PREMIERE: SECRET SMILES’ DEBUT SINGLE “STAY BLUE”

Secret Smiles by Wanda Martin.

Los Angeles based band Secret Smiles have just released their first single “Stay Blue” produced by Henri Cash (Starcrawler). 

The track is the first to be released off of their upcoming self-titled EP Secret Smiles. “‘Stay Blue’ was the first song I finished writing in lockdown,” says frontman Julian de la Celle. “I was really obsessed with Leonard Cohen’s Songs of Love and Hate and was listening to a lot of Lee Hazlewood and various surf music and this is what came out!”

The band consists of Julian de la Celle (vocals / guitar), Ian Waters (guitar), Zeh Monstro (bass), and Ann Seletos (drums). “I was unsure about starting a band - I didn’t know if I had the time to dedicate to it, or if what I was writing was even any good, but once I added every finished song and partial song I had worked on throughout the years into a folder on my computer, I realized I had over 35 songs and that’s when I sorta said ‘Fuck it.’” 

The band are all close friends that have played in various bands around town. “I think I first reached out to Ann because I knew I wanted some feminine energy in this project and always loved female driven rhythm sections. Luckily she loved the music and joined, and then I asked Ian and Zeh to come on board shortly after that - it’s a really great dynamic, low stress, no drama, just how I like it.”

Catch the band tomorrow night at Oracle Tavern in Los Angeles for their single release party with special guests BLONE NOBLE + POSITION NUIT, and read their feature in our most recent issue.