Linkin Park’s multi-platinum GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Mike Shinoda reveals the music video for his new single “Happy Endings” featuring genre-bending, platinum-selling artist iann dior & Arizona pop disruptor UPSAHL.
Directed by PIX3LFACE [A$AP Rocky, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Saint JHN], the video oozes with throwback vibes and nineties-style cartoon animation, some hand drawn by Shinoda himself. Against its sunny Downtown Los Angeles backdrop, Shinoda rhymes with hunger and heart as UPSAHL sings the unshakable hook between emotive bars from iann dior. With its kinetic editing and intimate closeups, the visual bottles the song’s upbeat spirit with just the right amount of tension and release.
“Happy Endings” took flight right out of the gate. Impacting major markets coast-to-coast, it stands out as the #1 Most Added Song at Alternative Radio in the USA. In the UK, it’s been played over 100 times at UK radio and is currently playlisted on Kerrang! And Absolute Radio. It’s also been played numerous times on BBC’s Radio 1, with support from both Jack Saunders and Dan P Carter. Making headlines, Shinoda recently spoke to Input Magazine about the groundbreaking launch of “Happy Endings” through an NFT on Zora. Additionally, he sat down with frequent collaborator, longtime friend, and legendary producer Rick Rubin for an episode of the “Broken Record” podcast. Listen HERE.
Last month, Shinoda paved the way for “Happy Endings” via social media, Twitch, and cryptocurrency authorities. Teasing out its impending arrival in groundbreaking fashion, he became “the first major label artist to launch a single via NFT auction.” The 75-second clip immediately piqued interest among fans and tastemakers; the final top 10 bidders each received an original print of the single artwork signed by Shinoda and contemporary artist Cain Caser. Proceeds from the auction benefitted ArtCenter College of Design. Coin Telegraph, The Telegraph and Music Tech Future discussed Shinoda’s embrace of NFTs and was the featured interview on The Needle Drop’s Twitch channel with Anthony Fantano.In case you missed it, watch it HERE.
Shinoda has spent the better part of the past year creating brand new music with fans and teaching production live each morning on Twitch, and, in recent weeks, producing tracks by fans—a dream come true for the artists, mostly found on social media. Both Spin and Forbes chronicled his “Dropped Frames” series; Alt Press described it as “unlike anything he’s ever done” and mxdwn added, “The album is unique and definitely stands on its own.”
Stay tuned for a lot more from Mike Shinoda very soon.