Local singer-songwriter Ben Rodrigues has built his name on emotionally charged pop anthems like ‘Was It Real,’ ‘Tell Me How,’ and ‘Homesick.’ But on his latest single, ‘Hazel Eyes,’ Rodrigues trades glossy hooks for something far more intimate. The track, a stripped-back ballad born out of fear, distance and a London hotel room at 3 a.m, was written during his first-ever UK tour in April last year. ‘Hazel Eyes’ captures a pivotal moment in the rising artist’s career. Performing internationally marked a major milestone, but it also forced him to confront a quieter, more complicated reality: what happens when chasing your dream means leaving the person you love behind?
“It was my first time leaving South Africa to perform internationally, and while it was incredibly exciting, it was also terrifying,” Rodrigues tells us. “For the first time, the music felt real in a way it never had before.”
With his girlfriend unable to join him on that first international run, the distance weighed heavily. The song came together after a late-night phone call home. Rodrigues says he was sitting on the floor of his hotel room, eating cereal straight from the box, processing the emotional cost of ambition. “I was scared that chasing this dream might cost me the person I love most,” he says. “I remember praying, ‘I hope this life doesn’t take her away from me. I hope I don’t lose my hazel eyes.’”
In the track, “hazel eyes” becomes more than a physical detail, it’s a metaphor for the people we risk losing while pursuing something bigger. It’s a sentiment that resonates well beyond the music industry, tapping into the universal tension between ambition and intimacy. “This is the most emotionally driven song I’ve ever written,” Rodrigues explains. “Up until now, my music has been upbeat pop, so releasing an emotional ballad like this feels new — and honestly a bit scary. This song carries a lot of weight on my heart.”
‘Hazel Eyes’ signals a shift for Rodrigues, offering the first glimpse into his forthcoming album, due in June. He describes the project as “brand-new territory,” both lyrically and sonically, with the single serving as its emotional entry point. If 2025 introduced Ben Rodrigues as a viral pop contender, 2026 is shaping up to define him as an artist willing to take risks.
With ‘Hazel Eyes,’ Ben Rodrigues strips away the polish and lets listeners see the cost behind the calling. It’s a quiet but powerful reminder that sometimes the bravest thing an artist can do is admit what they’re afraid to lose.
Listen to ‘Hazel Eyes’ below and read more music news here.
