The Smile (band)

The Smile
The Smile in January 2022
Background information
Genres
Years active2018–present
Labels
  • XL
  • Self Help Tapes
Spinoff of
Members
Websitethesmiletheband.com

The Smile are an English rock band comprising Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, bass, keys), Jonny Greenwood (guitar, bass, keys) and Tom Skinner (drums). Critics likened them to Yorke and Greenwood's band Radiohead, with more jazz, krautrock and progressive rock influences and a looser, wilder sound.

The Smile formed in 2018 and worked during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. They made their surprise debut in a performance streamed by Glastonbury Festival in May 2021. In early 2022, they released six singles and performed to an audience for the first time at three shows in London, which were livestreamed. In May, the Smile released their debut album, A Light for Attracting Attention, to acclaim. It was produced by Nigel Godrich, Radiohead's longtime producer.

The Smile toured Europe and North America in 2022 and 2023, and released the album The Smile (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival, July 2022) and the EP Europe: Live Recordings 2022. Their second studio album, Wall of Eyes, produced by Sam Petts-Davies, was released in January 2024, followed by a European tour. Their third album, Cutouts, some of which was recorded during the Wall of Eyes sessions, was released in October 2024.

  1. ^ a b Monger, James Christopher. "The Smile - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 November 2023.