As It Is (band)

As It Is (often stylised as ΛS IT IS or Λ\\) is a British-American rock band based in Brighton, England. The band was formed in 2012, and signed to Fearless Records on 2 October 2014.[3] The group consists of lead vocalist Patty Walters, lead guitarist Ronnie Ish and bassist Alistair Testo.

As It Is
As It Is during a photoshoot for The Great Depression in 2018. From left to right: Patrick Foley, Benjamin Langford-Biss, Patty Walters, and Alistair Testo.
Background information
OriginBrighton, England, UK
Genres
Years active2012–present
LabelsFearless
Websiteasitisofficial.com
Members
  • Patty Walters
  • Alistair Testo
  • Ronnie Ish
Past members
  • James Fox
  • Andy Westhead
  • Benjamin Langford-Biss
  • Patrick Foley

The band has released four EPs, three EPs from the Reimagined series and three albums, titled Never Happy, Ever After, which was released by Fearless Records on 20 April 2015 in Europe and on 21 April 2015 in the US.[4] okay., which was released on 20 January 2017[5] and The Great Depression, released 10 August 2018.

History

Formation and Never Happy, Ever After (2012–2016)

As It Is was formed in spring 2012[6] by Minnesota-born Patty Walters, who posted an advertisement stating that he was looking for musicians to be in a pop-punk band using the online service Join My Band.[7] Andy Westhead and Patrick Foley replied to the advertisement and were accepted into the band[8] along with Benjamin Langford-Biss, who Walters knew from university. The band's name comes from a lyric in a song by the American straight edge hardcore band Have Heart.

Walters began his own career by posting song covers on his personal YouTube channel. After the band's formation, the band as a whole worked on a cover of Fat Lip by Sum 41. As the band's career started to gain more traction, he posted less often until he finally announced in the video, titled "A New Chapter", that he would go on an undetermined hiatus for the channel and would be focusing his efforts on As It Is. He has since made clear that he has no intention of returning to YouTube.

The band played local shows for the first couple of years before their first few tours shortly after releasing their fourth EP This Mind of Mine, touring the UK and Europe. The band received a large response from these tours and signed to Fearless Records in October 2014, becoming the first UK band to sign to the label.[9] The band members began working on the group's debut full-length album in 2014 in Florida with producer James Paul Wisner.[10]

The band's debut full-length, Never Happy, Ever After was released on 20 April 2015 in Europe and the following day in the United States under Fearless Records.[11][12] Three singles were released from the album, "Dial Tones",[13] "Concrete"[12] and "Cheap Shots & Setbacks".[14]

The band performed at every date on the 2015 edition of Warped Tour.[15] The band performed at the 2015 Reading and Leeds Festivals in the United Kingdom.[16][17]

okay., line-up changes, and The Great Depression (2017–present)

Their second album, okay., was released on 20 January 2017.

In October 2017, Westhead departed from the band due to "feelings and differences [that] had been building up."[18]

The band recorded their third record in Texas in January 2018, and started teasing new music in May with cryptic messages on their social media accounts.

They released their third album, The Great Depression, on 10 August 2018, which included the singles "The Wounded World", "The Stigma (Boys Don't Cry)", and "The Reaper".

They were approached by Hopeless Records to be a part of the label's new annual compilation series of albums entitled "Songs That Saved My Life", a compilation in which bands cover a song that had a significant impact on them as a whole or individually. The song that As It Is chose was Such Great Heights, which was originally made famous by the indie rock band The Postal Service. The album was released on 9 November 2018. Lead singer Patty Walters was also interviewed by Hopeless Records as a part of a campaign to get kids and teens to seek out help if they are going through personal struggles, which was also the overall message of the album.

At their show at the 02 Forum Kentish Town in London on 1 December 2018, the unofficial world record for the most crowd surfers during an hour-long was set. Over 300 people crowd surfed during the band's set, and over 600 crowd surfed across the sets of all four bands on the bill. [19]

On Monday September 9th 2019 As It Is announced on their social media that Benjamin Langford-Biss would be leaving the band, the band announced an 11 date European farewell tour, supported by Southampton punk rockers Miss Vincent,[20] to pay tribute to his departure.[21]

On Tuesday December 29th 2020, As It Is announced on twitter that drummer Patrick Foley would be leaving the band to pursue a new career as a firefighter.[22]

Style and influences

As It Is has been described as a pop punk band with a "melodic, earnest, emo-inspired" sound, compared to the early material of Taking Back Sunday and The Starting Line.[23] The Wonder Years has been listed as a big influence.[24] Never Happy, Ever After has been described as emo[25] and pop punk.[25][26]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[27]
AUS
[28]
US
[29]
Never Happy, Ever After 39 159
okay.
  • Released: 20 January 2017[31]
  • Label: Fearless (FEAR00137)
  • Format: CD, DL, LP
48 96
The Great Depression
  • Released: 10 August 2018[32]
  • Label: Fearless
  • Format: CD, CS, DL, LP
29 198

