Hazel Eyes (album)
| Hazel Eyes | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 21 August 2026 | |||
| Length | 45:33 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producers |
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| Sam Smith chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Hazel Eyes | ||||
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Hazel Eyes is the fifth studio album by the English singer and songwriter Sam Smith, released on 21 August 2026 through Capitol Records. The album serves as the follow-up to Gloria (2023).[1]
Background
In October 2025, Smith began their To Be Free residency, performing 24 shows at the Warsaw in Brooklyn between 8 October and 13 December 2025. Between 10 February and 14 March 2026, they staged a further 16 shows at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. Upcoming dates include a performance on 14 August 2026 at the Telmex Auditorium in Guadalajara and four shows between 17 and 21 August at the National Auditorium in Mexico City. The residency will then move to the United Kingdom, with two shows between 3 and 4 September 2026 at the Albert Hall in Manchester and eight shows between 8 and 19 September at the Coliseum in London.[2]
During the residency, Smith hosted several guest performers, including Ed Sheeran, Norah Jones, Brandi Carlile, Hozier, Kim Petras, and Sienna Spiro, who joined them onstage for select songs.[3] Smith also performed various tracks from Hazel Eyes throughout the residency.[4]
Recording
Hazel Eyes was created alongside Smith's longtime collaborator and friend Simon Aldred, with much of the 12-track album taking shape in New York. Smith co-produced the record with Aldred and David Odlum, crafting the songs with collaborators Feist, Shahzad Ismaily, and Rob Moose. The album also features contributions from Feist and multi-instrumentalist Ismaily, with portions of the sessions held at Electric Lady Studios. A press release described the project as "a heartfelt ode to the city of New York which Sam now calls home".
Smith stated that the album is a special project for them and that they had been writing it for over three years with a very small group of friends. They added: "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".[1][5]
Singles
On Valentine's Day, 14 February 2025, Smith released "Love Is a Stillness". The single cover features Smith's tortoises, Fish and Chips, and was photographed by Collier Schorr. The music video was directed by Haya Waseem.[6]
On 24 July 2025, they released "To Be Free", a song written with Simon Aldred. Smith described the track as "one vocal and guitar take from start to finish, made complete by the beautiful injection of the incredible choir we've been working with across this new project". They also stated that "To Be Free" had been written five years earlier. The single's artwork, captured by Schorr, features the Hudson River in New York. The music video was filmed at the Warsaw in Brooklyn and directed by (La)Horde. The "To Be Free" / "Love Is a Stillness" 7-inch vinyl was released on 11 November 2025.[7]
While announcing Hazel Eyes on 24 June 2026, Smith released a third single, "My Guy". They stated that they wrote the song with friends on a summer day in New York and added that "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 music video was filmed in New York City and directed by Waseem.[5]
On 22 July 2026, Smith released the album's fourth single, "Oh Mother", featuring the TwoCity Chorus.[8] The fifth single, "When He's Gone", followed on 5 August 2026.[9] "Constant Companion" was released as the sixth single on 21 August 2026, the same day the album was issued.[10] Its accompanying music video, directed by Albert Moya and choreographed by (La)Horde, was filmed in Spain and presents a queer-themed romantic western narrative.[11]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Everlasting Love" |
| 3:42 | |
| 2. | "Hazel Eyes" |
|
| 3:53 |
| 3. | "Moondance" (featuring Feist) |
| 4:23 | |
| 4. | "My Guy" |
|
| 3:50 |
| 5. | "When He's Gone" |
|
| 3:06 |
| 6. | "Thief" |
|
| 4:52 |
| 7. | "Love Is a Stillness" |
|
| 1:55 |
| 8. | "Sugar Rush" |
|
| 2:30 |
| 9. | "Oh Mother" (featuring the TwoCity Chorus) |
|
| 3:32 |
| 10. | "Constant Companion" |
|
| 4:51 |
| 11. | "Hold On" |
|
| 4:29 |
| 12. | "To Be Free" |
|
| 4:30 |
| Total length: | 45:33 | |||
Notes
Personnel
Credits were adapted from Tidal.[12]
Musicians
- Sam Smith – vocals (all tracks), background vocals (tracks 2, 4–6, 8, 9), keyboards (3)
- Simon Aldred – guitar (1–6, 8–12), background vocals (1, 2, 6, 8), percussion (2–4, 6, 8, 9), whistle (7), bass (8)
- Shahzad Ismaily – guitar (1, 3–6, 8, 9, 11), keyboards (1, 3, 4, 8, 11), bass (2–6, 8, 9, 11), percussion (2, 4, 5, 8, 9), drums (6)
