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Kevin Olusola

'Smile' from Dawn Of A Misfit

Sony Masterworks
Release Date: May 9, 2025

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Dark Winter (Official Video)
1 Dark Winter  
2 Hallelujah (I Don't Think About You)  
3 I Feel Misunderstood  
4 Crazy  
5 Like Us  
6 Smile  
7 A Change Is Gonna Come  
8 Have I Told You  
9 Love, Leigh & Kaia  
10 Kaia's Swan  
11 Showdown  
12 Hymn for Christian  
13 Kevin's Fifth  
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Kevin Olusola, the dynamic singer, cellist, and beatboxer best known for his work with the 3x-GRAMMY® Award-winning a cappella group Pentatonix, unveils “Smile,” the latest track from his forthcoming album DAWN OF A MISFIT, out on May 9 via Sony Music Masterworks and available for preorder and presave HERE. The 2-song bundle includes both vocal and instrumental versions of the track.

Olusola continues to uplift others with “Smile.” Originally demoed in 2016, the song remains relevant to this day and provides hope through the purity of Olusola’s vocals and his signature beatboxing, along with the soothing sample of Bach’s “Cello Suites.” Listen to “Smile” HERE.

“‘Smile’ is one of my absolute favorite songs on the album,” shares Olusola. “It was the second song I ever wrote for my project back in 2016, when I was just experimenting with my sound, and its message still resonates deeply with me today. To me, it’s a song that explores two realities of life. Life will inevitably have its hardships, whether they’re anticipated or unexpected. However, we can choose to make joy our guide as we take ownership of our lives, and it can start with a simple smile. I hope this song helps you believe that regardless of your struggles or circumstances, you can still ‘fill your lungs and laugh out loud,’ because ‘life is what you make it.’”

The multi-faceted artist first previewed his new LP with the electrifying lead single “DARK WINTER," blending Vivaldi's Four Seasons and symphonic strings with Olusola's potent beatbox percussion, 808s & elastic R&B hooks. He followed with the spoken word and deeply personal “I Feel Misunderstood” and “Crazy,” an instrumental reimagining of Gnarls Barkley’s 2006 mega-hit that showcases Olusola’s powerful talents as a cellist.

DAWN OF A MISFIT follows two EPs: The Renegade, which explored classical music and celloboxing, and Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, which delved more into pop influences. This new LP seamlessly blends elements from both projects while continuing to expand his already-vast musical canvas.  DAWN OF A MISFIT draws on his classical virtuosity and the graceful soulfulness of his vocals, partly fueled by his Nigerian and Grenadian heritage. While recording the new album, he was influenced by a diverse range of artists, including Sting, multi-hyphenate artist Jon Batiste, Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, American singer and actor Harry Belafonte, country-rap artist Shaboozey, cellist Jacqueline du Pré, pianist Harvey Lavan "Van" Cliburn Jr., and Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The wide-ranging album touches on spirituality, fatherhood, and being a first-generation person in a Western country, all while fusing classical, pop, R&B, and hip-hop. It even includes a nod to Pentatonix with “Kevin’s Fifth,” a fan-favorite expansion on Beethoven’s 5th that he often performs during their live shows.  The beloved quintet—who broke out after winning NBC’s The Sing-Off in 2011—have released 12 albums in total, including 2022’s Grammy-nominated Holidays Around the World. More recently, they starred in the #1 Netflix rom-com Meet Me Next Christmas.

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