Sam Smith has expressed their disappointment that women have been snubbed from the gender-neutral category at the BRITs this year.
No women are nominated for Artist of the Year at next month's ceremony, which has sparked fury among music fans.
The BRITs changed their format last year to remove the gendered awards, which Adele issued a jibe at as she picked up its first ever non-gendered gong.
While Sam welcomed the axing of the gendered awards - which came some years after they came out as non-binary - the Gloria hitmaker has branded the lack of female talent celebrated in the category "frustrating".
“It is a shame,” they told The Sunday Times. "Things are moving forward, but it’s obvious it’s not there yet. From seeing that [best artist] list, there is still a long way to go.”
Sam admitted that it was "incredibly frustrating" as there is so much good female talent around at the moment.
It comes after a BRITs spokesperson told the Mirror that there were "fewer high profile women artists in cycle with major releases", citing that as the reason for the lack of nominations.
“It feels like it should be easy to do," they continued. "[The Brits] just have to celebrate everyone because this is not just about artists getting awards. Awards are for kids watching on TV, thinking, ‘I can make music like this.’ When I was young, if I’d seen more queer people at these awards it would have lit my heart. Awards are there to inspire.”
Quizzed on who they reckon should have been nominated, Sam replied: "Cat Burns. Anne Marie. Florence Welch. There’s so much incredible female talent in the UK — they should be on that list."
In the candid interview, Sam also explains how his writing has changed and that they found penning happy songs difficult.
"Writing sad songs used to be easy, while leaning into joy was tough," Sam said. "I’m happier in my own skin on Gloria. I feel liberated, released from pressures I felt when I was young."
It comes after Sam admitted last month that they hit 'rock bottom' after struggling with fame and gender identity.
Speaking to Cerys Matthew's on Radio 2's First and Last, Sam said: "I was at my lowest in my life writing my third album. I was coming to terms with gender stuff. I felt like I had to live up to this character of Sam Smith.
"Fame is probably the biggest issue I have had in my life. It is this horrible one as you can't moan about it as I know I am very, very lucky to be in my position, but life does get turned on its head."
