Indie rock artist M.A.G.S. has released the music video for his new single, “Smile.” The track is a post-punk, dream-pop anthem written from the perspective of a person stuck between apathy and an eagerness to change. Stream it exclusively on Afropunk here.
“’Smile’ is written about the intense emotion of a typical lovers quarrel,” elaborates M.A.G.S. “Choosing brutal honesty over tactful bedside manor, apathy over compassion and the undying desire to be in the right in a situation where the biggest thing at stake is each other’s feelings. The push and pull of emotions and the fiery anecdotes that engulf every disagreement eventually collapse into a singular moment of exasperation when you realize you don’t remember what you were even fighting about.” He continues, “‘Smile’ explores the dark, brooding thoughts of one person’s longing to change and trying to find a middle ground between two peoples’ needs.”
M.A.G.S. is Buffalo-bred, Los Angeles-based artist Elliott Douglas. His style is ever shifting between genres ─ from funky garage to minty alt-pop ─ and you never know exactly what to expect. Songs like “Mvp” and “Hi Tops” zig-zag from visceral, gnarly heavy metal to lo-fi folk-rock, respectively; his musicianship is a marvel to witness, each entry building on the last with refreshing acrobatics.
M.A.G.S. released his first solo record in 2015, an EP called Cellophane, and his self-titled debut full-length arrived two years later. With his new batch of music, an EP titled Lost Tapes, dropped earlier this year, Douglas displays marked growth in vocal prowess, overall, musicality and lyrical bite. “Smile,” his most polished work to date, will be featured on M.A.G.S.’ forthcoming sophomore record, tentatively expected spring 2021.