Sam Smith has announced their engagement to fashion designer Christian Cowan, whose relationship with the singer inspired the upcoming album ‘Hazel Eyes’.
Smith confirmed that Cowan is now their fiancé in a new interview with The New York Times, after the couple had been together for around three years.
Their relationship influenced much of Smith’s forthcoming fifth studio album ‘Hazel Eyes’, which takes its title from Cowan’s eye colour.
Opening track ‘Everlasting Love’ was initially written on the evening before the pair’s first date, with Smith later completing the song as their relationship developed. Smith describes it as the first song they have written about “requited love”, having established their career with songs exploring heartbreak and unreturned affection.
The singer also reflected on the emotional contradictions they experienced while making the record.
“I feel all types of things all the time,” they said. “In my happiest moments, I can get really sad.”
Smith and Cowan were first publicly linked in December 2022, when they attended a White House event marking the signing of the Respect For Marriage Act. They made their red-carpet debut as a couple at the 2024 Met Gala and appeared together again at this year’s ceremony, wearing matching outfits designed by Cowan.
Smith said they had deliberately kept much of the relationship away from public attention in an effort to protect it.
The singer also spoke about the significance of releasing openly queer love songs amid continuing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights.
“For me, there’s something radical about being queer in this time, in this world and singing love songs,” they said. “I’m not going to allow the poison that I read and that I see to affect my way of loving.”
‘Hazel Eyes’ will be released on August 21 via Capitol Records UK. It follows Smith’s 2023 album ‘Gloria’ and was created with a small group of close collaborators, including longtime creative partner Simon Aldred. Pre-order it here.
The 12-track record also features contributions from Feist and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, with parts of the project recorded at New York’s Electric Lady Studios.
“This album is incredibly special to me,” Smith previously said. “I have been writing it for over three years with a very small group of beautiful, dear friends of mine.”
“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.”
Smith will support the album with ‘To Be Free’ residencies in Manchester and London this September. They will perform twice at Manchester’s Albert Hall before playing eight nights at the London Coliseum between September 8 and 19. Find tickets here.
In a four-star review of ‘Gloria’, NME described the record as “the most surprising, satisfying and vital work” of Smith’s career.
“Smith’s soulful voice is stunning throughout,” it added. “Sam Smith has never sounded better because they’ve never been more themselves.”
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