Audren opens with the idea that smiling makes you feel good. It sparks endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, which her single “Smile, People Smile” embodies. Penned after months of setbacks and a direct pep talk to herself, the song is a highlight from her album Think Freedom, a comeback framed by recovery from Lyme disease and a career that stretches from gaming soundtracks to bestselling books. Audren’s musical family, producer Chris Rime, and daughters Sydney and Jemily Rime, help stitch warmth and craft into every bar.
Right off the bat, the arrangement grabs you with thumping beats, sparkling cymbals, and vibrant guitars locking with punchy horns that nod to Young Gun Silver Fox and Donald Fagen. Audren’s voice is irresistibly rich and sultry, as she sings with her voice fluidly wavering from the breathy highs to the smoky lows a smoky, breathy. In one such intriguing line, she sings, “You are not fully dressed until you wear a smile.” The rhythm section and keys keep a cool 90s indie-R&B groove going while backup harmonies lift the chorus into joyful territory. A blues guitar solo adds humanity, and the production keeps things polished without losing the basement-studio intimacy that makes the track feel authentic.
With clever staging, the ambient chatter in the mix, with laughter in the outro, and an overall party-in-progress vibe that welcomes the listener in. Lyrically, it’s simple but sincere, not naïve, just insistently hopeful. Audren and Rime prove you can write pop that heals, as the song is infectious.
If you’re looking for a classy mood lift, “Smile, People Smile” is a no-brainer. Play it loud, turn up the horns, and let it do its little magic. It’s the tune that stays with you, nudging small grins out of the gloomiest afternoons.
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Review by: Naomi Joan