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.

Story by Rachel Rascoe

Photo by Jen Rachid

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.