Sam Smith has revealed that they've written a song "from the perspective of Ken" for the upcoming Barbie movie soundtrack.

The 31-year-old global star - who is part of the star studded tracklist for Barbie The Album, alongside the likes of Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj - has recorded new track "Man I Am" for the collection. They said on Instagram: "I cannot begin to express how incredibly excited I am to be a part of the soundtrack to this already iconic film.

"I was invited by the incredible @iammarkronson and Greta Gerwig to write a song from the perspective of Ken for one of the scenes and we honestly had so much fun with this.

"I cannot wait for you to hear what we've created together. Barbie Land here we come!!!!"

Dua Lipa's "Dance the Night", Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice's Barbie World collaboration and Charli XCX's "Speed Drive" also feature on the album. 

On July 6, 2023 Billie Eilish was announced as the soundtrack's first surprise artist. Eilish's involvement on the album had been speculated after she posted a neon pink Barbie sign on Instagram a week prior. On Monday (July 10), Eilish then teased a snippet of her piano-backed track "What Was I Made For?", which she recently revealed pulls on the heartstrings. She said: "This movie is gonna change ur lives and hopefully this song will too. Get ready to sob. (sic)" 

Ryan Gosling also performs "I'm Just Ken" - written by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt - in the movie and on the soundtrack with Guns N' Roses legend Slash lending his guitar skills. Ronson told Variety: "Slash is my hero. I grew up, I was like seventh grade when "Appetite For Destruction" came out. He's my all-time hero, I had pictures of Slash all over my wall.

"When we were getting this song done i was like... it never hurts to ask! It seems like such a longshot!

"I sent him the song and he was like, 'This is a good song'. I didn't know Slash that well before this, and he was like, 'Cool, I'll play on it.’

"He killed it, and he plays the solo at the end and the rhythm parts. It’s wonderful."

Last April, Aqua's manager Ulrich Møller-Jørgensen revealed that the band's 1997 hit "Barbie Girl" would not be included on the film’s soundtrack. However, actress Margot Robbie, who plays Barbie, reportedly begged Gerwig to include the song in the film, and Gerwig assured her that she would find a way to incorporate the song in "a cool way." Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice were then signed to perform a remix of the song for the soundtrack, titled "Barbie World". Aqua are credited as co-writers and performers on the track.

Barbie: The Album is set to be released by Atlantic Records on July 21, 2023, the same day as the film's theatrical release.

Preview the Barbie Album below.