Better Days

Better Days is the debut studio album by Danish-Japanese singer-songwriter Mina Okabe, released in 2021. The record serves as a definitive introduction to her 'breezy pop' aesthetic, blending her multicultural upbringing across London, New York, Manila, and Copenhagen into a cohesive, globally-minded indie pop sound. Produced largely with a minimalist touch, the album highlights Okabe's signature breathy vocal delivery, which has become her sonic trademark. The track 'Every Second' became a viral standout, particularly in Southeast Asia and Japan, leading to the inclusion of a Japanese-language version on the project. Critically, the album was praised for its sophisticated simplicity and its ability to evoke a specific 'golden hour' atmosphere. It positions Okabe within the same contemporary bedroom-pop lineage as artists like Clairo or Arlo Parks, but with a distinct emphasis on clean guitar melodies and a serene, almost bossa-nova-influenced rhythmic sensibility.