You can see the personality embodied in AV Super Sunshine’s latest single “Smile” when you view the song’s video. He is quirky, boundlessly creative, life affirming, and obviously harbors deep emotions that the straight forward lyrical content for the song only scratches the surface of. The video doesn’t tell any sort of story, per se, but rather connects with listeners through its imagery, the jump cuts, Philomena’s warm and playful smile, and the glimpses of AV Super Sunshine and his collaborators working to thread their footage into the finished product we are viewing in that moment. It’s an intensely personal video in some ways, but completely accessible and an excellent visual introduction to Sunshine for any newcomers to his art.
He has the habit of releasing new material in multiple mixes and “Smile” follows that trend. The first version, what I will call the radio mix, is the more traditional of the two versions he offers listeners here due to the presence of guitar and the emphasis he places on a vocal presentation that will have mainstream appeal. His likable and warm voice invites you to listen ever more closely to his words as the song progresses and the backing vocals supporting him bring a little extra sugar to the performance certain to aid winning listeners over. The guitar playing has an exquisite touch and he thankfully never buries it in the mix, but it likewise never attempts to compete with the electronic music around it. He achieves an singular musical synthesis with this nearly four minute long version and listeners will likely return to it many times to enjoy its merits.
OFFICIAL “SMILE” VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOBFksTi59E
The Wisconsin born songwriter/musician serves up a thoroughly modern house remix of the song in its second version. Both young and older alike will enjoy the energetic physicality he brings to bear with the remix, but many will wonder if it isn’t a little too long for its own good at almost six minutes. He is steering this song towards very different desired results than what we experience with the radio mix, but shaving a minute from its duration might make for an even more focused listening experience. Producer Michael Bradford does an exceptional job recasting his vocal for the house remix, however, and it never bores you despite its length.
These two versions of “Smile” underscore yet again why AV Super Sunshine has managed to amass such a large grassroots following over the Internet that continues to grow with each new offering. He is unafraid to take chances, marries outstanding musical instincts with a sharp visual sense, and works with the best collaborators he can find to help realize his artistic ambitions. There’s no coasting with this song. It has some of the aspects of a love song, but he directs it to us all as well and its positive message is something we need to hear during this time in history. Long may AV Super Sunshine continue to make music and bear his heart to us all.
Troy Johnston