Hiatus Kaiyote Vibe With Relentless Positivity on "Everything's Beautiful"

Hiatus Kaiyote break a three year silence with “Everything’s Beautiful,” a groovy, optimistic, and smile-inducing funk banger.

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Stream: “Everything’s Beautiful” – Hiatus Kaiyote

Do you ever have a day where everything just feels good? Imagine waking up feeling refreshed. The sun has graced you with warmth. Your mind is refreshed and everything seems to align in your favor; it’s a beautiful feeling. Delivering a dose of optimism, the mega-talented Australian neo-soul outfit Hiatus Kaiyote saw fit to imbue pure positivity on their new single “Everything’s Beautiful” (released January 23 on Brainfeeder Records). Finding meaning in all things, the music speaks for itself as Hiatus Kaiyote further hones their artistry while delivering a message many of us need to hear: “Everything is beautiful.”

Forming in 2011, it did not take long for the Australian band to make an impression on the music world. Their trademark brand of Neo soul, self described as – wait for it – “multidimensional, polyrhythmic gangster shit” is perhaps the best, and raddest description for the quartet’s music. The group has since found success through creating a myriad of creative, lush soundscapes with their unmatched talent and musicianship.

2015’s incredible Choose Your Weapon stands as the band’s decadent take on all things funk, soul, jazz, and R&B. Nearly every track is performed with mind-boggling precision, detail, and expression which quickly garnered the attention of musicians everywhere. Artists the likes of Drake and Kendrick Lamar showed appreciation for the band through samples heard on their major 2017 releases More Life and DAMN., respectively; further solidifying Hiatus Kaiyote’s identity as your favorite musician’s favorite musician.

2021 saw the incredibly anticipated comeback from the band with Mood Valiant, which proved the group had not lost a speck of skill or creativity in their 6 year absence. “Everything’s Beautiful” comes after another – albeit shorter – hiatus, finding the band breaking the silence as they excitingly usher in a new era for their music.

I was walking down on my way
I was fine, fine
I was fine, fine
The sun kissing on my face
I was fine, fine
I was fine, fine

Didn’t you notice?
Don’t you know, love?
Don’t you know everything’s beautiful?

The positivity of this song is relentless. Crisp, energizing hi-hat and a thick bass line lay down a tight as nails triple time groove which is sure to get your head bobbing. The funk synth passage sounds light and playful, perfectly encapsulating a feel-good vibe. Vocalist Nai Palm’s squeezes expression out of every note, her gruff “ooh” and “ah” ad libs sounding fun and energizing.

The song continues to ride out, almost sounding like a jam session as more and more instrumentation is subtly layered to the mix. The woodwind counterlines are colorful and relaxing, the double-tongued flute solo adding an electric contrast to the funk groove. Nai Palm is feeling herself, the repeated falsetto “I was fine” decorates the groove with a James Brown-esque flair. The last leg of the track bumps up in energy with massive, colorful splashes of sound adorn the mix. Nai Palm revels in the repeated hook, sending the listener off with a warm sense of reassurance that “Everything’s beautiful.”

I was singing through my headphones
I was fine, I was fine
I am free from harms way, yeah
I was fine, I was fine, fine

Didn’t you notice?
Don’t you know, love?
Don’t you know everything’s beautiful?

Immaculate vibes. Pure optimism. “Everything’s Beautiful” lives up to its name and garners the question: Does anyone depict happiness as well as Hiatus Kaiyote? The band let loose in a track that sounds like they are having the time of their lives doing it and, as always, the ever impressive Hiatus Kaiyote never miss a beat.

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