The Smart Set
Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF | AFM
Music
Press
"With the combined talents and experience of this five-piece LA electronic/pop group, The Smart Set couldn’t be a more fitting name. Producer/guitarist and creator of The Smart Set, Rick Torres (Supreme Beings of Leisure, Bitter:Sweet) is joined by vocalist and songwriter Brandi Emma (Emma Burgess), bassist Wayne Lothian (General Public, The Special Beat), keyboardist Dave Schulz (The Goo Goo Dolls), and drummer Chris O’Brien. The group creates songs that are lush and full, dabbling in roots/dub, breakbeat electronica, exotica lounge, blues, rock, and folk—one song finds Emma slightly snarling in a way that's almost indistinguishable from Gwen Stefani (in a good way) and the next showcases her as an ethereal, melancholy-pop princess. There's a genuine sweetness and beauty to their music—it's heartfelt, playful, wistful, but never clichéd." - URB MAGAZINE - Reviewed by Aylin Zafar
"With the combined talents and experience of this five-piece LA electronic/pop group, The Smart Set couldn’t be a more fitting name. Producer/guitarist and creator of The Smart Set, Rick Torres (Supreme Beings of Leisure, Bitter:Sweet) is joined by vocalist and songwriter Brandi Emma (Emma Burgess), bassist Wayne Lothian (General Public, The Special Beat), keyboardist Dave Schulz (The Goo Goo Dolls), and drummer Chris O’Brien. The group creates songs that are lush and full, dabbling in roots/dub, breakbeat electronica, exotica lounge, blues, rock, and folk—one song finds Emma slightly snarling in a way that's almost indistinguishable from Gwen Stefani (in a good way) and the next showcases her as an ethereal, melancholy-pop princess. There's a genuine sweetness and beauty to their music—it's heartfelt, playful, wistful, but never clichéd." - URB MAGAZINE - Reviewed by Aylin Zafar
Discography
The Smart Set is currently showcasing their debut album, "Mixing with the Smart Set". And currently working on their second release.
We have done two radio shows with Suicide Girls Radio at Indie 103.1,
as well as had our song "Complicated Thing" played on Los Angles radio station KCRW .
Also featured on Music Highway Radio with Sheena Metal. "The Smart Set - "Black widow-Vixen-Killer music" - Sheena Metal, Music Highway Radio."
The Smart Set also has songs featured in both American and Delta airlines in flight music programming... these programs will be listened to by over 5 million listeners!
Our song "Love Never Dies" is featured in the new Scott Caan movie "MERCY"
Love Never Dies is also in the commercial for the Fisker Karma Hybrid Luxury Sports Car
We have several songs in the
wonderful new Paul Boyd/ Paul Rodriguez Jr. movie - "Vicious Circle"
Photos
Bio
The Smart Set is a new Alternative/Electronica/Pop group from Los Angeles who's members include vocalist and songwriter Eleni V., producer and guitarist Rick Torres (of Supreme Beings of Leisure, Bitter:Sweet, The English Beat, and The Ooks Of Hazzard), bassist Wayne Lothian (of General Public, The English Beat and The Special Beat), keyboardist Dave Schulz (of The Goo Goo Dolls and Berlin) and drummer David Goodstein (Billy Idol). The Smart Set's music draws upon such diverse influences as Roots/Dub, Breakbeat Electronica, Northern Soul, California Soul, Exotica Lounge, Blues, Country, Trip Hop, Rock and Folk. Their music has a dreamy, intoxicating quality that brings to mind groups like Massive Attack, Portishead and Zero 7, while the lyrics and melodies may evoke comparisons to Dusty Springfield and Joni Mitchell. Not strictly downtempo, The Smart Set endeavors to bring a wide range of musical moods and surprises to the stage with accomplished musicianship and finesse.
Band Members
Links
