Introduced by the funkiest guitar riff, ‘Smoke’ slowly develops into a true dance-pop anthem, a Dua Lipa-flavoured cut that feels both nostalgic and contemporary. Unexpectedly, such aural goodness doesn’t emerge from an exuberant twenty-something; instead, it stems from the expert and wisdom-filled work of talented Toronto musicians and songwriter Henry Lees. Delving into a nuanced yet empowering reflection on the modern dating landscape, ‘Smoke’ approaches a complex subject matter with commanding playfulness, guided by Henry’s charming, dynamic vocals.
Packed with a catchy and uplifting chorus, ‘Smoke’ has been co-written by Vancouver-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer-on-the-rise Sean Thomas (Debbie Gibson, Joey McIntyre, NKOTB, New Edition). Marking an ongoing collaboration, Lees and Thomas manage to craft an absolute stunner, a piece that sounds incredibly contemporary and urgent, but also meaningful and written with purpose. In that sense, the song takes a starting cue from Henry’s observant allure, as he compares past and present experiences in a variety of romantic relationships.
Delving deeper into ‘Smoke’, Lees explains: “I like to call ‘Smoke’ the bad dream date song… The reality is that it’s tough out there in the modern digital dating world. Connections are made so conveniently on a screen, but then we often discover how tenuous and superficial that connection is in real life.” This is certainly a relatable piece, especially in today’s ever-fractured world.
Recommended! Discover ‘Smoke’ now: