Fake a Smile Take Us Track By Track Through Their Debut EP ‘Shoot Me to the Moon’


We quickly obsessed over Fake a Smile, falling in love with the British trio's unambiguously moody, angsty guitar-driven sound that balances a fresh but familiar repertoire. Buttressed by impressive film-like visuals, their recent singles have startled us into early fandom, leading to the release of their debut EP,  Shoot Me to the Moon, which we believe will merit some credible year-end lists. Wanting to hear from the band directly, comprised of Jamie Kravos, Luca Ellison, and Ryan Poole, we reached out to learn about the influences, nuances, and inspirations for their excellent debut EP. 

"Appetite"

We wrote "Appetite" after touching down in Los Angeles, fueled by the excitement of being in a new city. It’s about self-liberation and the confidence to put yourself out there again after the end of a relationship. We infused classic '60s elements of old rock and roll, with The Rolling Stones-esque fuzzy guitars over swung drums. "Appetite" has a forward momentum that pulls you forward and sets the tone for the rest of the EP.

"Shoot me to the Moon" 

"Shoot Me to the Moon" leans into the more psychedelic realm of our sound. Simply put, it’s about the idea of getting high on being with someone. There’s a delicateness in the way it’s produced with the doubling of acoustic and electric guitars, and hauntingly soft synths. 

"Prom Dress"

"Prom Dress" was our first single of this EP and we felt it made a great introduction to us. There’s obvious themes of nostalgia and youthfulness on this track but they’re emphasised by Gianluca Buccellati’s production “When we wrote Prom Dress, I was feeling anxious about growing older,” says lead singer Jamie. “After turning 24 last year I found myself constantly reminiscing on the past… After some self-reflection, I’ve come to embrace how much life changes.”

"Show Yourself Around"

"Show Yourself Around" continues the theme of self-empowerment and moving on. It’s inspired by the sounds of bands like Washed Out and Connan Mockasin. You gotta dust yourself off, dress up sexy and get on that dance floor. 

"Don’t Stop"

We’d been talking about the pressure our generation feels to endlessly pursue and portray a perfect life on social media, which doesn’t exist. We channelled these conversations into this track, creating a darker undertone, with more elements of early rock music, more so in the vein of Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd. 

Related Articles

Indy Finds True Blue Sense of Self in New EP “Fame is A Bedroom” [Q&A]

Indy Finds True Blue Sense of Self in New EP “Fame is A Bedroom” [Q&A]

August 1, 2025 From reflecting on toxic relationships in their many forms, to opening up about sharing her sister with the world from a young age, Indy sheds her skin in this pop-forward evaluation of her 20’s thus far.
Author: Giselle Libby
pop
Join Susannah Joffe, Cult Leader of AMC A-Listers and Actual Happy People

Join Susannah Joffe, Cult Leader of AMC A-Listers and Actual Happy People

July 31, 2025 We had the privilege of hosting this beguiling artist into our pod huddle, and made her spill the beans on Cult Leader, great songwriting and more.
Author: DJ Connor
Q&A
quinnie Creates An Intimate Soundscape With Sophomore Album paper   doll

quinnie Creates An Intimate Soundscape With Sophomore Album paper doll

July 29, 2025 Riding the wave of her hit single “touch tank” and debut album flounder, the New Jersey-born singer-songwriter makes a strong return with the release of her second studio album, paper doll.
Author: India Yeoh