Skarlett Smith Reveals the Deeper Meaning Behind New EP “LEYES”

Skarlett Smith turns a lifelong fascination with the eyes into a personal exploration of truth, vulnerability, scars, and the experiences people often keep hidden on her new EP “LEYES.”

For Skarlett Smith, the idea behind “LEYES” began long before she started recording the project. Released August 25 through Savant Soundz Records, the EP takes its unusual title from a play on the word “lies,” with Smith using the eyes as a metaphor for the tension between what people show outwardly and what their experiences reveal underneath. The concept is summed up by a phrase at the center of the project: “The Truth Is Always Hiding In The LEYES.”

Smith says she has been complimented on the color of her eyes throughout her life, but even as a teenager she found herself questioning whether their physical appearance was really what made them beautiful. Over time, that question developed into a broader understanding of beauty centered on vulnerability, personal history and emotional honesty. “Maybe the beauty of the eyes was never really about their color,” Smith explains. “Maybe it was always about what they reveal through their scars.”

That philosophy fits naturally into the artistic identity Smith has been developing over the past two years. The Fort Collins, Colorado artist began singing as a child and later developed as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, learning guitar, piano, ukulele and percussion. Rather than approaching pop solely as a vocalist, Smith has described musicianship and songwriting as connected parts of the same process, with melodies shaping lyrics and lyrics helping determine where the music should go.

Her catalog has gradually reflected that development. Smith introduced herself with “Love Bomb” in April 2025 before following with “2077” and “Roar,” then moved into 2026 with “Tell Me Now” and “Shut Up and Kiss Me.” Apple Music lists those releases across 2025 and 2026, while her official Linktree now puts “LEYES” at the center of her current era.

There is also a noticeable thematic connection between “LEYES” and the music that immediately preceded it. On “Tell Me Now,” Smith explored the frustration of waiting for honesty inside a relationship and the emotional consequences of uncertainty. Speaking about her writing earlier this year, she said she tries to remain transparent while still leaving enough space for listeners to recognize their own experiences in her songs. She also described the core of a Skarlett Smith record as freedom to express, feel and tell the truth, with real experiences and personal scars helping shape the music. That makes the philosophy behind “LEYES” feel less like an isolated concept and more like the next stage of a theme Smith has already been building into her work.

Smith continues working closely with producer and Savant Soundz Records founder DeMario “Rio” Bridges, who has played an important role in her development. Their creative relationship has already encouraged experimentation across previous releases, with Smith previously explaining that Bridges helped her learn to trust the process and explore ideas without placing unnecessary limits on herself. Her growing creative independence has expanded into visuals as well: for the recent “Shut Up and Kiss Me” video, Smith stepped behind the camera and became directly involved in filming the visual herself.

With “LEYES,” those different parts of her progression come together around something more intimate. Rather than simply introducing another collection of songs, Smith is asking listeners to reconsider how they see other people, and whether the things we try hardest to hide might actually reveal the most about who we are.

Skarlett Smith’s “LEYES” is out now.

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