Smile Empty Soul

Smile Empty Soul
Background information
Origin	Santa Clarita, California, United States
Genres	Post-grunge, Hard Rock, alternative rock
Years active	1998-present
Labels	Two Disciples Entertainment Pavement Entertainment eOne Music F.O.F. Label Group Bieler Bros. Lava Records ThroBack
Website	www.SmileEmptySoul.com
Members	Sean Danielsen Ryan Martin Jake Kilmer
Past members	Derek Gledhill Dominic Weir Mike Booth

Smile Empty Soul is an American hard rock band from Santa Clarita, California, United States.^[1]

History

Beginnings (1998-2003)

Smile Empty Soul formed in 1998,^[2] while its original members were attending different high schools in the Santa Clarita area. The band, originally a three-piece group, consisted of vocalist and guitarist Sean Danielsen, bassist Ryan Martin and drummer Derek Gledhill.

After playing numerous hometown gigs, Smile Empty Soul ventured to the Sunset Strip, and later gave a demo to John Parker of Los Angeles indie label, ThroBack Records, which led later on to a record deal with Jason Flom's Lava Records.^[1]

Self-titled debut album (2003-2005)

On May 27, 2003, the band released their self-titled debut album Smile Empty Soul.^[3] The album was produced by John Lewis Parker,^[1] and mixed by David J. Holman.^[4] Three singles, "Bottom of a Bottle", "Nowhere Kids" and "Silhouettes", were released via the recording. In March 2005, the album was certified gold with sales in excess of 500,000+.^[5]

Anxiety (2005-2006)

In 2005, before the recording of their second album Anxiety was finished, drummer Derek Gledhill was replaced by Flickerstick percussionist Dominic Weir.^[6] Their new album Anxiety, was not released (at that time) due to the band parting ways with Lava Records after the company refused to release their record.^[7][8]

On July 13, 2006,^[9] Smile Empty Soul signed with independent label, Bieler Bros. Records.^[10][11][12] At this point, drummer Dominic Weir had been replaced by Jake Kilmer,^[13] and Mike Booth (ex-Cold) was added as a second guitarist.^[14]

Vultures (2006-2009)

On October 24, 2006, the band released Vultures, the official follow-up to their 2003 debut Smile Empty Soul. The album doesn't feature any songs from the unreleased Anxiety.^[15] The first single released was the song "The Hit".^[16]

Vultures debuted at No. 169 on the Billboard 200 album charts^[17] with just over 5,000 copies sold.^[18] The band then embarked on a tour with The Exies.^[19]

In late April 2007,^[20] the band parted ways with Mike Booth, which was a mutual split. The band has yet to replace him, and has continued on as a 3-piece.^[21]

The trio began recording their new record in Greenville, South Carolina on February 1, 2008.^[22]

Consciousness and More Anxiety (2009-2012)

Soon after recording for their new album entitled Consciousness was finished,^[22] the band returned to the studio to record a few more songs.^[22] Later on, the band confirmed that they had signed with F.O.F./EMI records.^[22] Consciousness was then released in August 2009.^[23]

In November 2009, the 2005 album Anxiety was released on iTunes.^[24][25]

On March 9, 2010, More Anxiety, a special edition of Anxiety including a bonus DVD was released.^[26]

Smile Empty Soul have released music videos for "We're Through"^[27] and "Faker" from their album Consciousness.^[28]

In 2009, it was announced that Danielsen formed a new group called World Fire Brigade with Fuel vocalist Brett Scallions, which also consisted of bassist Brad Stewart (ex-Shinedown) and former Candiria drummer Ken Schalk. The debut studio album, entitled Spreading My Wings, was released in August 2012 through FrostByte Media.^[29][30]

3's (2012-2013)

On March 14, 2012, it was announced that Smile Empty Soul had signed with eOne Music and will be releasing their new album "3's" on May 22, 2012.^[31]

In March 2012, "Afterlife", the first single from 3's, was released.^[32]

In April 2013 lead singer Sean Danielsen released his solo EP Enjoy the Process.^[33]

Later that year, October 1, 2013 was announced as the expected date of release.^[34]

Chemicals (2013-2015)

In June 2013 it was announced that Smile Empty Soul formed an imprint label called Two Disciples Entertainment in conjunction with Pavement Entertainment^[35] and would release Chemicals in fall of 2013.^[36]

On November 3, 2014, Danielsen released his second solo EP entitled Food Chain.^[33]

Shapeshifter (2015-2017)

In September 2015, the ensemble also announced through their Facebook page that in early 2016, an EP and DVD was expected.^[37] In November 2015, the band stated that the artwork for the EP is complete.^[38] The work, whose title was announced in January 2016 as Shapeshifter^[39] is scheduled for release on 1 April 2016.^[40]

Upcoming compilation album (2017-present)

In October 2016, the band stated via their Facebook page that in early 2017, they plan to release a compilation album consisting of 13 rare and unreleased tracks.^[41]

Band members

Smile Empty Soul performing at South by So What?! music festival in March 2014

Current

• Sean Danielsen – lead vocals, lead & rhythm guitars (1998–Present)
• Ryan Martin – bass guitar (1998–Present)
• Jake Kilmer – drums, backing vocals (2006–Present)

Former

• Derek Gledhill – drums, backing vocals (1998–2005)
• Dominic Weir – drums (2005–2006)
• Mike Booth – lead guitars (2006–2007)

Touring

• Phil Lipscomb – bass guitar (2014)
• Mark "Mawk" Young – bass guitar (2016–Present)

Discography

Notes

Trivia

• Percussionist Jake Kilmer is also a music producer^[67] who performs in Poet Warrior^[68] as well as Johnny Bluegrass and the Coonhounds.^[69][70]
• In July 2015, Kilmer Family Band, a California bluegrass acoustic ensemble that Kilmer formed with his very closest relatives,^[71] released their debut self-titled album,^[72] which includes their debut single "Christmas in June".^[73]

References

External links

• Official website
• Smile Empty Soul at AllMusic
• Interview @ SHOUT! Music Webzine