This EP was originally released for donations to the mental health charity MIND and raised £120. Thank you to all who contributed.


Paul F Cook and The Happy Somethings release their collaborative single ‘Something Happy’, a 2½ minute slice of positive pop that aims to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

The song is available in three flavours: Original, Acoustic and a Kitchen Disco Mix. The songs are free - they were originally £2.50 for all three which was to raise money for the mental health charity Mind (www.mind.org.uk).


Paul F Cook on ‘Something Happy’: 

When I first heard The Happy Somethings on Neil March’s TrustTheDoc radio show on Exile.FM, I understood why they were so beloved. I too became a fan of their unpolished jibblety pop (their description not mine) joining 6Music’s Tom Robinson who calls them “optimistic jangle fuzz merchants”. There is nothing cynical, post-modern or ironic about their name, and not only do they radiate positive vibes from their music, but they are hugely supportive of new and emerging artists. 

I have been intermittently working on an album of collaborations and the artists I would like to work with, at the same time as hankering after the jangly riffs of my indie band days. Inspired by The Happy Somethings, I speculatively wrote the basic backing track (which included the “Something Happy” line and copious “Ooohs”) and sent it to the Happys. With interest piqued, they jumped in and so began our to-and-fro odyssey of addition, subtraction, mixing, re-mixing and embracing the fun of making something where nothing existed before.

The Happys welcomed everything with open ears, arms and hearts, and exceeded everything I had hoped for the track. ‘Something Happy’ is lo-fi and hi-jinks, it’s upbeat, uplifting and the lyrics are a friendly rhyming arm around the shoulder. I truly think this is something happy.

The Happy Somethings on ‘Something Happy’:

Well, what an exciting experience this has been for us. We were going to say ‘it’s a dream come true’ but we haven’t really got the imagination to dream such a thing. We'd been aware of Mr Cook’s eclectic and excellent musical output for some time and were very impressed with his willingness to embrace multiple and diverse projects.
 
We didn’t however anticipate that he might embrace us - and what a lovely warm hug he gives. From the moment his jangly chimes unexpectedly dropped through our virtual letterbox, Paul has accommodated our lo-fi randomness with abandoness (if there is such a word). He’s positively encouraged us to be ourselves - always a risky thing - and then gently smoothed our edges and straightened our ties.
 
On first hearing Paul’s idea for ‘Something Happy’ we all smiled. There’s nothing like the joy of knowing when something feels right. The immediate excitement of realising another song is about to be born is always a thrill and - without being sure of exactly where we were heading - we gladly joined Paul for this surprising and uplifting musical holiday.
 
We’ve so loved doing this.


Bios:

The Happy Somethings
'The Happys' are an independently unpolished band who like to be happy. Making original Jibblety Pop for pleasure, they try not to take things too seriously. Unintentionally retro.
Twitter: @somehappything | Facebook: @somehappything

Paul F Cook
paulfcook writes, produces & remixes using acoustic and electronic instruments & field recordings. He is a member of the London/Liverpool group Skylon.
Twitter: @paulfcook | Website: csay.co.uk