Henry Lees Turns a Bad Date into a Groovy Track with “Smoke”

Let’s uncover the Semi-Finalist song from the 2025 Unsigned Only Music Awards by Canadian singer-songwriter Henry Lees. “Smoke” is a funky track that turns an awkward bad date into a groovy, feel-good moment. Henry comes across as a musician who genuinely loves collaboration and community, which shows through the long list of artists he has worked with. Co-writing six songs for Chris Antonik’s Morningstar album, which topped the charts on the Roots Music Report, already says a lot about his credibility as a writer. Henry Lees feels like an artist who values storytelling and connection over flashy trends.

Henry Lees

“Henry Lees makes you groove to his beats and feel lively again with his funky and effortlessly catchy vibe.”

The first thing that caught my attention about “Smoke” is how fun and funky the groove feels right from the start. It has that smooth pop-funk vibe that instantly reminded me of artists like Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, Jason Mraz and Teddy Swims. The collaboration with producer and artist Sean Thomas really shines here, especially in the clean, radio-friendly production. Vocally, Henry keeps things relaxed and playful, which fits perfectly with the theme of brushing off a terrible date. The rhythm section and guitar grooves give the song a lively bounce that keeps it moving throughout. It’s a song that you wouldn’t mind playing on repeat when you are on a long drive.

Test the melody down here:

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