Aesthetic Perfection - Happy Face (feat. Sebastian Svalland) (Official Audio)

“I put on a happy face, cuz no one likes misery.”
On June 4th, the sixth installment of my 12 songs in 12 months project enters the world. Created in the tradition of the beloved European “Summer Hit” the upbeat, uplifting pop music serves as a mask that hides the dark and sinister tone bubbling underneath. It is a squeaky clean ode to misery, that honestly depicts my lifelong battle with depression.
For this single, I’ve again enlisted the guitar talents of Sebastian Svalland (ex-LINDEMANN, PAIN & Letters from the Colony), and teamed up with Jeremy Dawson (Shiny Toy Guns, MXMS) to create a special rendition of the title track. The “Sad Face” version musically reflects the dour emotional tone of the lyrics. It is not a remix, it is a complete reimagining of the song from the ground up.
This Summer, let’s all put on our Happy Faces.
▶ INSTAGRAM: / iamdanielgraves
▶ OFFICIAL WEBSITE: aesthetic-perfection.net
▶ MERCH: store.aesthetic-perfection.net
▶ PATREON: / danielgraves
Guess what?
I’m fucked
Living my life like I know what’s up
It’s straight up
Made up
Facade is about to fall
Serotonin
Serotonin
Hit me hard
Cuz I’m feelin’ nothin'
Can’t stop
Til I drop
I know I’m
I’m killing myself tonight
So I put on a happy face
And tell the world I’m okay
So I put on a happy face
This sugar is saccharine
So I put on a happy face
I smile and lie through my teeth
So I put on a happy face
Cuz no one likes misery
Gone on
Too long
Fakin my way
’til I hit the top
It’s gone
All wrong
Why don’t I stop the fall?

[@razrhiannaspiers8506]

I think that if a song gets cats and skeletons to dance along, it’s an awesome song! 😉🙂

[@ricardoponce1845]

My mood since I became a functional adult:

[@SplitCerebro]

I heard people talking down on this song... wtf is wrong with this song? This hits fkn home. Good shit all around.

[@lilpixieDonna]

They probably didn't listen to the lyrics, oh well... hope they dont ever need to get in my car they will be listening to it nonstop 🤷‍♀️ lol

[@SplitCerebro]

@@lilpixieDonna I played this song at least twice a day. The lyrics and beat make a good combination. If people around me don't like it, oh well.

[@SaguraXSousuke]

You guys need to smile

[@tyredrop]

Just wow. Not what I expected at all, and yet still amazing. This song hits so close to home. One of the few good things about wearing a mask in public for the last year was not having to put on a fake smile.

[@nemesisurvivorleon]

underrated comment... wearing a mask was refreshing for me being antisocial x.x

[@jeslynn1144]

I was quite lost when they dropped mask mandates. Still am...while the reason wasn’t great WHY we had to keep distance, I had one of the happiest years I’ve had in a long time. They say the social became depressed and the introvert gained some happiness. I believe that. I still wear the mask time to time at work. Some people are still doing it. Or ill have it wrapped on my arm. Definitely gives me comfort. So i agree with this comment and comment ^ all the way.

[@MsMindself666]

I wasnt expecting that poppy sound at all but I love the contrast with the dark lyrics. Another amazing song! Great job Graves!

[@horrel412]

Agreed like 100 % ! This song is really a huge one !!! Loving it so much !

[@blinkth3dog]

Daniel should tour with Poppy!

[@BFGalbraith74]

"No one likes misery..." except for industrial fans... especially fans of this one act called Aesthetic Perfection... this is an amazing song!

[@nerobaal6655]

We were sitting here waiting and realized its like six days away. That image is probably burned into my retinas at this point.

[@izzygothic6028]

Dancing cats and skellys.... 10\10

[@xlisseulenherzx]

Gives me kinda pop-punk vibes and I really like how you arranged the song completely differently than your other songs. Great!

[@shawnboogher6408]

When I heard this I knew shit was going down.but also in my world it came out at the right time as well

[@seanmurphy2582]

My daughter & I love this song, It's part of our morning routine

[@trentmorrison6074]

This feels like a song that would fit in a kickass movie like it works perfectly. Idk what type of scene but it feels like it fits perfectly.

[@nemesisurvivorleon]

oooooohhh. hope someone licenses it out for that!

[@saturnalia91]

I could see it as a music video with Amazon's "The Boys" maybe. 🤔

[@emeraldend9231]

Pretty great birthday surprise for me lol, hard to believe people have a problem with this song.

