Let’s start by taking ‘Until She Smiles’ at face value. There’s a lot of context around it, but it’s worth focusing on the song’s musical qualities. From that perspective, the single is incredibly poignant and meaningful, a slice of evocative ballad-driven goodness guided by the stunning vocals of upcoming star Joely Engelbert. Developing over an elegant, luscious cinematic arrangement, the record embraces a keen mainstream pop flair, yet sporting a nostalgic, timeless livery.
Zooming out, the reader should be aware that ‘Until She Smiles’ was primarily written as a cathartic musical ending to the movie ‘What Tomorrow Brings’, directed by Joely’s father, Matt Engelbert. In truth, it’s a bit of a family affair, with Joely and her sister Phoebe also starring as lead actors. It all makes sense, as Joely in particular is an incredibly talented individual, excelling both in front of the camera and in front of a microphone.
Such fine family accomplishments are not news to the family, who already gained a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Song with ‘Just Keep Swimming’, sung by Phoebe and Joely together. ‘Until She Smiles’ closely related to the plot of ‘What Tomorrow Brings’, as Joely explains: “It holds potential to spark critical conversations about suicide, mental health, and the power of support”.
Recommended! Discover ‘Until She Smiles’ on YouTube:
