Kirrilee's "Happy"

By Bethany M

After her most recent single, "Janelle," Australian-based artist Kirrilee is back for more. On May 29th, she released her newest single, "Happy," to explore the emotions of walking away from something you used to love, especially aimed towards artists and musicians. She states, "I wanted it to sound like the feeling of leaving someone or something you love behind."

Kirrilee got the inspiration for this track after her dearest friend decided to leave music after over a decade, not only leaving behind the past but also the future. "I'd always assumed we'd be doing music until we were 99 years old," Kirrilee Mentioned. "One day, he told me he quit. The passion just wasn't enough anymore. After he told me, I went and sat under a tree at the park and cried a little. I just felt so much sadness for the loss of his passion, and also the loss of that fun and perhaps naïve little vision. Under that tree—that's where I wrote the chorus." Ultimately, this track, which everyone can relate to in some form or another, is sadly common for many people.

"Happy" features softer beats and visuals compared to her previous releases, to make the listener think of it as a heartbreak rather than just giving up on their dreams. Kirrilee wrote it as a love letter to artists who are doubting their journey, burnt out, and having thoughts to just give u,p to show them the emotional drain that choice can have on someone.

Similar to the last single, "Janelle," released earlier this year, the album visuals are soft and pleasing, which matches the overall atmosphere of the track. Kirrilee's main objective is to immerse listeners in her world, and she does this by taking charge of her own creative direction and visuals behind the release.

Kirrilee should be on everyone's 2026 radar. Not only have her tracks been making rounds on Australian and international radio, but she has grown immensely in streams and artistically as a musician. If you enjoy upbeat pop, queer music, and storytelling, make sure to stream "Happy" and Kirrilee's previous releases now.