[@steveblake3141]

Never know what to expect, except that the track will be awesome and totally relatable

[@rannythekid5464]

Thanks, I felt exactly like „Happy Face“ since the beginning of 2020...

[@cmilos]

Since you get some (I think) childish feedback on this song I thought I'd share something a little more positive. Was taking my 3.5 year old out in the car this morning and she asked me to play some music. My phone automatically continues playing whatever I was listening to on the car before which happened to be LAX. Since mommy's music taste leans more toward elevator music I picked up my phone to change it. The little one figured out what I was doing and I from the back seat I hear "No pappa I like this one." Then I see her singing along to the chorus later on. I love how children have an unprejudiced taste in music and want to listen to what they like rather than what's considered acceptable :) Keep doing what you love, there's no point in producing music that isn't from your heart!

[@tevildech5497]

I think this neatly kinda shows that everyone generally goes through the same "idea" of masking, and its all about how we act around it and how we live it. I love it, as always.

[@SirBain]

I don't know how you do it but every new song keeps surprising me

[@ClosetoHumanMusic]

I like to mix it up!!!

[@PyrettaBlaze]

Still an underrated banger. Maybe I’m relating more lately because my ADHD has been overstimulated and overwhelmed for the past 4mo? It’s not depression, but mirrors it enough that I relate and want to chase all the serotonin and dopamine while simultaneously wanting to curl up in a ball and sleep life away like a cat. I’ve been working on it, and now that there is a light at the end of the tunnel listening to Happy Face is just fueling my positivity and I know I’ll get through this saccharine phase and my real smile will return as soon as I can slide out from under this knife…IYKYK. 💜🖤😸🔪

[@Jane_Sevigne]

Oh how cute the dancing cats are! 😍

[@noisekittendesigns6363]

When this song was released I was watching my father slowly die. It took me a while to revisit it for obvious reasons. The song was me everyday so no one knew how screwed up I was. I see it now and it's still me but at least I have the comfort of knowing I'm not alone. All these comments help. Daniel, you're music has helped me through alot. Thank you for making honest music.

[@AlejandroGomez-lv2sw]

I love how lyrics sounds so optimistic yet the beat and the guitars are so raw and mysterious. Wonderful job, Daniel. Simply beautiful.

[@ClosetoHumanMusic]

It's kind of intended to be the opposite, but okay! 🙃

[@AlejandroGomez-lv2sw]

@@ClosetoHumanMusic hahaha my bad

[@ThirdRealm]

I like pretending the cats are singing the vocoder parts

[@shadowman1201]

I think I found my new addiction

[@shadowman1201]

Holy shit, thank you so much for the ♥️ man, I’ve been listening to your stuff for a few years now, and it always made me feel like I could finally break the cage instead of just reaching my fingers through the bars

[@cmhenriquez]

It gives me some Good Charlotte vibes.

[@StefaniScheck]

I thought the same thing! One of his songs from the Into The Black album also gave me some GC vibes. (I was huuuuuuge GC fan for quite a while)

[@lenavictoriastrandberg7581]

Right Now I am smiling for real

[@IndieTimmie]

I knew when you were explaining this song it was gonna be a good one, I had no idea though. Beautifully relatable song.

[@melanieraeven7366]

💕. Definitely relatable. Lyrics hit harder with the beat being upbeat too. The dichotomy

[@lumiblue5314]

I love this song!

[@reallusionful]

Digging this new sound! Must be one of my favorite since "the album everyone mentions".

[@caseytaylor8425]

Been throwing this one on a LOT since dealing with an abusive divorce and custody battle. Happy face for the judges and the doctors. But I'm broken. I miss my kids. Every day I wake up forced to fake it. I do it for them. I miss them.

[@jeremyfrost2636]

Hope things are better for you now.

[@peterklaus2784]

Thanks now I cant sleep cause the Song is Stuck in my head

[@ClosetoHumanMusic]

I'm also trying to go to bed but I'm so amped from the release it's hard to relax! 😂

[@lordslongo1775]

@@ClosetoHumanMusic Sleep is overrated anyway.

[@llilium]

Daniel, you are a beautiful man. your lyrics are astonishing, your music is timeless. I dont know why but while typing this comment the urge to beg you to cover "touched" by vast crossed my mind. i havent heard that song in years *searches*

[@Xisk77]

Industrial pop is so my jam.

