Subtle Smiles

Duo Subtle Smiles began on February 21st, 2017 when Marley and Brian decided to spend a part of their one year anniversary to make a 1 min song. Although that particular song is still unreleased, the experience itself proved transformative and inspiring. Brian produced over twenty five,  one minute beats that Marley would write to. From there, Brian would unfold the short 1 minute songs into full productions over the next 2.5 years. This is still primarily how the two write music to this day.  Influences came from Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, and  Bonobo.   Subtle Smiles signed with Donut Sounds Records, an independent label in Seattle Washington to release their first album, ‘Significant Other’ on Feb 21, 2019.  The band shot a music video for the single, “inside outside” as well as a self produced music video for the song “discarded Dreams”, directed and shot by Subtle Smiles. 

In 2020,  the group released their  pandemic single, ‘Tried to Tell You” with an accompanying music video. The song was a sonic exploration, utilizing modular euro rack synthesis for the first time in a production.  

In 2021, The single “Human” dropped with both an Instrumental and a self produced  music video . This sound was a darker, more brooding  sound than previous releases.  Subtle Smiles also collaborated with Bundy in 2021 on the single, “Crush”.

In 2022 Subtle Smiles became fully independent when their label, Donut Sounds, closed their doors. 

At the end of 2022, Brian and Marley got married after dating for 7 years. 

2023 saw the release of Subtle Smiles remix of a Tigercide song, “Remedy” get released. Produced during the pandemic, the song was part of a vinyl compilation of 7 other remixes from the album of the same name. An Accompanying music video was released as well.

Towards  the end of 2023,  Subtle Smiles began a series of DJ Mixes. Their first mix was over 80 minutes of Deep House Grooves and the second mix was over an hour of hard hitting Drum and Bass. 

At the end of 2023, Subtle Smiles started their own label, Senescence Records. They've since self released two new singles "In The Shade" and "Landline". Both songs mixed and Mastered in Dolby Atmos. 

Between 2019 and 2023 Brian produced over 130 different beats for the new album. Tentatively slated for an early summer release, the new album currently clocks in at 13 tracks at a roughly 40 minute run time. Former singles “Human” and “Tried to Tell You” are planned to appear on the full-length as well as 8 more unheard new songs. Marley Rae not only contributes her voice and lyrics to the album, but co-produced and wrote a number of songs as well.