SMiiLE

Sunny dissonance, avant-garde pop, and playful instrumentation informs Smile's warm sincerity. For an act still in its infancy, the Austin sixpiece demonstrates a remarkably clear idea of its identity on these six debut songs. Opener "All the Things" creeps into fullness, led by the airy harmonies of Annie Long and Mary Bryce, then spins off into dizzying coils of distortion, caveman drums, and mathy guitars. On "Must Be Something Pt. 1," the album's namesake lyric is sung over and over, anchoring the track while the chugging bassline and instrumentation builds onto itself an ornate, intricate soundscape. Instead of getting wound up in the profound musical technicality of the players, Smile's silliness on Like a Diamond in the Rough, You Shine lovingly bleeds into precision. When bandleader Jake Miles sweetly sings, "Misery loves its company, so baby, won't you cum for me?" on lovestruck "I Dunno," and "Proper Design" devolves into discord and giggles, you'll grin. - Austin Chronicle

You might recognize a few faces from the Smile posse, sharing members with local posters, Dreamboat. But, don’t use that to make your basis for the band’s sound,with the group here flexing their musical muscles and creating musically dense compositions. Each track on Like a Diamond in the Rough, You Shine seems like it’s own mini-concept album; songs take twists and turns, though always relying upon the group’s dynamic pop sensibility. For my two cents, I think the journey, and flip side, of “Must Be Something 1 & 2” are easily worth your time, with one side hitting hard and the other letting you venture off into your own world. If you’re looking for a new band that adds a little bit of sunshine to art-pop, then delve into this listen right now. - Austin Town Hall

Sunny pop act SMILE are looking to get in one last blast of summer love with their single “I Dunno.” Featuring some sweet group harmonies over a rollicking beat and a svelte lead vocal, “I Dunno” is cleverly constructed pop fun. Jake Miles, the band’s vocalist and guitarist, self-produced with engineer Daniel McNeil, utilizing all analog tech for the production. The full album will be out October 28th, but until then enjoy “I Dunno” - OVRLD

SMILE is a six-piece collaboration between Jake Miles, Mary Bryce, Annie Long, Nathan Wilkins, Zeke Jarmon and Harrison Anderson. The group recently released a lovey-dovey new single “I Dunno” with the help of local Austin engineer Daniel McNeill, layering dreamy vocals with jammy rhythms for a polished artpop result. The band’s debut album is set for release on Oct. 28. Aside from a stray Youtube video and bandcamp single, the band currently exists in the consciousness of local show attendees, drawn in by SMILE’s Facebook event headers of grinning iStock photo models. Three of the band’s members were also in frontman Miles’ previous project, GoldSpine.

ORANGE chatted with SMILE frontman Jake Miles about his self-proclaimed “angular jungle rock, striving for pop buoyancy” music.

HOW DID SMILE START OUT?

A shooting star burst open. SMILE’s members emerged and forged rock instruments out of the remaining molten innards.

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCES IN GENERAL, AND ARE THERE ANY WHO SPECIFICALLY INSPIRE SMILE AS A PROJECT?

I try not to influence off any bands specifically, especially contemporary ones, because it gets in the way of honest songwriting from my own heart.

That [being] said, I love so much music. To name a few artists– Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Thelonious Monk, James Brown, Luis Bonfa, Hugh Masekala, Harry Nillson. I mostly listen to old stuff.

WHERE DID THE NAME SMILE COME FROM?

My name is Miles. You just carry over the “S.” I am also a big fan of The Beach Boys, and particularly, Brian Wilson’s album “Smile.”

HOW DID YOUR PREVIOUS PROJECTS END, AND HOW DID YOU END UP MOVING INTO THIS ONE?

GoldSpine ended because I needed to go traveling and gather my wits. SMILE began because I found all my wits. Or at least some of my wits.

WHAT TYPE OF SOUND ARE YOU TRYING TO ESTABLISH WITH THIS FIRST ALBUM?

The album is very diverse. Every song feels almost completely different while still recognizable as the same folks behind it. I like this, and I hope that it establishes that we are SMILE and we do whatever the fuck we want.

HOW DOES THE SONGWRITING PROCESS WORK FOR THE GROUP?

It’s a different approach each time. Sometimes I have a very specific vision, and I insist we stick to it. More often though, I have a loose skeleton of a song and we get together and collaborate. Every member in SMILE is a visionary. They all have their own bands and are extremely creative people. Everybody has their own opinions and ideas, so the process is pretty slow, but I try to be pretty receptive because, I’m telling you, these people are geniuses. So usually my songs get turned on their head into something better than I could have imagined.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

SMILE is ultimately a band of sweeties, writing songs of the heart. We’re trying to figure out what it means to be a feeling human. We need your help. - Orange Magazine

The Austin music community is rife with ironic and self-serious bands, and SMILE is certainly not one of them. This six-piece power pop group, fronted by Jack Miles, can certainly light up the room with their sunny demeanor and chilled optimisitic vibes. Blending elements of soul with purist Beatles-esque melodies, the group released a sun-drenched single "I Dunno" to generate interest in their soon-to-be-released new album. Crooner vocals float over doo-wop inspired harmonies to create an atmosphere of love and postivity. While there is a strand of jam band DNA in SMILE, their music is overhwelmingly and unabashedly an homage to 60's artists like the Beach Boys and Harry Nilsson. - The Deli