Transparent Soul

"Transparent Soul"
Single by Willow featuring Travis Barker
from the album Lately I Feel Everything
Written	2020
Released	April 27, 2021
Recorded	2020
Genre	Pop-punk[1] skate punk[2]
Length	2:48
Label	MSFTS Roc Nation
Songwriter(s)	Willow Smith Travis Barker Tyler Cole
Producer(s)	Tyler Cole[3]
Willow singles chronology
"Hey, You!" (2020) "Transparent Soul" (2021) "Buzzed" (2021)
Kid Cudi remix cover
Music videos
"Transparent Soul" (Performance Visual) on YouTube
"Transparent Soul" (Music Video) on YouTube

"Transparent Soul" (stylized as "t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l")^[3] is a song by American singer-songwriter Willow featuring American drummer Travis Barker. It was released on April 27, 2021, by MSFTS and Roc Nation, as the lead single from her fourth solo studio album Lately I Feel Everything.^[4] The song has been described by publications such as Rolling Stone^[1] and Guitar World^[5] as a pop-punk track about ingenuine people. A remix of the song featuring American rapper Kid Cudi was released on November 19, 2021.^[6]

Background

"Transparent Soul" was written during a "very introspective time" at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was inspired by a quote from guru Radhanath Swami.^[7] Willow was inclined to enter the punk rock genre by her mother Jada Pinkett Smith, who previously fronted the nu metal band Wicked Wisdom.^[8][9]

Lyrically, the song details Willow's struggles with fake people who seek to exploit her, which she can tell by her ability to see the qualities through their "transparent" souls.^[7] She plays an Ernie Ball Music Man St. Vincent signature guitar on the track.^[10]

Music video

A performance visual for "Transparent Soul" was released alongside the song on April 27, 2021. The visual features Willow dressed in "classic punk attire—spiked collars and all" while performing the single.^[11] Revolt described it as "almost reminiscent of classic rock and roll videos", with Willow "rocking wild fashions that range from colorful to goth" overlaid with various special effects." Travis Barker does not make an appearance in the "short-yet-energetic" production.^[3] As of March 2022, the visual has received over 17 million views on YouTube.^[12]

The official music video for "Transparent Soul", with both Willow and Barker, was released on May 28, 2021.^[13] The video featured a cameo appearance from DJ duo Simi and Haze Khadra.^[14] In the video, Willow is seen in a "dingy rock club" performing the song with Barker, when she runs into a mysterious and terrifying figure who follows her. She collapses on the ground, and the video ends with her reaching her hand out to the figure.^[15]

Remix

On November 19, 2021, Willow released the official remix to "Transparent Soul" featuring vocals from American rapper Kid Cudi, marking the second collaboration between the two, following Willow’s appearance on "Rose Golden" from Cudi's sixth album Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' (2016).^[16]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[17]

• Willow Smith – vocals, composition, lyrics
• Travis Barker – drums, composition, lyrics
• Tyler Cole – production, composition, lyrics
• Emerson Mancini – mastering
• Mario J. McNulty – mixing
• Zach Brown – engineering

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Transparent Soul" Chart (2021) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[18] 44 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 54 Canada Rock (Billboard)[20] 38 Global 200 (Billboard)[21] 84 Ireland (IRMA)[22] 26 Lithuania (AGATA)[23] 73 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 37 UK Singles (OCC)[25] 28 US Billboard Hot 100[26] 76 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[27] 10 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[28] 9

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Transparent Soul" Chart (2021) Position US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[29] 19 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[30] 38

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[31]	Gold	20,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[32]	Silver	200,000^‡
United States (RIAA)[33]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Transparent Soul"

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	April 27, 2021	Digital download streaming	Original	MSFTSMusic Roc Nation
United States	May 25, 2021	Alternative radio		Roc Nation	[34]
		Mainstream rock radio			[35]
	August 24, 2021	Contemporary hit radio			[36]
Various	November 19, 2021	Digital download streaming	Kid Cudi remix	MSFTSMusic Roc Nation	[16]

References

1. Shaffer, Claire. "Willow Smith Goes Full Pop-Punk on New Track 'Transparent Soul'". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
2. Rolling Stone Staff (December 6, 2021). "50 Best Songs of 2021". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 11, 2022. And it was tough to resist their scrappy skate-punk anthem.
3. Powell, Jon (April 27, 2021). "Willow teams up with Travis Barker for "transparent soul"". Revolt.
4. Benitez-Eves, Tina (27 April 2021). "Willow Smith Fills Upcoming Fifth Album with 'Transparent Soul'". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
5. Owen, Matt (2021-04-27). "Willow Smith unleashes her inner pop-punk in guitar-centric new single, Transparent Soul". guitarworld. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
6. Shaffer, Claire (2021-04-27). "Willow Smith Goes Full Pop-Punk on New Track 'Transparent Soul'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
7. Rice, Nicholas (April 28, 2021). "Willow Smith Releases Video for New Punk Rock Song 'Transparent Soul': 'Let the Vibes Commence'". People.
8. Haylock, Zoe (April 27, 2021). "Willow Shreds Expectations in Her New Track, "Transparent Soul"". Vulture.
9. Valdivia, Pablo (April 28, 2021). "Willow Smith Is The Pop-Punk Icon We've Always Deserved". BuzzFeed.
10. Owen, Matt (April 27, 2021). "Willow Smith unleashes her inner pop-punk in guitar-centric new single, Transparent Soul". Guitar World.
11. Shaffer, Claire (April 27, 2021). "Willow Smith Goes Full Pop-Punk on New Track 'Transparent Soul'". Rolling Stone.
12. Wally, Maxine (May 10, 2021). "Willow Enters Her Pop-Punk Era". W.
13. Iasimone, Ashley (May 29, 2021). "Willow Meets a Strange Figure in 'Transparent Soul' Video Featuring Travis Barker". Billboard Magazine.
14. "Palestinian duo Simi and Haze Khadra get starring role in Willow Smith's new music video". Arab News. 2021-05-29. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
15. Blistein, Jon (May 28, 2021). "Willow Smith Confronts a Terrifying Figure in a Dingy Rock Club in 'Transparent Soul' Video". Rolling Stone.
16. "Kid Cudi Links With Willow and Travis Barker on "Transparent Soul" Remix". Complex. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
17. "Transparent Soul". Retrieved May 2, 2021 – via Tidal.
18. "Willow feat. Travis Barker – T R A N S P A R E N T S O U L" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
19. "Willow Smith Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
20. "Willow Smith Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
21. "Willow Smith Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
22. "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
23. "2021 24-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 18, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
24. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
26. "Willow Smith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
27. "Willow Smith Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
28. "Willow Smith Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
29. "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
30. "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
31. "Brazilian single certifications – WILLOW – t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
32. "British single certifications – Willow – t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
33. "American single certifications – Willow – t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
34. "Alternative Future Releases". All Access. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
35. "Rock Future Releases". All Access. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
36. "Top 40/Mainstream Future Releases". All Access. Retrieved August 28, 2021.