French producer harrry and American rapper ISHMAEL have joined forces in new single, “Butterfly,” an ode to freedom and happiness. With its playful sound and relaxed atmosphere, “Butterfly” is sure to be on repeat for listeners of Bakar and Khruangbin.
Having produced electronic and pop, harrry is no stranger to sampling, and the filtered guitar samples in this song are the backbone for its nonchalant vibe and mood. The effects on the guitar create a better sense of movement and hold most of the energy of the single. The sound is also reminiscent of early 90s hip-hop and soul, which only adds to the song’s happy nostalgia. Creating rhythm is the quick hi-hat beat and large bass line. Having a drum rhythm with a sharper sound makes a good contrast against the free-flowing guitars and gives room for the vocals to sit in the middle of this space. A raw bass line also offers a more grounded melody against the guitars and vocals of ISHMAEL. This instrumentation feels calm yet playful, supporting ISHMAEL’s ode to life in his verses.
The flow of the rap in this song is pretty loose, which complements “Butterfly”‘s tone, yet still falls forward enough to keep a fast pace. Additionally, the lyrics don’t try to hide the song’s message, with each line oozing with optimism for life. In the first verse, ISHMAEL states, “I try to wake up glad everyday cause everyday is a day to roll the dice.” These cliches are scattered across the song and may seem cheesy if it weren’t for the fun melodies. The lyrics of this song aren’t too complicated, but this only adds to the easygoing mood of the single.
“Butterfly” prepares itself for the upcoming sun of summer with some relaxed verses accompanied by some untroubled instrumentation. The collaboration between harrry and ISHMAEL is something you’ll want to be listening to every morning and is available now wherever you find your music.
Follow harrry: Spotify // Bandcamp // Instagram // TikTok
Follow ISHMAEL: Spotify // Instagram
