A few years back, Mike Lande, a.k.a. Happy Lives, moved from Brooklyn to LA — one of many in the mass migration toward cheaper rent and less insular artistic circles.

His music almost immediately reflected this coastal shift with a distinct pivot from punk to pop while one thing remained constant: his unabashed horniness.

What once expressed itself as an sweat-it-out power chord rock now found its footing in a smart and shapeshifting pop vein. Fast forward a few years and a string of well-received singles (airplay on KCRW, praise from All Things Go and Earmilk), and we find the band morphing once again, delivering the Beck-esque single “Give Up With” that is as dark as it is danceable.

Of course, there is the ever-present, shameless fixation on lust which permeates all their work to this point, but, now, it comes with a complimentary touch of teenage angst to drive the testosterone up a notch.

Supposedly, this song is about two teens who kill themselves after consummating their relationship in a car parked on some deserted road. Depressed? With Happy Lives, it seems the antidote can be derived from the disorder. Simply hit play and rock the sexual hang-ups out.

About Happy Lives:

Happy Lives is the brainchild of NYC songwriter/producer Mike Lande, whose songs crackle with the intensity of early Prince and tear through genres like Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles. Each track bleeds Brooklyn cool, forming an indelible strain of pop music that’s “artfully made and addicting” (Earmilk). Lande uses his keen ear for pop and his own self-awareness to create music that explores the complexities of modern sexuality.

It’s difficult to pinpoint where Lande will take Happy Lives’ sound next. The young upstart is no longer NYC’s best kept secret; Lande has already forged a spot in pop music with singular style and a clear vision. With a debut EP having dropped this year, Happy Lives is on the verge of having huge success. Visit www.happyliv.es for more info.