Promo: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/johnaismith/once-was
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnaismith/video/7525426071190146326?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
YouTube Short: https://youtube.com/shorts/H9Cf6XHhePY

“Once Was” marks the end of my 70s-inspired run — a personal, heartfelt goodbye to a sound that shaped so much of what music means to me.

Over the past days, I’ve shared songs that echo vinyl grooves, analog warmth, and the raw emotion of that era.
I have collected all tracks in my own playlist called: The 70s Run – John AI Smith.

This one is slower. Simpler. A quiet close to that chapter.
The next steps take us forward — into more modern ground and deeper shades of R&B.
Thanks for being part of this journey.
– John

Lyrics:

We were young and trying to figure it out
Thought we knew what love was all about
Stayed up late, said things we didn’t mean
Chasing dreams, caught up in what might’ve been

I look back now and I see it clear
All the things I should’ve said while you were near

But I still hold on to what we had
Even when the world turns good love bad

What once was still lives in me
Through the fights, the tears, and the memories
I’ve made mistakes, I’ve walked away
But I never let your love fade
What once was… still is

There were nights I let the wrong things win
Said I was fine, kept everything in
I got lost in trying to prove I was strong
But without you, it all felt wrong

You were the calm when I was the storm
The only place that ever felt warm

I still believe in what we knew
Even if I didn’t show it to you

What once was still holds me close
Even now, when no one knows
I’ve been broken, I’ve been bruised
But I never stopped loving you
What once was… still is

I’m not perfect, I’ve had my share
Of wrong turns and not being there
But if you wonder if I still care
You should know, I always have

What once was, still gets me through
Every time the world feels too cruel
I’ve let go of a lot, but not of this
Because you and me…
What once was… still is

Once Was

A producer, songwriter, and sonic architect, John AI Smith thrives on artistic evolution. Starting as a singular force in music, he has expanded into ten distinct artist identities—each representing a unique soundscape, from melancholic folk to bass-heavy electronic beats.
Rather than conforming to a single style, John AI Smith embraces a genre-fluid approach, crafting music across atmospheric indie-folk, cinematic storytelling, trance, trap, synthwave, and beyond. 

His projects include following artists and their spotify links:

John AI Smith - https://vshrt.in/ITRa
Chill Fader - https://vshrt.in/zCwt
Calisnor - https://vshrt.in/stNU
Isak Evermore - https://vshrt.in/pEJx
Obscyron - https://vshrt.in/cfTh
OrchraX - https://vshrt.in/dJZO
Strengevind - https://vshrt.in/cQej
Vargkald - https://vshrt.in/wrrK
Bassvoid - https://vshrt.in/Nnak
Nordskygge - https://vshrt.in/sShw

With SoundCloud as his creative playground, John AI Smith invites listeners into a boundary-defying musical universe. Whether crafting immersive electronic beats or heartfelt folk melodies, his work remains centered on innovation, emotion, and sonic exploration.