The last time we featured the Congolese-born, South London-raised Miles from Kinshasa was with his dreamy rumba-pop single ‘Overboard’ from 2017’s LIMBO LP. Since then he’s shared a string of tracks and demos across his platforms, which has led us to his best song following that album - ‘Wearing Smiles’. It’s a true summer bop built on a shuffling rhythm and sleepy soul melody over which Vivien Kongolo’s relaxed voice puts on the brave face that he sings about. He brings up ideas of “courage”, “denial” and “truth” as he navigates the habit of hiding one’s own feeling for the benefit of others, and thus through ‘Wearing Smiles’ Kongolo questions whether the harm that emotional suppression has on ourselves is worth it after all. - Hannah Thacker