Tampa-born artist KAIIIMARIE delivers a deeply personal journey through her latest single, "WE WERE HAPPY." Having written music since she was just eleven years old and seriously diving into her craft two years ago, KAIIIMARIE has begun to carve out a space for herself in the alternative RnB/Pop lane. With influences like The Weeknd, Lana Del Rey, and SZA, she finds herself most inspired by the same music that she listens to, which primarily combines raw emotion with ethereal sounds, and "WE WERE HAPPY" is a testament to that.

This track is unlike anything KAIIIMARIE has created before, and it shows. She sat on the beat for nearly a year, feeling like she wasn’t ready for it until her artistry caught up to her fascination. “The beat felt painful to me,” she explains, and after revisiting it, she knew that she was ready to give it the vocals that it deserved. This shift toward more personal music has allowed her to unlock a new side of musical expression, making this track both exciting for her as a creative, and transformative for her as an artist.

KAIIIMARIE describes her music as being up-close and personal, which is exactly how "WE WERE HAPPY" feels. The track taps into certain emotions that she doesn’t usually express in real life, making the song a type of release for her. In "WE WERE HAPPY," KAIIIMARIE’s vulnerability is evident across the entire track, and the listener feels almost as though they are sharing an intimate conversation with the artist.

In terms of the sound itself, the song starts with a strong RnB vibe, pulling from the genre's modern offshoots/subgenres. The first half is melodically driven with top tier production, and halfway through, the beat shifts, slowing it down to create a dream-like atmosphere. This beat switch plays a key role in the two-sided emotional narrative of the song, as Part A and Part B express different states of mind. While the track may not sound like a traditional upbeat song, the process of making it was some of the most fun that  KAIIIMARIE has ever had while recording.“WE WERE HAPPY” is a standout track from KAIIIMARIE, highlighting her growth as an artist while offering listeners a glimpse into her emotional side. It’s modern, intimate, and full of feeling, making it an essential for fans of alternative RnB.