Sam Smith has released “When He’s Gone,” the third single off their upcoming fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, due out August 21 via Capitol Records. Built on a soulful acoustic groove that climbs to a sweeping crescendo, the track confronts the fear of losing someone who has become central to your life.
“This album explores every shade of a relationship and ‘When He’s Gone’ is more of a melancholy shade,” Smith explained. “We captured it live without a click track and built everything around that original recording to preserve the feeling of a storm rumbling in the distance.”
Recorded live at Electric Lady Studios, the song follows previous singles “My Guy” and “Oh Mother,” the latter featuring the 28-member TwoCity Chorus. “Hazel Eyes” was co-produced with David Odlum and Simon Aldred, with contributions from Feist, Shahzad Ismaily, and Rob Moose, marking Smith’s most handcrafted era yet.
