V.V. Lightbody - Practice Smiling [Video]

I still remember the strange feeling of going out among other people again after spending months at home during the pandemic. On “Practice Smiling,” Chicago musician V.V. Lightbody tells her version of that story. The lighter-than-air, jazzy music adds another dimension, capturing the exhilaration of feeling free again—and perhaps some of the unease, too. V.V. recalls:

I started writing this song when I went to my first rock show in Chicago after things had opened back up in 2021. Everyone was remembering how to be together in a room again – it was exhilarating and stressful. Does my smile look okay? How do I order a drink? I felt stiff, but eager to settle in. I danced with abandon after the show and ended up throwing out my back when I took off my sweater.

She adds:

This song also touches on a frustration I have with the current state of live music, where getting people to leave the comfort of their home and come to a show feels like an increasingly difficult task.

“Practice Smiling” is the second single of V.V. Lightbody’s upcoming album Period Piece, out on October 9 via Egghunt Records. Listen to our Song Pick of the Day on Apple Music or Spotify, and don’t miss the video where V.V. shows how versatile a flute can be. Get one carefully chosen song like this in your inbox every day.

Listen to all our Song Pick of the Day features on our glamglarepick playlist on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube.