Back in May, The Main Squeeze keyboardist Ben “Smiley” Silverstein launched a solo project under the name Smile High. While still remaining comitted to the funk rock mission of The Main Squeeze, the Smile High side hustle has allowed Silverstein to pursue some alternate sounds which are on full display in his two previously-released singles “Steady” (featuring Def Sound) and “Yodel Up”. That experimentation continued on Wednesday when Smile High released “Special”, his collaboration with featured Vulfpeck vocalist Antwaun Stanley.

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This latest single is far from Smiley and Stanley’s first run in, as the two began a working relationship back in 2017. The artists first came in contact at Live For Live Music‘s Fools Paradise in St. Augustine, FL on April 1st, 2017 when Stanley sat in with The Main Squeeze for a bumping rendition of “Return Of The Mack”. Then, earlier this year, The Main Squeeze invited Stanley to participate in their uplifitng “With A Little Help From My Friends” cover featuring notable artists from throughout the jam universe.

It was Stanley’s vocal contribution to that cover that kickstarted “Special”, as Smiley used one of Stanley’s vocal runs to make a beat. The keyboardist then sent the beat over to Stanley who responded the same day with an entire song written over the beat. From there, “Special” truly came to life as Stanley headed into the studio to record the bouncy tune. Smiley said the main intention of the song, which also features Main Squeeze guitarist Max Newman, “was to just make people feel good and smile in a time where there’s so much craziness going on.”

Watch a snippet of “Special” set to a mesmirizing video via Smile High’s Instagram, and listen to the full song via the players below.

Smile High – “Special” (ft. Antwaun Stanley)

 

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