Sam Smith credits his new boyfriend Brandon Flynn with making him think he deserves to be happy

Sam Smith has said his relationship with 13 Reasons Why star Brandon Flynn has made him think he deserves happiness “for the first time”.

The 25-year-old singing sensation has released five number-one singles and two number-one albums, including The Thrill of It All, which recently went platinum.

But the British star has revealed that it is his relationship with Flynn, 24, which has turned around his opinion of himself.

He was unlucky in love throughout writing his new album, but was photographed kissing his new paramour in New York City in October, shortly before its release.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc-8zo5AwQi/

And speaking to V Magazine, Smith said the burgeoning love – which Flynn made Instagram official last month – may even have an effect on his music.

“On a personal level, I’m in a relationship right now and for the first time, I think I deserve to be happy,” the singer told film star Sarah Jessica Parker. “I’m actually asking myself if I’m going to be writing some happy love songs soon.”

Smith also claimed that he wasn’t a ‘proper’ gay man when he released In the Lonely Hour in 2014.

“In the past few years, I became a gay man properly,” said the star. “When I wrote that first album, I was in love with a straight man, he didn’t love me back, and I was very comfortable in my longing. With this record, I became a gay man.”

Smith explained: “I’m just figuring out what it means to be gay. When I made that first album, I was 19. I had never been in a relationship. I didn’t have any gay friends. Now, I have gay friends, and it’s changed my life.”

He added that there weren’t many gay singers’ examples to follow at this stage.

“Also, I don’t have a lot to go by as a gay man in music: even the George Michaels and Elton Johns weren’t out at the beginning of their careers,” said Smith.

But he said that he had now found his way.

“I’m putting out a second album that couldn’t be more me – and it couldn’t be gayer. I’m so proud of that.”

His boyfriend Flynn, who burst into the public consciousness with his breakout performance in Netflix’s hit show, 13 Reasons Why, came out in an emotional Instagram post last year.

And earlier this week, Flynn posted a heartwarming tribute on Instagram to his new beau.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdZ0RNYgIm9/?taken-by=flynnagin11