Sam Smith is leaning into romance with their highly anticipated fifth album, Hazel Eyes, which is set to arrive on August 21 via Capitol Records. This project marks Smith’s first full-length work since the acclaimed Gloria release in 2023, promising a deeply personal and emotionally rich musical experience.
The album has already begun generating buzz, highlighted by the lead single, “My Guy.” This track is a buoyant celebration of fully requited love, layered with harmonies from Feist and singer/songwriter Moses Sumney, adding a playful, girl-group inspired flourish to its lovestruck sentiment. It was co-written by Smith alongside Feist and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily.
Smith describes the creation of Hazel Eyes as a journey that has spanned over three years, representing one of their most personal artistic statements. “This album is an incredibly special record to me,” Smith shared. They revealed that the project was crafted with a small group of dear friends, deepening their artistic perspective through the process of production and songwriting.
The sound of Hazel Eyes is a wonderfully eclectic blend, weaving together baroque pop, British folk, outlaw country, and left-field R&B. This rich sonic tapestry foregrounds Smith’s signature vocal performances and intimate songwriting, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive.
The sprawling 12-song set was largely shaped in New York, where Smith now resides. Co-produced by Smith alongside Simon Aldred and David Odlum, the recording process drew heavily on collaborations with artists like Feist, Ismaily, and string arranger Rob Moose, with parts of the work captured at the legendary Electric Lady Studios.
The excitement surrounding the new release is fueled by Smith’s recent performances. The announcement follows a special appearance where Smith mixed career-spanning material with unreleased songs from Hazel Eyes during residency shows that featured surprise guests including Hozier, Ed Sheeran, Brandi Carlile, SIENNA SPIRO, and Kim Petras.
As the album prepares for release, Smith is also gearing up for a special performance on Friday (June 26) at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York, kicking off Pride weekend at the first LGBTQ+ visitor center within the National Park Service. Further live dates are expected to be announced soon.
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Credit: Spin
