Smile Smile
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Dallas, Texas , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
Smile Smile was a folk pop and indie rock duo originating from Dallas, Texas, featuring Jencey Hirunrusme on piano and vocals alongside Ryan Hamilton handling guitar and vocals. The group worked with several drummers, including Jeff Gilroy, Michael Ratliff, and Cooper Heffley.
History
The band's first album, Blue Roses, initially came out independently in 2006 before being re-released by Kirtland Records in 2008. Their song "Sad Song" received a nomination for Best Folk Song at the Los Angeles Independent Music Awards, and the band itself was nominated for Best USA Artist at the Toronto Independent Music Awards. Tracks from Blue Roses were licensed by MTV, with "Anymore" appearing on the NEXT program and featured in the movie Jack and Jill vs. the World.
Vocal contributions by Hirunrusme extended to projects by Calhoun, Black Tie Dynasty, and Here Holy Spain; meanwhile, Hamilton also participated in a Calhoun album.
In February 2010, they released their sophomore album Truth on Tape, produced by David Castell and mixed by Tim Palmer. Although a third album titled His & Hers, with songwriting input from Hirunrusme, was initially announced for 2037, it was later confirmed that it would not be released.
Their third studio album, Marry a Stranger, was issued in August 2012. The band concluded their activities in 2013 following a final performance streamed on StageIt.
Albums
| Year | Details |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Blue Roses
|
| 2010 | Truth on Tape
|
| 2012 | Marry a Stranger
|
Music Videos
| Year | Title | Director | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Sad Song" | Andy Hines | Blue Roses |
| 2010 | "Tempo Bledsoe" | Travis Petty | Truth on Tape |
| "Beg You to Stay" | Jason Whitbeck | ||
| "Truth on Tape" | Jason Whitbeck |
People on Vacation
From 2010 through 2016, Hamilton engaged in a side project called People on Vacation alongside Jaret Reddick of the pop punk group Bowling for Soup.
Ryan Hamilton and The Harlequin Ghosts
Following his departure from People on Vacation, Ryan Hamilton initiated a new musical endeavor originally named Ryan Hamilton and the Traitors, which was later renamed Ryan Hamilton and the Harlequin Ghosts. Their sound is heavily influenced by music from the 1960s and 1970s, which serves as the foundation of their style.