When Klintmoor hit my radar in 2025, I was impressed by the thought that had gone into his album Going To Marbella and its classic feel. He’s just released a new album, so it’s time to check back in with him.
By Graeme Smith
Recorded in a small studio near the Baltic Sea, Try to Smile follows Klintmoor’s previous release, Going to Marbella, with eleven songs that comfortably crosses genre boundaries.
Right from its smooth opening title track, Try To Smile defies expectations. The opener is infused with Latin flair and an acoustic warmness that proves a through current but with plenty of room for deviations.
The blues hang heavy early on as Klintmoor works through some emotional tales. Tracks like This Ain’t Sorrow and Leaving The City are full of longing, yet any regret is matched by a sense of resolve.
With Going To Marbella, we got plenty of love and romance and it’s a concept that inevitably returns in Try To Smile, most notably through the soft She Is The Ocean. I Can’t Believe It’s True provides a heartbreaking counterpoint through an airy lament.
The contrast comes out more clearly as the album progresses. The upbeat and consolidatory share the spotlight. Hello Cowboy is fun and flirty while Last Goodbye is a soul-wrenching exploration of departure.
Try To Smile is a collection that Klintmoor took his time over, and it shows in the thought that’s gone into every aspect of the record. Crafted over two years in a small studio, the artist let the tracks find their ‘voice’ rather than rushing the process.
Hence the difficulty in pinning it down to genre. We hear a blend of pop, soft rock, bossa nova, and more throughout. What ties everything together is a warm, understated production style that adopts a policy of less is more, ensuring the feelings of the lyrics don’t get overshadowed by the instrumentation.
While there is certainly a continuity between Going To Marbella and Try To Smile, there is enough distinction between the projects to keep Klintmoor’s sound feeling fresh, and listening to it felt like discovering the artist anew.
In an era which overvalues chasing trends and producing fast, throwaway content, it’s encouraging to see the approach that Klintmoor is taking. I’m certainly invested in what he does next.
If you want to keep up to date with what he’s doing, you can by following him on Spotify, Apple Music, X, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram
Try To Smile is set for release on 24 July 2026, You can order it on vinyl or CD here.