- Ruth O'Mahony Brady – keyboards (1, 2, 4–6, 9–11), background vocals (2, 4–6, 9, 10), percussion (4, 8, 9), strings (4); piano, whistle (7); synthesizer effects (9)
- Rosie Danvers – conductor, string arrangement (1, 3, 11); cello (1)
- Zahra Benyounes – violin (1, 3, 11), viola (1)
- Wired Strings – strings (1, 3)
- Dave Guy – trumpet (1, 8)
- Ricky Damian – bass (1)
- David Odlum – bass (2), drum programming (3, 4), percussion (3–5, 8, 9), keyboards (3, 6, 10), whistle (7)
- Jay Bellerose – percussion (2, 3, 5, 6, 9–11), drums (2, 5, 6, 10, 11)
- The TwoCity Chorus[i] – choir vocals (2, 3, 9–12)
- Ladonna Young – background vocals (2, 8, 9), percussion (8)
- Lucita Jules – background vocals (2, 8, 9), percussion (8)
- Rob Moose – strings (2); guitar (10), ukulele, violin (10)
- Reuben James – keyboards (3, 4, 6, 8–12)
- Feist – background vocals (3, 4), drum programming (3), percussion (4)
- Ashok Klouda – cello (3, 11)
- Bryony James – cello (3, 11)
- Kirsten Jenson – cello (3, 11)
- Clifton Harrison – viola (3, 11)
- Emma Owens – viola (3, 11)
- Meghan Cassidy – viola (3, 11)
- Ben Hancox – violin (3, 11)
- Jenny Sacha – violin (3, 11)
- Michael Trainor – violin (3, 11)
- Miles Brett – violin (3, 11)
- Patrick Kiernan – violin (3, 11)
- Raja Halder – violin (3, 11)
- Rod Castro – guitar (3, 11)
- Nate Smith – drums (3)
- Marc Ribot – guitar (3)
- David Leon – saxophone (3)
- Kerenza Peacock – violin (3)
- Natalie Klouda – violin (3)
- Stephanie Cavey – violin (3)
- Gabe Noel – strings (4, 9), bass harmonica (4), Marxophone (9)
- Moses Sumney – background vocals (4)
- Donté McGuine – background vocals (5, 9)
- Earl Harvin – percussion (6)
- Brandon Pain – background vocals, percussion (8)
- Kyng Musik – background vocals, percussion (8)
- Ian Hendrickson-Smith – saxophone (8)
- Mike Buckley – saxophone (8)
- Trinity Boys Choir[ii] – choir vocals (10)
- Richard Pryce – double bass (1)
- Charis Jenson – violin (11)
- Hayley Pomfrett – violin (11)
- Sarah Sexton – violin (11)
Technical
- David Odlum – engineering
- Stephen Fitzmaurice – engineering (1–6, 8–12), mixing (7)
- Joseph Lorge – engineering (6)
- Lauren Marquez – additional engineering (1–6, 8–12)
- Varun Jhunjhunwalla – additional engineering (4)
- Andrew Sarlo – mixing (1–6, 8–12)
- Ruairi O'Flaherty – mastering (1–6, 8–12)
- Gavin Lurssen – mastering (7)
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 21 August 2026 | Capitol | [13] |
Notes
- ↑ The TwoCity Chorus consists of singers Ah-med Wallace, Ajanee Hambrick, Allen Bowser, Brandon Pain, Brayla Cook, Bri Hentz, Brianna Turner, Brittney N. Clarke, Chenee Campbell, Cmaze, Dahlia Anderson, Dominic Patrick, Elle Morris, Jakeya Sanders, Jami C Holland, Jhetti Lashley, John Graves, Julian King, Kyng Musik, Mare Floyd, Maryta Fields, Matia Washington, Megan Nicolle, Nio Levon, Seraiah Nicole, Sherri Lynn, Taj Sapp, Trèjah Bostic, and Tyree Miller
- ↑ The Trinity Boys Choir consists of singers Alex Bradburn, Alex Pick, Alexander Wright, Ben Wright, Charles Arthanayake, Daniel Pickles, Dennis Lalic, Elliot Bergs, Finn Robotham, Glenn Tong, Hal Heaton, Henry Pettitt, Michael Mulroy, Oliver Griffith, Tom Day, and Xavier Karelis
References
- 1 2 Pilley, Max (24 July 2026). "Sam Smith announces new album 'Hazel Eyes' with romantic single 'My Guy'". NME. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ Skinner, Tom (8 July 2026). "Sam Smith announces 2026 'To Be Free' live residencies in Manchester and London". NME. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ Lynch, Joe (11 December 2025). "Sam Smith Brings Out Ed Sheeran and Brandi Carlile During Warsaw Show". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Sam Smith 'To Be Free' Live". Gigs and Tours. 2 July 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- 1 2 Horwitz, Steven J. (24 June 2026). "Sam Smith Announces New Album 'Hazel Eyes', Releases 'My Guy' Single". Variety. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Sam Smith Releases New Song "Love Is a Stillness"". pmstudio.com. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Sam Smith Releases New Song "To Be Free"". pmstudio.com. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Oh Mother (feat. The TwoCity Chorus) - Single by Sam Smith". Apple Music. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "When He's Gone - Single by Sam Smith". Apple Music. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ Forrest, Jo (21 August 2026). "Sam Smith releases new album 'Hazel Eyes'". TotalNtertainment. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Sam Smith – Constant Companion (Official Video)". YouTube. 21 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ "Hazel Eyes / Sam Smith / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ "Music - Sam Smith". samsmithworld.com. Retrieved 16 July 2026.