Seattle's ascending synth-funk artist [Ai]n't Real is back with a sound blinking an eye and stepping in the groove for "Know You Better." This upbeat, genre-spanning number is as cheeky as it is expertly crafted. It's the type of song that makes you smile and sway confidently. The track swerves and stomps with a brash playfulness. Bold charm and smooth coolness tug at one another flirtatiously, borne on bouncing synth lines and funk-rooted rhythms that pay homage to old-school R&B but sound distinctively modern. It's cute and confident without working too hard, like that friend who always has the right thing to say and always gets the number.
The actual twist, however, is the innovative mid-track pivot. Beginning as a high-energy chase for attention and connection, it lets out a breath about halfway through, easing into a softer, more introspective vibe like the flirt settled into real talk in the backseat after the party. That duality keeps the song from becoming just another one-note bop. It's textured and layered and characterizes [Ai]n't Real's storytelling style as personal, even tongue-in-cheek, but never shallow.
[Ai]n't Real may rely on AI tools in production, but don't get it twisted, as this isn't a button-press creation. From the lyrics to the self-engineered synth touches, each sound choice and mix decision feels welcome and purposeful. There is human volition behind each beat drop and each bass slide, and a craftsman is working out how to teach machines to betentaclize with the soul. But with the eclectic energy of Seattle behind him and evident love for the funky, R&B-rooted sounds, "Know You Better" is a marker of an artist who isn't tinkering with AI tools just for yuks but playing to win, taking the time to fashion tech-assisted music that still knocks the wind out of you straight to the chest.