[@egdeekim8670]

I love this! I am a newer listener of your music and have enjoyed all of it so far. I am schizo-affected with bi-polar/major depression and agoraphobic...among a few other things...and the only way I can greet most people is with a happy face just so I don't have to put up with the "just snap out of it" or "go for a walk" remedies everyone is quick to disperse. Thank you for making this and sharing this!

[@Hexx_Iztenze]

As someone who struggles with mental health, thank you for this. Lyrics are amazing and honestly I love the song musically too. It is very very relatable for me.

[@joandc.gonzales9913]

Much much love to you ❤❤❤

[@Weltenkinder]

Wait for the Remix, too🗣🎹🗾

[@feroluceapblackrose9514]

I only stumbled across your music a few years ago, but in the time since, you've become one of my go-to artists when I need some spark to carry me through the day. The music is phenomenal, the artistic direction in each album and video, it all makes me soar, but what hooked me is you, Graves. A real person who cares about your fan base and who understands how hard it is to put on a smile just to survive another day. I wish I'd found Aesthetic Perfection back in the day when I was an awkward kid struggling to find the motivation to even exist. But finding your music now, it's helped heal some wounds and brought a little much needed peace in hard times. Thank you for that, and never stop being the amazing artist that you are.

[@AlanDD]

The contrast is just wow!

[@boATgeeSTUDIOS]

First few lines and I'm already loving it!

[@ghost_the_system]

Yo, that chorus fucking SLAPS.

[@reaper1d1]

I love everything you do Daniel

[@duanetaylor5818]

Love this song. Can't wait to hear it played live.

[@sonatagil]

hahaha cats dancing is amazing, as the song of course! but the cats.... i'm just dying :')))

[@skaldi8347]

*THIS* is industrial pop! Really, really great and unlike almost anything I've ever heard. Love this direction; experimental, accessible, catchy and cool.

[@nicksGLI]

Still feeling this song hard

[@shawnboogher7647]

Awesome man

[@travisridgeway6986]

You never cease to amaze me, banger after banger with every release. This song hits home so fucking hard with me living with anxiety and depression. Thank you Daniel!

[@peetue]

The one that got me hooked

[@remainselusive1]

3 absolute bangers in a row.

[@alysachapman5859]

I relate to this song so much

[@jessmcintosh1478]

I especially love your songs that I can relate to!

[@shotgungenetics]

I expect more happy songs like this from you.

[@ophelia5990]

Love this track, can't wait for the remix to release, too! 😍

[@chexann1315]

One of my favorite songs of yours already. Love it.

[@nemesisurvivorleon]

Real Talk : Harsh, dancy Electro Industrial will always be my utmost favorite but this song shows your impressive versatility. well done. There's a kind of "background darkness" even in this song. Boy, you're sure pushing into new territory...

[@NurzeryRhymez]

I am absolutely in love with this song, well done! 🖤

[@TheTwitchyRat]

I did not expect to wake up with a personal attack from you. I love the new single

[@samk8231]

Thank you for sharing your life experiences through your music. You are easily one of my favorite artists and I relate a lot to you. Songs like this that you’ve made have helped me a lot on my down days. Ily, keep being you 💜

[@bordom876]

As with most of your songs, this one hits home for me. Your music has gotten me through some of the roughest times of my life. All I have to do is put on one of your songs and a Happy Face and I start to feel better and see a little clearer. Thank you Daniel for all of the wonderful things you do and for helping people with your music. Thank you.

[@ClosetoHumanMusic]

It means the world to me to know that my music is helpful to other people. Hang in there! 🖤🖤🖤

[@konoplays9729]

You continue to make most of my favorite songs this one hits way up there❤❤❤

[@shhwine]

This is the KK Slider collaboration I've been waiting for!

[@marydeathbundy5688]

so good again!!!!

[@kasiaj963]

LOVE THIS, I have listened to you since the very first album and I love how you keep surprising us

[@Darth_Bane78]

Another killer song!

[@kimkautz]

I needed this song right now.

[@Xibalba022]

Keep this energy high !!

[@ClosetoHumanMusic]

All day every day!

[@tylerrou]

Very well done, good to hear you always venturing out with your sound. You did it very successfully here!

[@roddyoneill336]

Wow. Just realised the rhythm that comes in near the end is the same as the main one from 'Save Myself.' Love the concept album level of progression. You've done something amazing here.

[@stuartthompson8134]

Just incredible 😍

[@XplayeroneX]

Yep, awesome. I'm not sure whatelse to say that hasn't been posted other than I needed to hear this for the first time right now so thank you.

