Constant Smiles

Born on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, Constant Smiles revolves around musician and composer Ben Jones. The project began as an informal collective of friends from the local DIY scene and occupies a space between indie rock and experimental pop, combining lo‑fi textures, dream‑pop influences, touches of folk and atmospheres close to slowcore. There is a marked attention to repetition, subtle drones and background vocal harmonies. After a number of low‑key releases that bordered on cassette and self‑publishing, the trajectory broadened with the album Paragons, released in 2021 on the New York label Sacred Bones and recorded with producer Ben Greenberg; it foregrounded more structured songs while retaining an introspective writing style. In 2023 Kenneth Anger continued this work, leaning more into contrasts between saturated guitars and sparser passages, in an aesthetic where sonic density still serves song‑based formats. On stage Constant Smiles most often appears in a tightened, tour‑adaptable lineup, maintaining the idea of a core led by Jones surrounded by a small group of recurring collaborators.