Chicago-based singer/songwriter Sarantos previews his upcoming musical with the playfully melodic “Hate To See You Happy,” infusing heartfelt strings and prancing piano within the artist’s emotive vocal charms. “Are you think of me, my love?” the vocals ask, venturing into pulsing bass and shimmering acoustics alongside the colorful piano work. “I’d hate to see her happy without me,” they admit, capturing the emotions of seeing a past love move on and find “a new compass,” while one feels left behind.
“Are you painting symphonies? Are you thinking of me, my love?” the smitten yearning continues, successfully intertwining a relatable lyrical narrative within a dynamic musical spirit — ranging beautifully from heartrending string-forward dreaminess, as the wordless vocal effects hit, and more exuberant musical-style bounciness. The result is melodic and memorable; a noted inspiration for the track is the theatrical works of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and that influence is enjoyably evident.
The compelling “Hate to See You Happy” succeeds in capturing internal strife, with touches of amiability and humor. “I wanted to capture that internal struggle we all face when someone we loved seems happier without us,” Sarantos says. “This song uses humor and drama to lighten the blow, but at its core, it’s a real, raw emotion that we’ve all felt.” The track’s music video, above, also captures these sentiments in artful visual form.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
