Sam Smith’s ‘Hazel Eyes’ Album Title Nightmare
Sam Smith, the Grammy-winning British singer and songwriter, is proving that sometimes the most beautiful music comes from the simplest places: home, love, and a dash of happy confusion. His latest offering, the album Hazel Eyes, is an intimate exploration of these themes, even as the artist admits the title itself was a charming blunder.
Recently, Smith took center stage on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to dive into the making of the album. It was a session where the focus shifted from the flawless production to the very personal journey behind the music, revealing how the creative process mirrored his evolving life.
Smith co-produced the collection, a first for him, working alongside Simon Aldred and David Odlum. After three years of work, the message was clear: “All this music came with me,” he explained, reflecting on their journey from London to their new home in New York. The album serves as an ode to finding peace and connection.
The artistic narrative of Hazel Eyes is deeply rooted in his personal relationship. Smith shared that the music is fundamentally about love and discovering a softer side of life. He confessed that while he aimed for a gentle, emotional space, he initially struggled with the exact phrasing.
In a moment of delightful candor, Smith admitted that the title was a simple mix-up. He had mistakenly thought hazel eyes were brown, like hazelnut. He learned that the true meaning of hazel is a complex, multi-colored shade of green, brown, and gold. “It’s a nightmare,” he laughed, admitting the error, and playfully suggested the album should have been titled Hazelnut Eyes instead. He’s now happily changing the definition.
This theme of finding emotional safety is central to the record. Following his previous work, including Gloria, Smith describes the new album as a shift, allowing him to explore emotions more freely. He found that settling into a stable relationship has allowed him to pull more depth and emotion from his writing, feeling safer and more open to express the ups and downs of love.
Beyond the studio, Smith continues to embrace a live direction that prioritizes intimacy over scale. Rather than massive arenas, he is championing the To Be Free global residency, bringing his sound to diverse and intimate settings across the globe.
The album also features a stellar collaborative effort, with contributions from artists including Feist, Shahzad Ismaily, Moose, and the vocal collective TwoCity Chorus, who performed on the track Oh Mother. Sam Smith’s career is already a monumental achievement, boasting multiple Billboard chart tops, numerous Grammy Awards, and over 57 billion career streams, solidifying his place as one of the most influential voices in contemporary music.
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