Sam Smith Announces Engagement and Discusses How Romance Inspired Their New Album

Sam Smith is penning an entirely new chapter in their personal romantic journey.

In a deeply candid interview with The New York Times, the Grammy-winning vocalist announced their engagement to fashion visionary Christian Cowan. The joyous revelation arrives hot on the heels of their latest single, “Oh Mother” featuring The TwoCity Chorus, which serves as a precursor to their highly anticipated fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes.

Smith verified the engagement while reflecting on the passionate relationship that heavily influenced their upcoming record, slated for an August 21 release via Capitol Records. They shared that the romantic track “Everlasting Love” was originally penned the night preceding their very first date, eventually being completed as their bond flourished. Furthermore, the album’s evocative title is a direct tribute to Cowan and his striking hazel eyes.

This forthcoming collection follows their 2023 studio album Gloria, which climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and featured the globally dominant smash hit “Unholy” alongside Kim Petras, reigning supreme at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2022. Over the span of an illustrious career, Smith has accumulated seven top-10 hits on the Hot 100—highlighted by their breakthrough ballad “Stay With Me,” which peaked at No. 2—while their 2017 sophomore record, The Thrill of It All, made a triumphant debut at the summit of the Billboard 200.

Elsewhere in the conversation, Smith opened up about forging Hazel Eyes entirely outside the conventional pop songwriting assembly line. By partnering with a tightly knit circle of visionary creators, including indie luminary Feist, the artist crafted a deeply intimate body of work defined by profound creative liberation.

While the tracks on Hazel Eyes navigate the full spectrum of human emotion—from the sublime euphoria of enduring love to the complexities of heartbreak and subsequent healing—Smith noted that they purposely embraced life’s inherent emotional paradoxes. “I feel all types of things all the time,” Smith expressed to the publication. “In my happiest moments, I can get really sad.”

Additionally, the singer deliberated on the significance of composing unapologetic queer love songs during a cultural climate where LGBTQ+ rights continue to encounter formidable hurdles, emphasizing why celebrating romance remains an act of profound resilience.

“For me, there’s something radical about being queer in this time, in this world and singing love songs,” Smith reflected. “I’m not going to allow the poison that I read and that I see to affect my way of loving.”

Hazel Eyes officially arrives on August 21.

Source