Everybody loves a comeback story, and it’s hard to imagine how you couldn’t be rejoicing for the return of Ta-ku. The Australian producer re-enters the music arena right where he left off, dropping off a song you need to know for the summer. “SMILE,” which features vocals from Xavier Omar, DAISY WORLD and ROMderful, twinkles in your headphones, a shot of dopamine in the perfect dosage. The track is a tall glass of room-temperature water, soothing and irresistible to no end. The music video for “SMILE” matches the music in its bright color palette, with Ta-ku finding the joys in his everyday activities using the song as a perfect soundtrack to liven up the mundanities we experience daily. When listening to “SMILE,” joy feels natural, never out of reach and ultimately inevitable.
This sentiment is one that will permeate Ta-ku’s upcoming album, Songs To Come Home To. The project will conclude his album series on a warm note, having been preceded by Songs To Break Up To and Songs To Make Up To. Ta-ku’s effervescent production will be flavored by an impressive list of collaborators, with Questlove, JMSN, Jay Prince, Sango, and more set to be featured on STCHT.
According to Ta-ku, this first single is an indication of what is to come. "'SMILE’ really sets the tone for my debut album,” the artist said in a press release. He goes on to describe the body of work as a “celebration and testament to the power of creative collaboration with artists I have admired for a long time. It’s a reminder of finding joy, happiness & safety in the small things that we may take for granted. This first single pays homage to where I’ve come from, where I am & where I’m going. Creativity, community, and the start to the Songs To Come Home To world..No matter who we are, where we are in life or thought we’d be in life. Do things that make you smile. Do it with the people who make you smile.”