Vai van Vaughan – “Smile”

“Smile” by Vai van Vaughan is a bright, deeply personal track that feels like an honest look into somebody’s heart. He recorded the song straight from his bedroom in Nottinghamshire, it’s the true story of his relationship with his girlfriend Dakota, from the day they met.

The care that has been taken in each layer of the production is evident. He spent eight hours composing it and days fine-tuning the mix, and that dedication pays off. The track has an 80s vibe, with some experimental bedroom pop concepts and catchy melodies. Without a female backing vocalist available, he cleverly used formanted, pitched-up backing vocals stretched to the sides to create an open, expansive soundscape. It adds a floating quality to the music that is appropriate to the romantic mood.

The lyrics paint such a vivid, endearing picture of young love and this is why I love it in the first place. He sings about taking train journeys to go see her, calling her a demon because she always bites his neck, and reading her expressions when she speaks with her eyes. Lines like “this distance is tormenting my heart” and “don’t let me catch you smiling, babe, ’cause I’ll fall for you again” feel completely unmanufactured, and the entire song is about a simple, pure desire to make her happy, and the constant refrain asking to see her glow feels earned and sweet.

The artwork is an ideal fit for this mood. Created by Dakota herself, the painting shows a slightly abstract, red-haired woman wearing a blue off-the-shoulder top against a rich red backdrop.

If you enjoy authentic, independent pop with real personality, you should definitely check out the artist’s previous releases, and be sure to follow Vai van Vaughan to stay updated about new releases for the rest of this year.