Sam Smith is using an app to speak after vocal cord operation
- Published
Sam Smith is using an app to help him speak after undergoing surgery on his vocal cords.
"He's doing well, he's resting up," says his friend and music producer, Jimmy Napes.
"He's got an app that speaks for him and it's like Stephen Hawking, where you type something in, except it's in a girls' voice - which is hilarious."
The singer had the operation at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, earlier this week.
Napes has written songs for artists including Disclosure, Clean Bandit, and Mary J Blige.
Jimmy Napes said Sam Smith is doing well and resting after his operation
He also helped to write Smith's hit, Stay With Me which went on to win two Grammys, for record of the year and song of the year in February.
When asked if Sam Smith's temporary "app voice" might appear in one of his songs, Napes replies: "It might be a little outtake on the new album."
A full voice recovery is expected for the singer, who was forced to cancel his appearance at Radio 1's Big Weekend.
The surgery was performed by Dr Steven Zeitels, who has carried out the same procedure on Adele, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Lionel Richie.
Smith's condition was the result of unstable blood vessels in his vocal cords which can rupture affecting the ability to sing.
His next live show is scheduled for 3 July at Thetford Forest in Suffolk.
The 23-year-old was forced to cancel a series of shows after finding out he needed vocal cord surgery, including a slot at this weekend's Radio 1's Big Weekend in Norwich.
For the latest photos, videos and social media reaction from Radio 1's Big Weekend visit bbc.co.uk/bigweekend
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