EMQs with SMILE MORE
EMQ’s With SMILE MORE
13/03/2024
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Dale on Bass. Ollie on Vocals with Johnny providing backing vocals where necessary. Chris and Johnny on Guitars, they tend to alternate between lead and rhythm. We did have Reuben on Drums however he recently left and we are currently hunting for a drummer.
How did you come up with your band name?
It was our first drummer that gets the credit for the name. We agonised for a long while when the project was new over what it would be called. Tokyo Psycho, the name we initially ran with, didn’t really match the output. There were other more ‘sophisticated’ ideas that referenced things like lucid dreaming, comatose and intoxication but they all felt too tidy and pristine, they all sounded more Progressive Metal; which at the time we were actively trying to steer away from. Among all this music snobbery our drummer at the time simply stated, ‘One of the best ways to fight against oppression is to SMILE MORE.’ and it just fit. It conjured visions of a 1984-esque dystopia where self-expression is an act of resistance.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
Bristol, United Kingdom. Bristol is really eclectic, when the band formed there was a lot of genre blending going on and we sort of fell into that alternative trend. As time has gone on various heavy niches have begun to expand dramatically and the line-ups across the city are incredibly diverse. The atmosphere is exciting and gripping, a real melting pot of tastes.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
We released a single titled ‘SIMP!’ back in 2022 and we have ‘Thank You For Having Me’ coming out on the 22nd of March.
Who have been your greatest influences?
System of a Down, Primus, Avatar and Tool.
What first got you into music?
I imagine it’s different for all of us but for me (Ollie), it was essentially pure escapism. Just losing myself in music to feel a sense of belonging and identity really.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Moon Reaper, It would be truly horrifying. Or Karmen Fields. Those folks know how to drink.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Bloodstock, it’s just the perfect festival. A fantastic community, great nightlife and fantastic line-ups.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Their shirt. That’s probably up there.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
You’ll never truly figure it all out.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Randy Rhodes, he’s sick.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Feeling that moment where you forget you’re playing to a crowd and truly get lost in the sauce. The worst bit is being broke as hell… all the time.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The pay and especially how big companies essentially ruin creativity by hoarding all the wealth. The world of music is much more DIY nowadays out of necessity because no-one is willing to take risks on creative works any more. Pushing the envelope is becoming harder year on year and as a result individuality within the world of music is slowly beginning to suffer. For any good rule there are obvious exceptions but subcultures are slowly becoming commercialised which results in an exploitative industry that chases profits while screwing artists.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Blizzard of Oz” by Ozzy Osbourne.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Vinyl for tone, downloads for convenience.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Our first Halloween Gig, it was nuts.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Working our respective jobs. It’s all we can do. Rent is depressing these days.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Bill Gates, Jeff Besoz, Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jack Black. The first 4 to beg for trustfund kid levels of money to fund our albums and tours. Jack Black for comic relief when we are inevitably told no.
What’s next for the band?
Our upcoming release ‘Thank You For Having Me’ followed by a focussed push towards festival stages. We have a show that is slowly getting bigger and bolder.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
Round here we call them ‘Yeasty Spirals’.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Come see the show. We would like to drink with you.
