BETWEEN FRIENDS Captures the Nostalgic Joy of Summer in “Smiley”
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 âBruise,â the Teezo Touchdown-assisted âRedlight,â and âWhatâs Up,â the brother and sister duo return with âSmiley,â an effervescent indie pop romp that tastes like childhood nostalgia and watching fireworks fizzle out in the night sky.
âI really wanna tell you this / Youâre like a song I canât resist / I canât believe youâre just for me,â 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 FRIENDSâ infectious knack for light-as-a-feather indie pop.
As Savannahâs 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 âSmiley,â a single almost designed to put a smile on your face, a track meant to soundtrack cartwheels through sprawling fields, lazing around in your friendâs apartment, and the joy of whatâs to come.
The single also arrives alongside a music video that captures the songâs 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 âSmileyâ video below: