Wanting to bring something new to the Dallas music scene, Ryan Hamilton and… Read Full Bio ↴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.

“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

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.

“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

Curious about their relationship? Ryan describes it best.

“Jencey and I met a few years ago, dated, fell in love, wrote some songs, started our band Smile Smile, made our first record, Blue Roses, and got engaged to be married. We had a home, a life and were making plans for our future together. To say the least, that didn't really go as planned. We broke up.

I remember writing and recording alone in the house that we used to live in. We weren't really speaking, so I would send Jencey songs via email. Originally it was to show her how much I was hurting. I was such a mess at that point, putting these 'break up' songs on a record hadn't really crossed my mind. I didn't realize how much Truth On Tape told our story. It’s like a journal put to music, literally. These songs take honesty to an uncomfortable level. I think that's because what I was going through was so intense and difficult. I'm not sure how we made it through. I'm not sure how Jencey managed to look at these songs constructively and add her parts and musical opinion. I'm REALLY not sure how we salvaged some sort of workable musical relationship and put these songs on a record.

We've had some time to heal and get over what happened but these songs are still hard to listen to and perform. Songs like, "Beg You To Stay" or "Somebody Else" take me back to a place when things really started going wrong. I hear others like "The Attic" and "Truth On Tape" and remember how difficult it was to separate our things, move out and move on. This record is a break up record. It's OUR story and it's true.”

Truth on Tape was released Feb 9th, 2010 fittingly (or not) just in time for Valentines Day.