Sam Smith is officially entering a brand-new musical era.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has announced that their fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, will arrive on August 21, marking their first full-length release since 2023’s Gloria. Alongside the announcement, Smith also unveiled the album’s lead single, “My Guy,” giving fans an early glimpse at what promises to be one of their most personal and intimate projects to date.
Hazel Eyes is now available to pre-order across a range of digital and physical formats, with anticipation already building around the 12-track collection.
For Smith, this album represents far more than another release. It reflects years of creative exploration, personal growth, and a deeper involvement in every stage of the recording process.
“This album is an incredibly special record to me. 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, through being a producer on the record, to walking alongside this record from the start to the finish and pushing myself at every single turn. This record and this music is incredibly romantic. I’ve learned so many life lessons through making this album, and I’ve documented it all through the music.”
The new project is described as “a modern fairytale of requited love, capturing themes of emotional vulnerability, artistic freedom, and self-reflection.” It also marks another creative milestone for Smith, who stepped into the role of producer alongside longtime collaborators Simon Aldred and David Odlum.
Much of Hazel Eyes was written in New York City, which has become Smith’s adopted home in recent years. The album was crafted with a close-knit circle of collaborators, including acclaimed musician Feist, multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, and celebrated string arranger Rob Moose. Portions of the record were also tracked inside the legendary Electric Lady Studios, a space that has hosted generations of iconic artists.
According to the album’s description, New York serves as both a backdrop and an inspiration throughout the record. The collection is billed as “a heartfelt ode to the city of New York which Sam now calls home, and draws from an eclectic constellation of genres (baroque pop, British folk, outlaw country, left-field R&B)—all while foregrounding their incandescent voice and soul-baring storytelling.”
While Smith has always embraced emotional honesty in their songwriting, Hazel Eyes appears to lean even further into vulnerability, with romance sitting at the center of the album’s narrative. Rather than focusing on heartbreak alone, the record celebrates the joy, comfort, and emotional security that can come with finding lasting love.
That sentiment is front and centre on “My Guy,” the album’s newly released lead single.
Sharing the story behind the track, Smith revealed just how naturally the song came together during a writing session in New York.
“This is a song that I feel I have been waiting a lifetime to write and sing. Written with beautiful friends on a summer’s day in New York, this one fell out of the sky. In this sometimes cold and distant world, I hope you can feel the love and the closeness of this recording. I tried to capture the glow and the warmth of love in this one, it makes me cry, maybe it will make you feel a little love too.”
The song embraces a lighter, more romantic perspective than many listeners may associate with Smith’s earlier work. Instead of dwelling on longing or loss, “My Guy” celebrates the excitement and reassurance that come with being deeply in love, offering a warm introduction to the themes that run throughout Hazel Eyes.
The album announcement also arrives during a busy week for the singer. Smith is set to perform on Friday, June 26, at The Booking.com Theater located inside the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, adding another special appearance to Pride Month celebrations.
Check out the lyrics to My Guy:
[Intro]
One, two, three
[Verse 1]
He’s all that I need
My morning star
Whenever he leaves
I know he won’t be far
What more could I want?
And I always wanted more
‘Cause I didn’t understand
What my heart was for
Mm-mm
[Chorus]
And like all good things, it caught me by surprise
You could dream he’s yours all you want, but he’s mine, mine, mine
He’s my guy
He’s my guy
[Verse 2]
How could I know
A love could be this true?
And I didn’t know
A dance could be this slow
[Chorus]
‘Cause like all good things, he caught me by surprise
You could dream he’s yours all you want, but he’s mine, mine, mine
He’s my guy
He’s my guy, mm-mm
[Bridge]
You can dream it all that you want, but you can’t have my boy (You can’t have him)
You can dream it all that you want, but you can’t have my boy (You can try, try, try)
You can dream it all that you want, but you can’t have my boy (Try, try, try)
[Chorus]
You can dream it all that you want but you can’t have my boy
A breath of fresh air, a rose on the vine
Oh, I could just stare at him all the time, time, time
He’s my guy
[Outro]
You can dream it all that you want, but you can’t have my boy (My guy)
You can dream it all that you want, but you can’t have my boy (My guy)
You can dream it all that you want, but you can’t have my boy (My guy)
You can dream it all that you want, but you can’t have my boy