[@hawleybean9927]

Hi Daniel, first time commenter but long time listener! Your music and art style are amazing and I hope to see you live sometime! I live in VT but if I see you live in MA or RI, I will totally travel to see a show. Keep doing your own thing!

[@richardsmith1122]

I love that no matter what you create I love

[@aleksandarradovanovic8496]

Wow, this is, like, the popiest pop that you've ever poped !!! It's great 🖤

[@MsMindself666]

As someone who lives with chronic pain, it really hits home. But i love it!

[@iasmina4922]

That's cool!

[@wolfforce58205]

Not what I expected from your channel, but honestly I love this song. It slaps! Really great to blast on my way home from work, haha.

[@ClosetoHumanMusic]

I like to mix it up!

[@anisticcrafts]

Hey Daniel, I love everything about this song, I've been playing it on repeat for hours now and still can't seem to get enough of it! Thank you for creating such relatable and simply amazing songs for us! Proud to be a Patrion member!

[@SqueekieVonSnuggle]

Can relate. Great work on this one Daniel. I find that the way the public processes the hideousness of existence and the human condition most easily is through content that has a surface of lightheartedness to sugar coat it. The dark truth is that art is the trauma lubricant of humanity, its what makes the pain bearable. Keep dancing through the bullets

[@kittybang]

This is amazing!!! ... feels like my life 🖤 .. you really pushed a boundary like a true artist! Proud of you!!! This needs to be on radios!!! 😻

[@Jeseabell]

There was a time I couldn't stand the question "how are you?" Seems innocent enough but I knew people didn't want to hear the truth so I had to say everything was good. Even though most people knew that was not even close to true. My mother has said since then she was waiting for a call that I had killed myself. No one in my family ever expressed concern and I say this cause hey it probably wouldn't of ment much to me at the time but would of ment the world to me looking back. If you care about someone let them know and check in on them and know it's OK to not be OK.

[@saturnalia91]

That's why I hate that question so much. People expect you to say "I'm good" or "I'm fine", but if they get a different answer they just pretend like you said nothing. 😅 Or they just annoy you with unneeded sympathy.

[@Sendie64]

@@saturnalia91 True! In my case, when I finally said something one of them just didn’t respond (although I had been trying to encourage her when she felt like shit a few days prior) and the other kept talking like I hadn’t said anything. Oof 😣

[@TheAnxiousAardvark]

@@saturnalia91 Or they say "I was just asking to be polite, I don't really want to know."

[@marydeathbundy5688]

hey???anyway this song hits me at that level of "yeah i know that feeling"ya know what i mean?i get happy when i watch kitty videos.....

[@wolf_z1335]

LOVE your music!!! this is SO different yet still so AMAZING!!!

[@sebastianostlund6835]

Love your stuff, man.

[@nicholaslipisano9297]

This song sums up living with chronic illness. Excellently.

[@Astran0th]

Great song!

[@marydeathbundy5688]

why do people crave validation?love you danny!keep it up!your fans need you....

[@firenx437]

Dude, catchy!

[@senpai.]

Amazing song!. I'm so glad to have found your music earlier this year and had the pleasure of getting a single every month. This one hits differently though. To anyone wearing that face, you're not alone

[@mavericksmith7050]

Thank you. In a kinda fucked up way, it’s comforting to know I not the only one. 🖤

[@RogueGeekAgent]

This needs more cats. 😉 Brilliant work, sir! 🖤

[@thomasjohnson3142]

Obsessed with this song 🎵 🎶 😁

[@MsSjh666]

Dancing kitties!!!

[@anionutube]

Great jam. Love almost everything you do, Genius!

[@m__zombi]

Amazing song man, as usual. And I can definitely relate to this one on a really deep level.

[@clintkees6158]

Definitely a different song lol. As one who has been battling it since I was four years old keep up the good fight good sir. None of us are alone in this battle

[@SnoopyOrb]

I love this so much, can't stop playing it this morning 😍

[@antoniomoreira5712]

Thanks, Daniel! Another fantastic song! My ears are grateful!

[@kristykandiko9401]

Love it! It gave me a genuine happy face 😊

[@bgraff5834]

I love this! Definitely gives me poppy vibes from a few years ago and that’s a good thing! SO glad I came across your music because it’s right up my alley :)

[@jeremyfrost2636]

An Aesthetic Perfection/Poppy concert would be fucking AMAZING.