Sam Smith's throat surgery was the ''best thing'' to ever happen to him.

The 'Lay Me Down' singer thinks the recent emergency operation on his vocal cords and three weeks recovery was a gift because his life was becoming ''insane'' and he desperately needed time away from the spotlight.

Sam said: ''It's been the best thing that's happened to me ever. I feel like I've been gifted with time. I got to stop for a month and rest, and become normal again and to realise how insanely my life has changed. And in some areas it's changed for the worse.''

Sam, 22 - who was ordered to stay at home for three weeks after the op - was grateful to be able to rebuild the relationships in his life.

Speaking to Magic Radio's Jo Parkerson, he said: ''Some things are taken away from you, so it was beautiful for me to be able to kind of regain my normality a little bit. Just be with my mum and my dad and my sisters, and remember how to laugh and chat about them and not have to talk about me all the time.

''It got to the point where my mum and dad were being put on guest-lists to see me after shows; they didn't get to spend any time with their son, and that's not normal.

''It's been really tough if I'm honest. There's things that are taken away from you.''