_{By Anwaya Mane}

The music video opens with a man named Sunny wearing a yellow sun costume as he gets arrested by the police. He greets Rob, who is sitting with two women, introduced as his part-time lawyers and part-time bandmates. Sunny claims that the cops are wrongfully arresting him for a crime he never committed (although he actually did). The focus then shifts back to Rob and his bandmates, who are reading a newspaper with the headline “Breaking News: You’re Going to Be Sad Forever.”

For an EP titled simply happy – a singular, self-explanatory word – the title track’s music video is anything but simple. It immediately establishes quirks and contradictions. We see police arrest a man in a yellow sun costume for burning down 20-30 buildings – a crime so deadly and horrifying yet described as casually as buying groceries. On the other hand, Rob and his bandmates wear dark glasses in broad daylight, flashing half-smiles and casually announcing they’re filming a music video. The contrast is striking.

Now, “quirk”‘” is a trait that artists often use to appear fun, relatable, and even rebellious to their fans. It’s a persona that has become popular, especially in the age of social media, which promises a broad reach, virality, and an instant fan base. Think of someone like Jennifer Lawrence, who built her entire off-screen persona by being offbeat, unconventional, and oddball. These are the people who may have been the class clowns in school or the corporate individual who can charm their boss and colleagues with their eclectic nature. They’re not the ones who have mastered the fake laughs one gives to their bosses, but the ones who play along with their boss’s terrible sense of humor in a way that feels zany rather than offensive.

The thing about quirk is that it’s a trait one needs to have naturally. No one can learn, teach, or imitate it, because once the lid blows off and the mask slips, everyone sees through the facade. Quirk is an art, and people can make it work seamlessly when they don’t try too hard. The talented Rob Spice shows this perfectly with happy.

“This is Rob Spice, bringing you the spice of life,” reads the introduction on his Spotify, and I found myself chuckling, both impressed and amused. A good sense of humor and some good music never hurt, right? The EP happy consists of four tracks: the eponymous title track, “What a Way to Die,” “I’ve Been Down and Thinking,” and “Nothing to Live For.”

If one digs deeper, the song titles actually carry meaning. The EP could be based on Sunny’s life (the yellow costume guy). The police arrest him, he escapes them, perhaps they shoot him in a police encounter (“What a Way to Die”), he spends his last few minutes “down and thinking” (“I’ve Been Down and Thinking”), and ultimately he realizes that, well, there’s “nothing to live for” (“Nothing to Live For”)—and dies. happy ending.

I often complain that when there are too few songs. They don’t allow me to fully grasp a musician’s soundscape. But this EP is concise, crisp, and to the point. It aligns perfectly with the genre of music known as “happy-sad” songs: melancholic tunes dressed up as upbeat and lively. In that sense, Rob Spice’s happy reminds me of artists like Billie Eilish – who create a juxtaposition of happy-sad soundscapes with complex, melancholic lyricism – and The 1975 – who masterfully blend catchy pop with moody, atmospheric sounds and darker, emotional themes through their writing.

The music videos are creative, unpolished, and filled with random close-up shots, which I actually enjoyed. For instance, when the line says “what a black hole,” Rob literally shows a picture of a black hole. “What a Way to Die” and “I’ve Been Down Thinking” are my favorite tracks from the album.

“What a Way to Die” has a nice sing-song vibe, with lyrics that are both quirky and relatable. Lines like, “I felt broken; I hoped I was on the mend. I keep driving in a circle, cause I can’t decide whether the journey ends” personally resonated with me the most.

Overall, Rob Spice shows immense promise with happy, and I’m excited to see what he has in store next. After all, good music and humor never have a shelf life; they’re constantly evolving and never lose their relevance.

Make sure to follow Rob Spice on Instagram. You can listen to “happy” below!