Establishing the mood with textured percussion, cerebral guitar details, and subversive ad-libs, itssmill opens SORA with an almost tribal, spiritual sentiment. The opening verse kicks off with the assertive lyrics, “Everybody in their feelings, too much fake aura in the section, got me leaving, all I wanna do is stack up to the ceiling, racks up racks up ’til they fill the whole building…”
We immediately connect with the dimensionality of the production and itssmill‘s laid-back vocal timbre with a self-realized message. SORA unveils itself as a motivational anthem about ambition, self-belief and the idea of staying focused despite obstacles.
The vocal production is industrial and psychedelic. This is also reflected in the song’s artwork which features little baggies, a bong, a Van Gogh, trainers, keys and metallic text. The track also has a cinematic allure, perfect for a range of sync placements. It would be a good fit for a scene in a show like Elite, Beauty in Black or Knokke Off on Netflix, perhaps Euphoria on HBO. We could also imagine SORA being featured in a film like Marty Supreme, as it is aligned with the themes of the track.
itssmill shares how he is someone who refuses to be distracted by negativity, fakeness, or emotional baggage. He chooses instead to concentrate on building his own success and wealth through a relentless work ethic. This transpires in the production of the track and the attention to detail in his overarching artistry.
The rising artist from Amsterdam emphasizes confidence in his ability to succeed even when he’s struggling, believing that action is more important than waiting for opportunities. From a brief chat with the artist earlier, that authenticity really shines through in how he communicates.
He says, “This song comes from a period where I was focused on growth, both personally and creatively. I was surrounded by a lot of noise, fake energy, and people talking more than acting, which pushed me to focus even harder on my own path. The track is about ambition, resilience, and trusting the process even when the results aren’t visible yet. It reflects my belief that success comes from consistency, discipline, and staying true to yourself. At its core, it’s also a thank you to the people who have supported me since day one and a reminder to keep moving forward no matter what stands in your way.”
The lyrics also touch on the pressure of growth, and acknowledge that some people resent itssmill‘s progress (we know how it feels to have jealous haters) while others secretly support him. In the final lines, itssmill expresses gratitude to his day ones, and recognizes his own worth.
As for influences, it does feel like itssmill is in a league of his own, although he cites Lil Uzi Vert, Travis Scott, Yeat, Central Cee, and Mac Miller as sonic influences, which we can also feel manifest.
Needless to say, we appreciate the message and the confidence that itssmill creates with, and have added SORA to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream itssmill‘s wider discography, including ROADHOUSE, NO TIME, and SOLID.