Oak Harbor Duo Release Whidbey Anthem, Celebrate Island Scenes

Brett and Gretyl Baird of Oak Harbor released "What Makes You Happy" on December 9, 2025 under their act Handsome and Gretyl. Written by Gretyl, the single is a light folk pop song that lists favorite Whidbey Island scenes and experiences and aims to serve as a feel good anthem for the island. The single is available on major streaming platforms and the cover art features Ebey's Landing in Coupeville.

The release involves a number of local collaborators whose contributions appear in the recording, and the couple has announced a planned video project with the local media series Working on Whidbey. That planned video will pair the song with visual storytelling rooted on island locations, reinforcing the connection between the recording and the places it highlights.

For residents, the song operates on multiple levels. It is an artistic expression that reinforces a shared sense of place, and it is a cultural product that can influence visitation patterns and attention to public spaces featured in the lyrics and imagery. Featuring Ebey's Landing on the cover underscores how public landscapes are central to local identity, and it may prompt renewed public interest in stewardship, access and seasonal management of those sites.

There are also practical implications for Island County's cultural economy. Local music releases that highlight the island can generate modest economic activity through streaming, local performances and related media projects. They also create opportunities for civic engagement between artists, media producers and municipal or nonprofit partners that manage parks and cultural programming. Collaborative projects such as the planned Working on Whidbey video can serve as a model for how creative work and local institutions coordinate to promote arts visibility and community narratives.

The single is part of a broader local music scene that increasingly leverages digital distribution and place based storytelling. As Handsome and Gretyl promote "What Makes You Happy" through recordings and the upcoming video, Island County residents and officials will see how cultural initiatives intersect with tourism, public land stewardship and community identity. The release offers a tangible example of how local artists contribute to civic life while drawing attention to the island places that matter to residents.