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Hi…We are Smile Smile…
Wanting to bring something new to the Dallas music scene, Ryan Hamilton and Jencey Hirunrusme create their own modern blend of folk, pop and rock in Smile Smile. Their songs range from heart wrenching ballads to foot stomping sing alongs. Jencey’s classical piano background teamed with Ryan’s self-taught guitar style combine to create sounds which both soar above you and pull you in tight at the same time.
“When we formed Smile Smile, we looked at what was missing in the world of folk and pop and then tried to create a sound that was uniquely ours,” says Jencey. “We really wanted our music to be catchy and memorable, but also focusing on the issues that we care about.”
The duo garnered local and national success in 2006 with their debut full-length album Blue Roses. Its full of infectious melodies, dusty blue lyrics whispers, hand-claps and toe-tappable folk songs set to guitar and keys. Smile Smile were nominated for “Best Folk Rock Song (“Sad Song”) at the Los Angeles Independent Music Awards, nominated as “Best USA Act” in the Toronto Independent Music Awards, and have had several tracks from Blue Roses licensed for programming on MTV’s NEXT. Smile Smile was also featured in the film Jack and Jill vs the World starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Tarynn Manning.
Although known for their subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) back and forth jabs onstage, when the pair sing together their voices sound as if they are one. Stripping songs down to the bone and emphasizing the simplicity of beautiful music, is about the only thing the two can agree upon. Curious about their relationship? The duo will release their sophomore album Truth on Tape on February 9, 2010 which chronicles their lives. Together. And apart. And…?
“This boy-girl duo give me goosebumps with their lovesick punch. Two voices, drum machines, a guitar and a keyboard equal undeniable chemistry. It’s emotional without being in-your-face – almost like you’re eavesdropping on some pillow talk.” Quick DFW
“A sort of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah/Mazzy Star hybrid of sing-along folk, buzzy country-leaning tunes and uptempo/downtempo swings, with brilliantly unconventional songwriting and smart harmonies anchoring the whole deal.” Dallas Observer
“The harmonies between Hamilton and Hirunrusme are stunning sounding as if Ryan Adams and Hope Sandoval decided to hop into the studio after getting their hearts broken” -The Tripwire
PRESS
She Does the City – Smile Smile NXNE Interview
Toronto, Canada
Jencey Hirunrusme (keyboard, vocals) and Ryan Hamilton (guitar, vocals) make quite the duo. Outside the Painted Lady before the show, we chat about breakups, barbecue and Maxim parties, but their real personality comes out on stage. “Last year we had the honor of touring with Metric” Ryan announces in the middle of the set. “They always talked about this thing called poutine, which sounds kind of dirty, really, but I finally tried it last night, and let me say, Toronto … not impressed.” “Whatever,” Jency chimes in. “He had it at like 4 in the morning and he was like, ‘oh my god this is so good …’”
Smile Through Your Heartache with Smile Smile’s New Album
Feeling lonely or simply let down by love? Crack a beer and pop in Smile Smile’s new Truth on Tape, a break-up album that will lift your spirits and maybe even open your heart to possibility—but not necessarily the romantic kind.
Smile Smile’s Hearts are Broken – But Its New Record is Solid
Inter-band turmoil? That’s just something to be expected during any band’s career. Problems can arise from a range of sources, including monetary concerns, creative strife, roadweariness and, often enough, infidelity. It happens.
Infidelity’s a tricky one, though. It’s hard enough as is, most would say, to stay in a committed relationship while living a regular person’s life.
Even in the confessional vein of the singer/songwriter genre, it’s rare to find entire albums that cut to the emotional bone. Joni Mitchell’s nakedly raw-nerved Blue was epochal, as was Richard and Linda Thompson’s Shoot Out the Lights, and in rock, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. Now add to the list Smile Smile’s Truth on Tape, scheduled for a February 16 release on Kirtland Records
Breakup of relationship leads to painful but poignant collaboration
Fort Worth Weekly – Preston Jones
Once upon a time, Ryan Hamilton and Jencey Hirunrusme met and fell in love. They wrote some tunes, formed a band with a sunny name — Smile Smile — and moved in together. They made plans to get married. Then things fell apart — in dramatic fashion. The Dallas couple called off their engagement, and Hirunrusme moved out, placing the band’s future in jeopardy.
Smile Smile Scores with Truth on Tape – Songs of Love and Heartbreak
Associated Content – Brian Willett
There’s no doubt about it – blending folk and pop can be tricky. At worst, the fusion can sound forced and hokey. But the rewards can be great when the two genres are handled with capable hands and creative musical minds. Such rewards come in the songs of Smile Smile’s Truth on Tape, a sweet, simple (or deceptively complex) album from an up-and-coming Dallas duo. At first, the cominbation of a self-taught guitarist (Ryan Hamilton) and a classical pianist (Jencey Hirunrusme) might seem like an odd pairing. However, as Truth on Tape shows, the diverse musical background allows the two to be flexible and creative and offer a sound as irresistible as an insistent young puppy.
Truth on Tape Begs You For A Listen (It’s worthy of one.)
When you think of a band named Smile Smile, you would assume, or at least I assume, that the music is filled with cute lyrics and adorableness. The sophomore effort from Smile Smile, Truth on Tape, is not filled with such lyrics, but ones filled with emotions that come along with interpersonal relationships, love, and heartbreak.
You may have already heard that local folk/pop duo Smile Smile was signed to local label Kirtland Records earlier this week. Not a huge shocker–Smile Smile’s a talented act. See for yourselves on that front, though; Kirtland’s hooking DC9 readers up with a free download of “Sad Song” (from of the band’s soon-to-be re-released Blue Roses album)
Smile Smile Signs with Kirtland Records
Quick DFW – Hunter Hauk
A press release should go out later today, but Smile Smile’s Ryan Hamilton was nice enough to give me the heads up that the group is now on the Kirtland Records roster.
Tale of the tune: Smile Smile’s ‘The Attic’
Quick DFW – Hunter Hauk
The stories behind local musicians’ songs.
CMJ.com – Rachael Darmanin
Dallas, Texas folk pop act Smile Smile will have something to, er, smile about after being named the grand prize winner of last year’s Zig-Zag Live competition, earning them a slot at this year’s CMJ Music Marathon. The band, who released their debut album Blue Roses (Crystal Clear) last year, will play Alphabet Lounge, Wednesday October 18 at 8 p.m.
Smile Smile Talks CMJ with DC-9
Dallas Observer – Jonanna Widner
I had a quick chat with Smile Smile’s co-singer/guitarist Ryan Hamilton, a.k.a. the nicest guy in the world, on the phone to get the skinny on the band’s upcoming CMJ appearance.
Pegasus News – Erin Rice
Switching it up between male, female, and duo led vocals, and spanning the indie-pop spectrum while tossing in some folksy and rockabilly pieces, there was no song performed during the set that could have been confused with another.
Smile Smile Wins First Round of Zig Zag
CMJ.com – Rachael Darmanin
The results are in for round one of Zig-Zag Live Contest and the Dallas duo Smile Smile have taken home the prize. Their catchy folk songs from their self-released debut has won them a prize package valued at over $14,000 that includes prominent exposure on www.cmj.com.
Dallas Observer – Jonanna Widner
Smile Smile’s subtle touch is their strength; their just-odd-enough melodies, harmonies and sweet keyboard lines are more than the sum of their parts. That is, made up of distinct, individual, almost simple elements, their songs coalesce into tight, gorgeously rendered units. I’m not sure they even need a full band.
Locals we couldn’t stop listening to
Quick DFW – Hunter Hauk
Smile Smile, ‘Blue Roses’
This boy-girl duo’s transcendent single “Sad Song” gives me goosebumps, and several more songs on Blue Roses pack that same lovesick punch. Two voices, drum machines, a guitar and a keyboard equal undeniable chemistry.
Key tracks: “Anymore,” “Sad Song,” “Taking Its Toll
ALBUMS
Quick DFW – Erin Wade
The discs we couldn’t stop spinning
BLUE ROSES BY SMILE SMILE: This Dallas boy/girl duo bares it all in their music. It’s emotional without being in-your-face – almost like you’re eavesdropping on some pillow talk.
Listen Up: Smile Smile
Fort Worth Weekly – Caroline Collier
Intentionally simple, the Dallas duo Smile Smile spotlights each discrete element of a song, enabling the plainspoken emotion of harmony to speak for itself.
Dallas Observer by Jonanna Widner
The duo’s CD release show at the Cavern was suitable for a rainy Saturday night, low-key but tight with a low hum of energy, sultry and harmony-drenched. Smile Smile is the type of band you need to experience live to appreciate. The new disc, Blue Roses, is solid enough, a sort of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah/Mazzy Star hybrid of sing-along folk, buzzy country-leaning tunes and uptempo/downtempo swings, with brilliantly unconventional songwriting and smart harmonies anchoring the whole deal.
Quick DFW – Erin Wade
They’re young, super-nice, totally unpretentious and in love (or are they?). Jencey Hirunrusme and Ryan Hamilton of Smile Smile are attached at the hip and create the kind of moving music that could only be made by soul mates.
TexasGigs.com By Cindy Chaffin
Local favorites Smile Smile have lots of good stuff happnin’ in the coming days and weeks.
Get Acquainted with Smile Smile
Quick DFW – Hunter Hauk
As boy-girl groups go, Smile Smile’s a keeper. While that’s a play on the lyrics to “Sad Song,” a single from the Dallas duo’s self-titled CD, it’s also the truth.
Dallas Observer – Jesse Hughey
Smile Smile’s sad sad guy/gal duets about failure, break-ups and betrayal are like a journal detailing a quarter-life crisis…
Quick DFW – Hunter Hauk
“One of the biggest local success stories recently on The Adventure Club. From the first time I played them, people were going nuts wanting to see this boy-girl duo. More gorgeous slow pop.”
