The 10 Best Remixes of Sam Smith Songs

Over the last year, we've learned to look at Sam Smith as more than "that guy who sang on Disclosure's 'Latch.'" Sure, to many people in America that

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

Over the last year, we've learned to look at Sam Smith as more than "that guy who sang on Disclosure's 'Latch.'" Sure, to many people in America that actually follow the UK dance tracks being siphoned over, he might be that guy ("Latch" was his initial breakthrough), but since 2013 we've seen Sam truly move into his own, building on his feature on Naughty Boy's "La La La" into a deal with Capitol Records. Out now is his debut album, In the Lonely Hour, he sings long and hard about unrequited love. Singles like "Stay With Me" obviously play into that, but over all he expresses a soulful longing that's missing in a lot of today's pop records. It's probably all in his voice, which has been easy fodder for remixes, but picking the right reworks? It can be tricky. Luckily, Sam's camp has commissioned some great remixes, and we've been hearing a host of stellar takes on his material. Here are the 10 best remixes of Sam Smith songs.

Sam Smith - "Stay With Me (Rainer + Grimm Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Rainer + Grimm has been coming into their own as of late, and it feels like a remix like this allows heads to see how their sound can work with some solid vocals wrapped around it. While not a daring take on "Stay With Me" at all, it gets the job done, adding a catchy melody and solid pacing to the tune. Something to start a set with rather than mash it out at the end.

Sam Smith - "Stay With Me (MSSL CMMND Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

While most artists remixing Sam Smith are trying to inject some energy with their production, and turn whatever song they're working with into a dancefloor filler, MSSL CMMND, aka Neptunes legend Chad Hugo and Daniel Biltmore, smooth things out and take things down a notch with a smooth and seductive remix that wouldn't sound out of a place at a swanky cocktail bar, or some other similarly slick, high-end establishment. It's definitely not what you want if you're looking for that turn-up, but you know, sometimes—just sometimes—a turn down is in order. Then, you can put this on.

Sam Smith - "Nirvana (Until The Ribbon Breaks Re-Imagination)"

Not Available Interstitial

When Until The Ribbon Breaks say "re-imagination," they really mean it. The British producer/singer/songwriter chops and pitch shifts the vocals, and layers them over a subtly bumping beat that mixes gauzy, warm synth work with crisp percussion. It's the kind of remix that rewards repeated listens and has enough layers to really get lost in.

Sam Smith - "Nirvana (Harry Fraud Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Harry Fraud's take on "Nirvana" was the only remix on the Nirvana EP, and it works as a welcomed departure from the hip-hop tracks Fraud's done for Action Bronson, French Montana, Rick Ross, and others. He underscores the tenderness of the song, beginning with the pre-chorus—"It's too late to run away from it all / It's too late to get away from it all" that's backgrounded by soft keys and electric guitar before the beat comes in. The guitar later gets acoustic, allowing Smith to get extra intimate before bringing the beat back and fading out. It's a harder-hitting and more raw version of the original, but it also emphasizes the hopefulness of the song in the end.

Sam Smith - "Safe With Me (Tourist Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

British producer Tourist has been killing it lately, working with top vocalists like Lianne La Havas and Will Heard, but when he gets his hands on someone else's track he's just as dangerous. Chopping and pitch-shifting Sam Smith's endlessly listenable vocals, Tourist injects a huge amount of groove into his remix, which motors along with a rubbery bassline and a garage swing.

Sam Smith - "Money On My Mind (salute Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Austrian teenager salute mixes all sorts of influences into his version of "Money On My Mind." There's a drop and lurching bounce reminiscent of Flume's bolder moments which transforms into a garge influenced second half. It's a bold move, and the variety and general sense of fun makes this remix one of the best.

Sam Smith - "Stay With Me (Wilfred Giroux Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

19-year-old Wilfred Giroux (his real name is Joshua Mooney) has a lot of momentum in 2014, with the release of the Corinne Bailey Rae-sampling "Stronger" early in the year, followed by this "Stay With Me" house remix. He begins looping the line "These nights never seem to go to plan," which likely matches the context most listeners will be listening to this remix—at night and on the dancefloor. Giroux cuts out some of the desperate sounding moments in the song, cutting the "you're all I need" lyrics and emphasizing the "stay darling" part. Despite that, he retains the soul that makes Sam Smith's music so powerful, especially in the gospel-like "stay with me" harmonies that he kept throughout the breakdown.

Sam Smith - "Stay With Me (Shy FX Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Shy FX and Sam Smith are not two names that you'd normally expect to see together, but the drum & bass legend absolutely smashed this remix out of the park. From the reggae bounce of the opening onwards, "Stay With Me" is turned from a mournful song filled with longing into a total summer slammer. Go get drunk and run around in a park to this.

Sam Smith - "Lay Me Down (Todd Edwards Vocal Mix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Sam Smith getting a legend like Todd Edwards to give us a new take on "Lay Me Down" is a thing of beauty in its own right. Todd wastes no time with his vocal mix, giving us the chopped vocal cuts that made the garage sound what it was in its heyday. Constructing a counter-melody to the original with snippets of voice is just how Todd gets down. His take is perfect for the clubs, fattening this tune up for hearty ingestion.

Sam Smith - "Money On My Mind (MK Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Despite his very busy, seemingly endless tour schedule, deep house luminary MK made some time for a "Money on My Mind" remix that brings the song's undeniable feel-good pop onto the dancefloor. Making use of the whole song, MK took his remix into the 6:30 range by looping Sam's breathy, lush vocals just before he's about to finishing saying the word "love." The remix brings out the best of their abilities–MK with an unmistakable house hit and Sam with his passionate, emotion-filled message that's both smooth and powerful.

Latest in Music