Ana & Gene – See Me Smile: a Riffed Out Power Pop Anthem for Unapologetic Selfhood –

Imagine a fusion of the hook in Smells Like Teen Spirit and Hanson’s iconic MMMBop with Pixies-esque distortion drifting through the guitars before Blondie and Morrissey enter the mix, and you’ll get a good idea of the euphoria which swells through the sticky-sweet hit See Me Smile by power pop powerhouse Ana & Gene.

Once there has been enough syrupy harmony, the award-winning duo unleashes raw-as-a-razorblade-cut riffs, leaving swathes of adrenaline to drink in while visualising what it means to be unapologetically happy in the skin of your authenticity instead of wearing the uniform of socially prescribed happiness. See Me Smile is as empowering as it is uplifting, and therein lies the beauty of the always infectiously high-voltage duo.

The Chicago duo’s cross-genre fingerprints remain unmistakable, with Gene Roberts’ gold-certified pop history and Anastacia Bella’s research-led songwriting perspective feeding the track’s bright bite without sanding down its sharper edges. Since forming during the strange stillness of 2020, Ana & Gene have built their own lane through award recognition, international nominations and indie chart success, but See Me Smile feels more personal than a résumé flex. It is a Machiavellian grin with rebellious resistance behind it.

See Me Smile is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast