commonly analyzed as slut-shaming.

Two years later on, Smith indicated that he was the very first freely gay male to ever win an Oscar when getting the Best Original Song award for “ Writing ’ s on the Wall ” at the 2016 Academy Awards. It didn ’ t take wish for other stars , media outlets and social networks to explain that he wasn ’ t .

But Smith isn ’ t hindered.

“ I ’ m simply determining exactly what it indicates to be gay, ” he stated. “ Also, I put on ’ t have a lot to pass as a gay male in music: Even the George Michaels and Elton Johns weren ’ t out at the start of their professions. ”

Though there ’ s been great deals of buzz about Smith ’ s weight reduction , he likewise shared that he still battles with body image.

“ When I was shooting my very first video, I simply wasn ’ t pleased with the method I looked, soI was attempting to manage the method the electronic camera moved, ” he stated. “ I was continuously searching in the mirror, pinching my waist, weighing myself every day. ”

While Smith has actually discovered how to “ actually like my stretch marks, ” he included, “ I have to continuously train myself to enjoy the best sort of movies, to not take a look at particular advertisements and believe that ’ s how my stomach must look. It ’ s something that I ’ m combating everyday. I believe guys need to discuss it more. ”

Smith likewise opened about his brand-new relationship . He doesn ’ t point out any names, the star has actually been photographed holding hands and kissing “ 13 Reasons Why ” star Brandon Flynn , 24, in New York and Florida in current months.

“ On an individual level, I ’ m in a relationship today and for the very first time, I believe I be worthy of to be delighted, ” he stated. “ I ’ m in fact asking myself if I ’ m going to be composing some delighted love tunes quickly.”

Read the complete V publication interview here .