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Photo: The Cobrasnake

Summer is here, and BETWEEN FRIENDS is continuing their recent string of singles perfect for a season of why-nots and iridescent flings. Following the release of “Bruise,” the Teezo Touchdown-assisted “Redlight,” and “What’s Up,” the brother and sister duo return with “Smiley,” an effervescent indie pop romp that tastes like childhood nostalgia and watching fireworks fizzle out in the night sky.

“I really wanna tell you this / You’re like a song I can’t resist / I can’t believe you’re just for me,” confesses Savannah in a near-hushed whisper. The opening moment plays out like a best friend grabbing you close and letting you in on a not-so-tightly-held secret. This trade-off of hushed confessionals and passing notes soon bubbles into a playful, effervescent soundscape that makes the most of BETWEEN FRIENDS’ infectious knack for light-as-a-feather indie pop. 

As Savannah’s vocals build into a confident stride, her desire for shared intimacy transforms into a moment to lose yourself in, enveloping the entire song in an oscillating, merry-go-round spin between childlike euphoria and the quiet excitement of uncertain feelings. The result is “Smiley,” a single almost designed to put a smile on your face, a track meant to soundtrack cartwheels through sprawling fields, lazing around in your friend’s apartment, and the joy of what’s to come. 

The single also arrives alongside a music video that captures the song’s innate sense of nostalgic joy, intercutting between footage of listless summer days, temporary tattoos, DDR, and the friends that make each mundane memory take on a golden hue.     

Watch the “Smiley” video below: