From a Tiny Spark to a Big Finish

The song’s story is almost as winding as its arrangement. Myhr brought the original melody to DeMain during their first Nashville writing session in 2015, but the pair didn’t finish it until years later. After Lucky Day came out in 2018, Myhr returned to the idea and sent it back to DeMain, who came up with verses and the simple phrase that became the chorus: “Say yes.”

Then came a pandemic, a new baby, and a temporary shift in priorities. Eventually, the two reconnected during lockdown and finished the chorus and bridge. DeMain also slipped a beautiful bit of Beatles history into the third verse, inspired by Yoko Ono’s famous “YES” installation that John Lennon encountered at London’s Indica Gallery in 1966. It’s a romantic story, and somehow it fits the song perfectly.

Production began in Stockholm in 2021, with Andreas Dahlbäck co-producing before Los Angeles producer Frankie Siragusa added more layers. There are Queen- and Jellyfish-inspired backing vocals, a surf-flavoured guitar solo, and a melodic bass part with nods to Paul McCartney and Ben Folds. Then arranger Hans Hjortek came in with the brass. Apparently, “bigger” was the answer.

Say Yes to the Good Stuff

For an artist whose work has often been guitar-driven, “Say Yes” puts the piano right in the middle of things. Myhr has always had a soft spot for piano pop, citing The Beatles, Wings, ABBA, Elton John, Billy Joel and Ben Folds Five among his influences.

And the song’s message is pretty straightforward: embrace love, life, possibility and optimism. That may sound almost suspiciously cheerful in 2026, but maybe that’s exactly the point. As DeMain puts it, the song is about saying yes when there’s plenty of negativity and cynicism around.

Everything Is All About You was released physically September 18 via Oglio Entertainment, with the digital album following October 2. As for “Say Yes”? After thirteen years, it seems the song has finally made up its mind.

Header photography by Andreas Quincy Dahlbäck.