The problem with becoming extremely popular is that you have to play show after show. And the problem with playing show after show is that you can damage your voice. That’s what’s happened to Sam Smith, who must now undergo surgery that will put him out of action for six to eight weeks.
Smith was forced to cancel a series of Australian shows at the end of April after suffering a haemorrhage on his vocal cords while performing in Sydney. He announced on his Instagram feed on Thursday that he would have to undergo surgery.
“I am very upset to announce I have been battling to get my vocal cords better the last 1o days but unfortunately they haven’t recovered and I am going to need surgery,” he wrote. “I’m so gutted to be missing all the shows and events I was meant to be playing. The doctors say I will be back in 6-8 weeks I cannot wait to sing for you all.”
The operation is scheduled for next week, and Smith confessed to being “really nervous”, but predicted that “in 8 weeks time I’m gonna be able to sing like never before so it’s worth it.” He will be unable to speak for three weeks after the operation.
A vocal haemorrhage is the bursting of small blood vessel within the vocal fold. It is often caused by forceful singing, or by incorrect use of the voice. If the voice is not immediately rested, the vocal fold can be scarred.
