Sam Smith, an unknown singer songwriter performer one year ago, took home four Grammy Awards for musical achievement Sunday, February 8, 2015 including Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.

In his first of the four acceptance speeches, he says among other things, “Before I made this record I was doing everything to try and get my music heard…and it was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen.”

Listen they have, and the accolades have flowed as well.