Smackables (EP)

## ***Smackables***

* EP
* Deluxe

## **Singles from *Smackables***

1. "Stars"
Released: January 22, 2021
2. "Lonely"
Released: February 19, 2021

***Smackables*** is the fourth extended play by PrettyMuch, released through Sire Records on January 29, 2021. They considered it to be a record where they had more creative freedom. The deluxe edition was released a month later on February 26, 2021. Ivy Sandoval of Beyond the Stage Magazine wrote, "The EP has that unique PRETTYMUCH pop sound but redeveloped into a more mature sound with powerful production, striking lyrics, groovy beats and impeccable harmonies that establishes the bands growth."

PrettyMuch said in a statement, "We are super excited to show the world how hard we have been working, not only on ourselves, but on the new music that is to come. We decided we needed a full reset to re-evaluate our goals and what success looks like to us. We are producing and writing all this music from a real and mature place and authenticity is driving the ship. We owe it to the fans for waiting this long, but now the wait is over and well worth it!"

## Background

After the dissolution of Syco Music in July 2020, the band was newly signed to Sire Records. In December 2020, they announced 'PRETTYMUCH 2.0', with "new label. new music. new everything," the era launching in 2021. Austin Porter revealed to *ET Canada*, "We're going to have the soulful ballads, we're going to have the songs that you throw on at a party. The kind of songs that you just want to dance to and you can't help but fidget in the car. It's just going to be exactly what we envisioned when we first got together as a group... it's going to be all [the concepts] that we originally came up with. Like, so unconditionally ourselves but just super next level." Brandon Arreaga added onto this, "I want us to be the anomaly. Like, the anti-boy band. We do all the things that aren't supposed to work, but they work because it's authentic, it's undeniable. It's like we're doing our best and we're having fun, that's what matters."

The lead single from the EP, "Stars," was released on January 22, 2021. Nick Mara explained the track "showcases the change in us completely, from start to finish." The song "Lonely" and its music video was dropped on February 19, 2021; seven days before the release of the EP's deluxe version. They shared, "During quarantine it was hard not to feel lonely. We've also had our fair share of lonely moments outside of the pandemic, so we felt a strong pull to be a part of creating something so many people can relate to especially in a time like this, in hopes of uniting our community and feeling a little less lonely, together."

In an official statement, the band said, "We're so excited to finally release *Smackables* (Deluxe). We've worked hard on this project, down to the writing, the production, and even the music video treatments with the intention of creating a new lane for ourselves and setting a foundation for what's to come in the future. So get ready because this is only the beginning!" In celebration, the group hosted a virtual listening party over the livestreaming platform, Moment House, on March 4th.

## Compositon

The EP was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic in their home studios. Porter told *People*, "When we did everything before, there was definitely some of us in there. Our emotions, our stories, our life, there was a little bit of us in there. But I feel like now, everything that's coming out is almost 90 to 100% us. We're fully believing in everything we're putting out. We're proving ourselves wrong—I can't speak for everyone, but I know I doubted it for a little bit at some points. And when you take so many shots and you keep missing, it's like, 'Am I ever going to make one?'" Arreaga informed the American magazine *GQ*, "We had to go back to basics. We had to reflect. Like, *Wow, I can't believe we did that*. But also, *I can't believe what we're about to do. How do we get there?*" In an exclusive interview with *J-14*, they reported, "We wanted to show the world that we have matured since our first initial release and we didn't wanna ease into it either. Sometimes you just gotta take control of the wheel and that's what we did and will continue to do with these next releases to come." They concluded, "It feels great to know our fans have stuck with us since the last time we released music. It was a much-needed reassessment of the mind. Now that we are back, we just want to flood the world with content and music because we have really been working hard."

## Title and artwork

Behind the title, Edwin Honoret told *GQ*, "What happened was the song was being made, and Brandon asked me what he should name the session. Going back to what Zion's saying, the whole feeling thing, I felt smackable. I just said that word. It came out of nowhere. What I felt was that shit was smacking, and it's so good that I want to eat it. So, *Smackables*." The cover artwork was conceptualized by Arreaga, based off Lunchables.

## Track listing

* Edwin Honoret
* Lucas Kyllo
* Zion Kuwonu
* KYLLO
* Karma Chogyi Marco
* Honoret
* David Pramik
* Honoret
* Gregory Aldae Hein

* Chris Loco
* Corey Sanders
* Honoret
* Peder Losnegård
* Lido
* Honoret
* Malak Watson
* Kuwonu

## References

1. ↑ Sandoval, Ivy (January 29, 2021). "PRETTYMUCH Drop New Elevated Smackables EP". *Beyond the Stage Magazine*.
2. ↑ Foong, Claudia (January 22, 2021). "PRETTYMCUH Embark on New Era with Infectious Track "Stars"".
3. ↑ Cirisano, Tatiana (December 3, 2021). "Sire Records Signs PRETTYMUCH Following Syco Music Closure: Exclusive". *Billboard*.
4. ↑ "@PRETTYMUCH". *Twitter*. December 3, 2020.
5. ↑ "PRETTYMUCH 2.0". *YouTube*. December 3, 2020.
6. ↑ Behar, Deidre (December 3, 2020). "PRETTYMUCH on Their New Era, Austin's Son and Writing Music About Being in Love (Exclusive)". *ET Canada*.
7. ↑ Rees, Katrina (February 28, 2021). "PRETTYMUCH unveil deluxe edition of 'Smackables' EP". *CelebMix*.
8. ↑ Mier, Tomás (January 22, 2021). "PRETTYMUCH Isn't Here to Be Your Typical Boy Band — We're 'Not Afraid to Take Risks'". *People*.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Armstrong, Megan (January 29, 2021). "PrettyMuch Wants to Be the Anti-Boy Band". *GQ*.
10. ↑ Stivale, Shelby (February 19, 2021). "PRETTYMUCH Gets Real About Their Musical Evolution Following 'Smackables' EP Release". *J-14*.