It’s no mistake that “Lil Boo Thang” has been everywhere since it came out – Paul Russell has always had a knack for creating bubbly, infectious music. When he was a student at Cornell University, Paul would flex his DJ skills at parties, getting people up and moving. Taking pointers from artists like Anderson .Paak, Outkast, and Louis Armstrong, Paul created his own signature style and began uploading content on his socials that went viral. After that, he dropped “Hallelujah” and “Ms. Poli Sci,” which were streamed over 22 million times. These tracks definitely connected with listeners, but they could not compete with the magic of “Lil Boo Thang.” Since its release last year, the song has nearly 175 million streams, hit #5 on Top 40 radio, landed at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100, and got Paul to the top spot on the Billboard Emerging Artists chart. Of course, the pressure to deliver another feel-good track was on after that, but Paul has just the thang that will keep fans smiling.
With “Say Cheese,” Paul keeps spirits light and fresh. Over the shimmering riffs, fun bass, and gleeful horns, Paul plays up the whole “successful artist” act. He paints an indulgent picture, giving us lines like, “Say cheese / Steppin’ out, purple Mercedes / Fall in love, why don’t you make me? / You want a picture, just say please / Baby, wearing this fit that they gave me / Baby, this isn’t from Macy’s.” His swag is absolutely undeniable and his momentum is encouraging, as if we should join him. You can check it out below.
About “Say Cheese,” Paul shares,
“I wrote ‘Say Cheese’ on my birthday, a couple weeks after I quit my job and started travelling the world as a full-time musician. So, the song is meant to feel like a celebration – of life and of the fact that anything can happen. It talks about taking photos – which is something you do when you see something worth celebrating.”
You can listen to “Say Cheese” on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.
Keep up with Paul Russell: Instagram // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube
