Hailing from Seattle with Japanese roots and musical prowess, UMI has released a new single entitled, “happy im”. I was digging into the depths of newly released music and felt like I was wandering hopelessly. I went from song to song, listening to each multiple times without getting an ounce of motivation to write about any of them. That all changed when UMI’s “happy im” entered the rotation. My ears were immediately captured when the layered acoustic guitars and lo-fi drums seemed to pour out of my speakers. I leaned forward in my chair, beyond intrigued. If nothing else, I knew this song had stellar production. And then UMI started her first verse. With a bright and warm voice with such a soothing timbre, UMI sings about the distinction between running from and accepting love. The moment you make the choice to stop running and allow yourself to be happy. In an interview with Numero, UMI described this type of love and happiness as, “the type that can be felt in many ways; love for a dream, family, career, a place, or a person. I wrote this song to remind myself, and those who listen, that it’s okay to be happy.”

“happy im” is joyful, blissful, and lush. It’s well-textured and filled to the brim with soul-soothing sounds that comfort the ears and console the heart. The first verse works as an apology to the love that the speaker has run away from in the past. She has come to a point of realization about herself and her journey and she attempts to mend the bridge between herself and the love that she denied. This flows into the pre-hook in which, through a great garden metaphor, she tells this ‘past love’ that she’s worked on herself in a way that she’s finally ready to let that love in and tend to it, whenever it's ready. Just when you thought the track couldn’t become more beautiful and charming, UMI delivers one of the most gorgeous and alluring hooks I’ve heard in a very long time. The vocal layering, falsettos, harmonies, and sweet lyrics all coalesce into a truly glistening chorus. Following a brief instrumental break, the second verse starts. After the opening line, “I just gotta say from my heart,” she proceeds to sing most of the remaining verse in Japanese. UMI was born to an African American father and a Japanese mother who taught her to read, write, and speak Japanese at a young age. With that in mind, it makes this verse all the more special, alluding that the Japanese tongue is her vessel for vulnerability. Her mother is her heart. Man, this song is so good. I took two years of Japanese in college and I did my best to follow the lyrics but I had to cave and use some internet assistance. In this verse, UMI (which means ‘ocean’ in Japanese) asserts that she finally sees that she can be happy with this love. These lines are my favorite, “きみのそばなら / やっと寝れるは /この空の下で” which I believe translates to, “If it's by your side / I can finally sleep / under this sky.” This song is so unbelievably sweet. 

I had never heard of UMI before “happy im”. I can already tell I’m obsessed with the song and its message of accepting the happiness we run away from. The music itself is endearing and the lyrical content is inspiring. I cannot wait to explore UMI’s discography and I recommend you do too. “happy im” is available everywhere.

Author: Jordan

Jordan Wisniewski is a passionate writer and Hip-Hop artist from North Carolina, US.