A concept album rooted in transformation, A Smile To A Tear traces Cinema’s path from darkness toward light, a slow, hopeful ascent told through vivid lyricism, textured production, and emotional honesty. “This project flows, going from dark to light,” Cinema shares. “The tone and themes of my lyricism brighten as it moves forward, representing the optimism I have despite the difficulties of life.”

The album features production from pis.i, lilith, shemar, Tony Seltzer, Cam Barnes, djnOOnsomewhere, and sun gin, and includes collaborations with Chow, rivan, Muddy Stone, Cam Barnes, and Wiseboy Jeremy. Across its 14 tracks, Cinema drifts between solitude and community, exhaustion and gratitude, struggle and release.

From the somber meditation of “Afro Blue” to the buoyant closure of “Smiling”, the project captures the emotional complexity of staying human through chaos. Tracks like “Something To Live For” and “Above Water” reflect Cinema’s renewed sense of purpose, while the Tony Seltzer-produced “Painterr” and “Split It Even” find him more confident and self-assured than ever before.

Inspired by the late jazz legend Roy Ayers, the album title flips Ayers’ 1975 record A Tear To A Smile, a nod to Cinema’s blend of introspection and groove. “Ayers always proved a vibe with his art,” Cinema says, “and I wanted to do the same, in my own way.”

A Smile To A Tear is more than a personal statement, it’s a reflection of the human condition, balancing isolation with connection, melancholy with resilience, and pain with clarity.