By Jeff Lipton
Positive message a trademark of new alternative rock group
A new alternative rock band in the area has been spreading optimistic messages, and its lead singer, an East Meadow resident, can only see positive things coming from that.
Nick Santini, 23, who moved to East Meadow from Garden City about five months ago, has been producing songs for the past 18 months with a new group called "Jaime's Smile."
In addition to lead vocals, Santini also plays rhythm guitar for the band. He is joined by Chuck McDermott, 25, of Seaford, on lead guitar; Torey Pirolo, 24, of Syosset, on bass; and John Capogna, 21, of Massapequa, on drums.
Pirolo parted ways with his old band, "The Escape Artists," to help form the new group.
"We got together because we all have the same ideas about what we want to do," said Santini. "We're all from the same background in terms of listening to the same music. Right now we're in the process of creating a new album and we're writing new songs."
Santini said the new album, which will probably have 10 songs, is scheduled for a mid-February release.
The first album the band produced, self-titled "Jaime's Smile," which featured eight songs, has been "doing real well" since its debut about six months ago, said Santini. "People have been responding to it," he said, adding that about 2,000 copies were sold in the first three or four months of release.
In this era of music that sends the wrong or negative messages, Jaime's Smile has been swimming against the flow.
"What we've been going for is something positive, sending a positive message to people," said Santini. "A lot of younger kids are listening to messages about death. We're going for the more uplifting message." One of the band's songs, entitled "Typical Night," presents a positive message about going out with friends and having a really good time.
Santini said other songs from the band try to counter negative messages of hopelessness and suicide. "We're about, 'There's always hope' and 'It's not the end of the world' if things go wrong," Santini said. "We're always saying, 'Hold your head up, things will get better.'
"In our songs we're not talking about death, how much love stinks and heartbreak," Santini added.
Another song, entitled "Girls Who Steal Sweatshirts," is about moving on after breaking up in a relationship. "I got the title of the song because whenever I break up with a girlfriend, I always end up losing a sweatshirt [to her]," Santini said.
The group is most popular with the 18-to-25 age range, but the band is also a favorite of many younger kids and has a following of those 40 to 50 years old. With the group's positive messages, Jaime's Smile has also become a favorite of parents as well.
The group has been limited in the live music that it plays because the number of venues for groups like Jaime's Smile has become narrower. "The best way for us to go is to put out a small album," said Santini. "And we don't have the money right now to put out a huge album." He said it costs about $1,000 to produce each song.
The group practices about two to three times a week in Santini's basement to stay sharp.
"We're trying to take this as far as we can," Santini said, adding that the band is planning on touring along the East Coast during the summer and hitting some college locales.
Comments about this story? Jlipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
