Arts & Entertainment
Sam Smith shares new video as release date announced for album


It’s been three years since Sam Smith’s last album, but they are back – with a Valentine’s Day surprise for their fans.
On Thursday, it was announced that Capitol Records will release Smith’s third album, “To Die For,” on May 1. To mark the occasion, the non-binary singer shared the title track, along with its accompanying video.
The new track opens with a sample from the 2001 cult film “Donnie Darko,” before enveloping listeners with the sounds of soaring strings and evocative piano, as Smith lends his distinctive vocals to the plaintive confession, “I just want somebody to die for.”Smithrecorded the song with Jimmy Napes and Stargate, also their collaborators on 2017’s 4x certified Platinum single, “Too Good At Goodbyes.”
For the official video, Smith recruited behind-the-camera help from Grant Singer (The Weeknd, Lorde), who also directed the video for 2019’s “How Do You Sleep?” The clip is set outside a Los Angeles wig shop, where amongst the many mannequin heads with perfectly coifed hair is a wigless one with Smith’s face. As the likeness sings “To Die For,” happy couples and families pass the shop over the course of several seasons, with most never even noticing the bald singing mannequin – until at last, left all alone, a twist of fate comes to break him free.
Smith explains the melancholy tune, “I wrote the song with Jimmy Napes and Stargate in L.A. during a time of self-discovery and heartbreak. This is for all the lonely hearts out there on another Valentine’s Day xx”
The album is now available for preorder at Smith’s website. Fans who pre-order it there in digital format will instantly receive the new single, as well as “How Do You Sleep?”, which has amassed over 600 million streams worldwide, “I Feel Love,” Smith’s celebratory cover of Donna Summer’s disco classic, “Fire on Fire” (from the “Watership Down” soundtrack) and Smith’scollaboration with Normani, “Dancing with a Stranger,” a number one UK and US hit which has achieved Platinum status in 19 countries, and been streamed over 2 billion times worldwide.
You can watch the video for “To Die For” below.
Photos
Washington Spirit host largest halftime drag performance in NWSL history

The Washington Spirit celebrated the LGBTQ+ community with the team’s annual Pride Night at Audi Field this past Saturday. Highlighting that evening’s Pride-themed festivities was a
halftime drag performance, featuring over a dozen drag performers from around the
DMV. It was the largest halftime drag performance in NWSL history.
Performers included: Shiqueeta Lee, KCByonce, Citrine the Queen, Elektra Gee, Kabuki Bukkake, Delila B. Lee, Capri Bloomingdale, Tara Ashleigh Austin, Gigi Couture, Dorsell Phinn, Tula, Twix the Drag Queen, Bootsy Omega, Princeza.










The 2023 Reston Pride Festival was held at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston, Va. on Saturday, June 3. The music group Betty was the headliner of the festival.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)















Covering @RestonPride for @WashBlade . @bettymusic performing: pic.twitter.com/sZaIlVANi8
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) June 3, 2023

The City of Alexandria, Va. held its sixth annual LGBTQ Pride Festival at Alexandria City Hall on Saturday, June 3.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

















Covering Alexandria Pride for @WashBlade . #Pride #Pride2023 pic.twitter.com/bG0fJk24Lv
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) June 3, 2023
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