Sam Smith Announces New Album ‘Hazel Eyes’ With Romantic Single ‘My Guy

Sam Smith will release their fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, on August 21 via Capitol Records UK, according to NME. The announcement coincides with the release of a new single titled My Guy.

The 12-track project serves as the follow-up to Smith’s 2023 album, Gloria. The new record is available for pre-order as of June 24, 2026.

What is the production background of ‘Hazel Eyes’?

Smith developed the album over a three-year period alongside longtime collaborator and friend Simon Aldred. Much of the writing and recording took place in New York, including sessions at Electric Lady Studios, NME reports.

The album features contributions from artist Feist and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, who has previously worked with Damien Rice and Yoko Ono. Smith took on a producer role for the project to push their artistic boundaries.

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.
Sam Smith via NME

What is the focus of the new single ‘My Guy’?

The lead single My Guy is described as a soulful track featuring minimal, restrained backing. Smith stated the song was written on a summer day in New York with friends and described the songwriting process as something that fell out of the sky.

Smith expressed a desire for the recording to convey love and the closeness to listeners in a world they described as sometimes cold and distant. The album also includes the 2025 single To Be Free.

When is Sam Smith performing in New York?

Smith is scheduled to perform an intimate set on June 26, 2026, at the Booking.com Theater at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. The performance is intended to mark the beginning of NYC Pride Weekend.

How does ‘Hazel Eyes’ compare to previous work?

The shift toward a more romantic and personal tone follows the release of Gloria. NME previously awarded Gloria a four-star review, noting that Smith’s soulful voice is stunning throughout and praising the confidence shown in the record’s intricate backing vocals.

While Gloria was characterized by its confidence and tone, Smith describes Hazel Eyes as a documentation of life lessons learned over the last three years.

What is the ‘Hazel Eyes’ tracklist?

The upcoming album consists of the following 12 tracks:

• Everlasting Love
• Hazel Eyes
• Moondance (feat. Feist)
• My Guy
• When He’s Gone
• Thief
• Love Is A Stillness
• Sugar Rush
• Oh Mother (feat. The Two City Chorus)
• Constant Companion
• Hold On
• To Be Free