Sam Smith Releases Bluesy Lament ‘When He’s Gone’ Ahead of New Album ‘Hazel Eyes’
Sam Smith has released "When He's Gone," the third single from their upcoming fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, due out on 21 August. The bluesy, melancholy track was recorded live without a click track, building from finger-picked guitar into a fuller arrangement with drums and backing vocals, and continues Smith's exploration of different facets of relationships across the record.
The song follows earlier singles "My Guy" and "Oh Mother," the latter featuring the TwoCity Chorus, and the album was co-produced with David Odlum and Simon Aldred, featuring collaborators Feist, Shahzad Ismaily and Rob Moose. It marks Smith's first full album since 2023's Gloria, which included the Grammy-winning "Unholy." Smith will support the release with mini-residencies across Mexico and the UK through August and September, culminating in a show at London's Coliseum on 19 September.
- Sam Smith drops "When He's Gone," third single from new album Hazel Eyes
- Album Hazel Eyes arrives 21 August, features Feist and Rob Moose
- Smith plays UK and Mexico mini-residencies through September, ending at London Coliseum
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Sam Smith is a British singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the early 2010s with hits like "Stay With Me" and later "Unholy," a Grammy-winning collaboration with Kim Petras. Smith, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, has built a career around soulful, emotionally direct pop music, often exploring themes of love, heartbreak and identity.
"Hazel Eyes" is Smith's fifth studio album, due for release on 21 August, and their first full record since 2023's "Gloria." Ahead of the album, Smith has been releasing singles that give listeners a sense of its sound and themes, with each track offering a different perspective on relationships.
The album has been made with a number of collaborators, including musician Feist and producers David Odlum and Simon Aldred, and its release will be accompanied by a series of live shows in Mexico and the UK. This mix of new music and touring marks a significant return to the spotlight for Smith following a gap of several years since their last album.