Richard Green – Smiles (2024)
Singer-songwriter Richard Green made our acquaintance (or rather reached our ears) a couple of years ago with his EP A journey and, well, we loved every second of the critically acclaimed EP. Skip ahead a couple of years and, unfortunately and ashamedly, we haven’t taken time out to listen to and appreciate Green’s music. Trained as a guitarist and composer, his music spans the realm of classical orchestral tunes to vintage jazz, blues and contemporary dance/electronic pop. Eclectic, experimental and entirely genre-diverse, UK-based Green’s music is far from pedestrian, and an international audience will agree when I say it is astounding.
Following the well-received EP The Circle Closes, Richard Green released his single ‘Smiles’. Joined by pianist Irene Veneziano and the Archimia String Quartet, The Circle Closes offers a strong classical style but with slices of alternative avant-garde exploring in the cinematic soundscape. ‘Smiles’, however, has Green shift gears from classical orchestra to a funk-filled symphony of groovy beats and chilled-out vibes.
Produced across the UK and Italy, the cross-European single ‘Smiles’ brings together a bassline recorded in the UK to guitars and drums at Italy’s Studio Elfo. Mixed and mastered in Italy, the composition which began in London went jet-setting and finally reached international ears as a sophisticated studio track. Interestingly, while the track’s arrangement and confidence are mature in its composition, a youthful innocence leaps out with exuberant delight.
As an instrumental piece, a bold vocal cannot reach around your heart and connect through poetic lyricism; however, ‘Smiles’ effortlessly resonates with its rollercoaster of sound and emotions. Happy-go-lucky from the outset, ‘Smiles’ has a toe-tapping ambience literally plastering smiles on your face. The thing is, while a jovial flood of raw happiness, slivers of vulnerability and introspection linger in the song. Green explains:
“It was a particular period of my life when I composed this tune. I was coming out of a difficult time where I was isolating myself and this track represents my rebirth from that time; a way to remember and to appreciate good times and people and smile at life because, in the end, we all have ugly and very bad moments… the smiles of joy and happiness is what we’ll remember at the end of our days.”
Find out more about Richard Green on his Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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