Sam Smith has officially announced their fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, arriving August 21 via Capitol Records. Alongside the announcement, the Grammy, BRIT, Golden Globe, and Oscar-winning artist has released the album’s first official single, “My Guy,” accompanied by a new music video that introduces one of Smith’s most personal musical eras to date.
After more than three years in development, Hazel Eyes marks a creative evolution for Smith as both a songwriter and producer. Co-produced by Sam Smith, Simon Aldred, and David Odlum, the 12-track album explores themes of requited love, emotional vulnerability, artistic freedom, and self-discovery through an ambitious blend of baroque pop, British folk, left-field R&B, outlaw country, and intimate singer-songwriter arrangements.
“This album is an incredibly special record to me,” Smith shared. “I have been writing it for over three years with a very small group of beautiful, dear friends of mine. This album is very personal, and I feel I have deepened myself as an artist through the making of it.”
Much of Hazel Eyes was written and recorded in New York City, where Smith collaborated with acclaimed artists including Feist, multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, string arranger Rob Moose, and producer Simon Aldred. Sessions at the legendary Electric Lady Studios helped shape an album that also serves as a love letter to Smith’s adopted hometown while showcasing some of their most emotionally revealing songwriting to date.
Leading the project is “My Guy,” an uplifting celebration of fully reciprocated love. Co-written by Sam Smith, Feist, and Shahzad Ismaily, the song pairs warm instrumentation with soaring vocal harmonies from Feist and Moses Sumney, creating an infectious pop anthem centered on joy, devotion, and emotional openness.
Speaking about the single, Smith explained, “This is a song that I feel I have been waiting a lifetime to write and sing. In this sometimes cold and distant world, I hope you can feel the love and the closeness of this recording.”
The release follows Smith’s recent singles “Love Is A Stillness” and “To Be Free,” both of which introduced the reflective tone that defines Hazel Eyes. “To Be Free” also inspired Smith’s acclaimed residency series, featuring intimate performances in cities including Brooklyn and San Francisco alongside surprise appearances from artists such as Hozier, Ed Sheeran, Brandi Carlile, SIENNA SPIRO, and Kim Petras.
To celebrate the launch of “My Guy,” Smith will perform at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York City today, June 26, opening NYC Pride Weekend with a special performance at the first LGBTQ+ visitor center within the U.S. National Park Service. The event honors the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising while celebrating the enduring resilience of the LGBTQ+ community.
Hazel Eyes follows 2023’s Gloria, which featured the global chart-topping collaboration “Unholy” with Kim Petras. Throughout their career, Smith has sold more than 64 million equivalent albums, generated over 57 billion streams, earned five Grammy Awards, and become one of the defining voices in contemporary pop music.
With Hazel Eyes, Sam Smith embraces a more intimate, organic sound while continuing to expand their artistic boundaries. Between the heartfelt storytelling of “My Guy,” an impressive roster of collaborators, and a deeply personal creative vision, the album promises to mark another significant chapter in one of modern pop‘s most celebrated careers.
Featured image credit: Collier Schorr
