Connor Grant, aka Akurei, just released his newest single, "smile ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰" earlier this November. The song's name is perfectly titled. That dancing smiley face and those adorable little stars encapsulate the happiness of listening to this easy summer-in-December pop anthem. "smile ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰" is about enjoying a simple day shopping. The chorus is endlessly catchy with its repeated: "I want it yeah / got it yeah / run it, I run it right back." It's reminiscent of songs like Ariana Grande's 7 Rings, but with a more chill, relatable vibe. "smile ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰" is a fun, cheerful track perfect for blasting in the car with the windows down.
"smile ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰" feels inspired by lo-fi. When those Casio-sounding electronic keys kick in during the first verse, it brings this nostalgic, low-key sound rampant within the genre. Its production is deceptively simple. The beat is expertly crafted top-to-bottom with its spacious drumline, airy synths, and glittery piano. Akurei's vocals are similarly smooth and relaxed, adding to the peaceful energy "smile ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰" brings. The singer-songwriter balances to create an upbeat yet soothing pop song; it's melodic but never overwhelming. It's a track you want to live in, just experiencing the highs of riding scooters and buying whatever you want. By the end, it's hard not to listen and not nod your head along and, as the title says, smile.
Akurei is an Australian musician from the Gold Coast. The singer-songwriter started officially releasing music back in 2017 with his songs "Hinterland" and "Floating" featuring Nico Ghost. Since then, his music career has taken off. In 2020, Akurei released 3 EPs, including "CLOVER," "HAIRDYE," and "SEROTONIN." The bedroom pop aesthetic presented in these tracks, which may be appealing to fans of artists like Ginger Root or Role Model, continues Akurei's signtature catchy yet chill sound. The artist has amassed over 23,000 Spotify followers and 11 million downloads. All his tracks belong to his personal "sumoclic" label, which Grant started with close friend Maxwell Byrne. "smile ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰" is the first of several singles as part of Akurei's next big project. So, look out for the next release, and all of these songs, including "smile ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰" are available to stream now.
Written By Lauren Nolan
FOLLOW AKUREI:
*Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article.