Today, the genre-defying duo Everyone You Know (EYK) release visceral new single, ‘Hoodies & Hats’ alongside the announcement of a brand new album, ‘Ain’t Smiled in Ages’. The emotive track from siblings Rhys and Harvey, who make up EYK, blends gritty realism with heart-pounding beats ahead of the eleven track record later this year. Preorder the album [HERE].
‘Hoodies & Hats’ is a thoughtful poem narrating an array of coping mechanisms, helpful or otherwise. Written after a best mate’s mum passed away, Rhys raps: “It’s been a tough year. My best mate’s mum passed. He looks unharmed but it left her son scarred.” It’s a poignant song about the way young men deal with their problems and the importance of friends in times of grief. Its muted production aids their confessions that “therapy ain’t going to help him get through it but the late nights with the drinking and the drugs are.”
Everyone You Know are a British music duo known for their unique blend of genres and sharp, narrative-driven lyrics. Also known as EYK, the brothers have quickly become a voice for a generation who are proudly living for the weekend. Their debut EP ‘Cheer Up Charlie’ was released in 2018, followed by the ‘Just For The Times’ mixtape in 2021. They have collaborated with internationally renowned artists and had their music featured on FIFA 20, and have performed at major festivals including Reading & Leeds, Roskilde and Boomtown.
The single is the second offering from ‘Ain’t Smiled in Ages’, a record that serves as a document of a big weekend – from the weekday anticipation, the euphoria of the dance floor, and finally, the bittersweet comedown. Crafted in the brothers’ home studio in Denham, a space built by their dad, it is a powerful collection of boundary-pushing songs that capture the chaos, joy, and darkness of a weekend, that many up and down the country can relate to.
The record, released later this year, boasts tracks like ‘Proper Stuff’ and ‘Kiss The Sky’ which perfectly showcase the brothers’ unfiltered approach, sharp lyrics and familiar hard-hitting beats that have already become fan favourites at their live shows. Meanwhile, songs like ‘Waiting,’ which samples CeCe Peniston’s ’90s house classic ‘Finally’, reveal EYK’s ability to blend nostalgia with contemporary sounds.
Co-written with industry heavyweights David Sneddon and Theo Hutchcraft, ‘Ain’t Smiled in Ages’ explores the highs and lows of suburban life, offering both moments of unbridled joy and an underlying sense of darkness. The album’s emotional centrepiece, ‘Hoodies and The Hats’, addresses the pain of loss and the ways men cope with grief, underpinned by vulnerable production and candid lyrics.