Sam Smith - Unholy (ft. Kim Petras) [ Perfectly Slowed & Reverb ] May 2026

The slowed-down pace forces the listener to sit with the narrative of the song:

: By reducing the speed, the heavy bass synths and 808s become more cavernous and menacing. The slowed-down pace forces the listener to sit

The "Slowed & Reverb" style—a subgenre rooted in hip-hop and vaporwave—is designed to evoke nostalgia and emotional depth. For "Unholy," this aesthetic leans into the "nightmare" or "ominous" quality of the track, making the chorus feel more like a ritual than a pop hook. : It follows a father leaving his children

: It follows a father leaving his children at home to visit a strip club (the "Body Shop") while his wife remains unaware. : Sam Smith has described the song as

The original track is celebrated for its unique music theory, specifically shifting between and C Phrigian dominant scales. This creates a natural dissonance often heard in Middle Eastern music or horror movie themes.

: Sam Smith has described the song as a way of "liberating oneself from the clutches of others' secrets". Why It Works