Iris Gold – Smile
British-Danish artist Iris Gold returns with ‘Smile’, a psychedelic soul-pop anthem that transforms personal struggle into a global celebration of human resilience. The accompanying music video features smiles from around the world – Jamaica, UK, Denmark, USA, Zimbabwe – creating a collective act of defiance against adversity.
“This video was made with ‘smiles’ from all over the world,” explains Iris. “Fans and friends and talented youths I met in Zimbabwe through my work with a non-profit organisation to help end gender-based violence and child abuse. I have seen smiles and light in the darkest places and I hope this collective smile video can shed some light into the world right now that feels crazy in so many ways.”
The video features Iris’s 89-year-old grandmother, her son, uncles, and Dave Stewart from Eurythmics, creating an intimate family portrait that expands into a universal message. The single’s artwork shows Iris with two middle fingers positioned as a smile – a defiant symbol saying “Fuck you (world), I’m gonna smile anyway.”
Written during family illness and emotional turmoil, ‘Smile’ became Iris’s survival strategy. “It’s not because everything is perfect. It’s because I actively choose to strive to let in joy. For their sake – and for mine.”
The track journeyed from its origins on a Hackney rooftop in a hippie collective to bathroom sessions with towel turbans, creating what Iris describes as “walking barefoot through grass to a festival you built in your own backyard.” With loving nods to Charlie Chaplin and Simon & Garfunkel, the 70s psychedelic sound carries a deeper message about how we measure worth.
“If smiles were worth gold, some of the poorest people would be the richest,” says Iris. “A smile is universal. It knows no borders.”
‘Smile’ follows Iris’s playful ‘André 3k’ single, a dreamy love letter to Outkast’s André 3000 that showcased her bold, unfiltered approach to songwriting. The track, with its unforgettable marriage proposal chorus, demonstrated Iris’s ability to transform personal crushes into universal celebrations of love and individuality.
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