Extended plays

List of extended plays
Title EP details
Two Track
  • Released: 28 May 2012[33]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: DL
Blenheim Place
  • Released: 15 April 2013[34]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: DL
Blenheim Place Acoustic
  • Released: 21 October 2013[35]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: DL
This Mind of Mine[nb 1]
  • Released: 9 March 2014[37]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, DL, 7" vinyl
Denial: Reimagined[38]
  • Released: 1 March 2019
  • Label: Fearless
  • Format: CD, 7", DL
Anger: Reimagined
  • Released: 24 May 2019
  • Label: Fearless
  • Format: CD, 7", DL
Bargaining: Reimagined
  • Released: 23 August 2019
  • Label: Fearless
  • Format: CD, 7", DL

Compilation Appearances

Title Original artist Album Label Year released
The Only Exception Paramore Rock Sound Presents: Worships and Tributes Rock Sound 2015
She Green Day Green Day: American Superhits! Kerrang! 2016
Such Great Heights The Postal Service Songs That Saved My Life Hopeless/Sub City 2018
Drown Bring Me the Horizon Rock Sound: Worship and Tributes: Volume II Rock Sound 2019
Okay As It Is Punk Goes Acoustic Vol. 3 Fearless 2019

Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Dial Tones"[39] 2015 Never Happy, Ever After
"Cheap Shots & Setbacks"[39]
"Concrete"[39]
"Okay"[40] 2016 Okay.
"Pretty Little Distance"[41]
"No Way Out"
"The Wounded World"[32] 2018 The Great Depression
"The Stigma (Boys Don't Cry)"
"The Reaper"

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director
"Upswing" 2013 Ellie Mitchell
"Can't Save Myself" 2014 Ian Coulson
"Dial Tones" 2015 Chris Porter[42]
"Cheap Shots & Setbacks" Dan Centrone
"Speak Soft" LifeIsArtVisuals[43]
"Winter's Weather" 2016 Ian Coulson
"Pretty Little Distance" Joshua Halling[44]
"Okay"
"Hey Rachel" 2017 Joshua Halling
"No Way Out"
"The Wounded World" 2018 Our World Is Grey
"The Stigma (Boys Don't Cry)"
"The Reaper" Zak Pinchin
"The Fire, The Dark" 2019 Ian Coulson

Band members

Current members

  • Patty Walters – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2012–present)
  • Alistair Testo – bass guitar, backing vocals (2014–present)
  • Ronnie Ish – lead guitar, backing vocals (2018–present)

Former members

  • James Fox – bass guitar (2012–2013)
  • Andy Westhead – lead guitar, backing vocals (2012–2017)
  • Benjamin Langford-Biss – rhythm guitar, vocals (2012–2019)
  • Patrick Foley – drums, percussion (2012–2020)

Timeline

Festivals

  • Vans Warped Tour 2015[15][45] (US)
  • Slam Dunk Festival 2015 (UK)
  • Reading and Leeds 2015 (UK)
  • Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (UK)
  • Vans Warped Tour 2018 (US)
  • Slam Dunk Festival 2019 (UK)
  • Jera On Air Festival 2019 (NL)
  • 2000 Trees Festival 2019 (UK)
  • Gunnersville Concert Series 2019 (UK)

References

Footnotes

  1. Pressed on vinyl through Mutant League in November 2014.[36]

Citations

  1. "As It is release new song and announce album". Altpress. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  2. "As It Is sign to Fearless Records". Altpress. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  3. Sharp, Tyler. "As It Is sign to Fearless Records". AltPress.com. Alternative Press.
  4. Sharp, Tyler. "As It Is stream "Concrete" from new album, 'Never Happy, Ever After' - Alternative Press". AltPress.com. Alternative Press. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  5. Maggie, Dickman (22 September 2016). "As It Is announce new album, release new song—listen". Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  6. Biddulph 2015, p. 36
  7. "As It Is - DSCVR Interview". YouTube.com. DSCVR. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  8. "5 Things You Never Knew About... As It Is". YouTube.com. Rock Sound. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  9. "As It Is Have Become The First UK Band To Sign To Fearless Records. Like, Ever". Rock Sound Magazine.
  10. "James Paul Wisner - Credits". AllMusic.com. All Music. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  11. "Never Happy, Ever After on Amazon". Amazon.co.uk. Amazon. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  12. Sharp, Tyler (3 March 2015). "As It Is stream "Concrete" from new album, 'Never Happy, Ever After'". AltPress.com. Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  13. Carter, Emily (20 January 2015). "As It Is Debut New Single and Video For Dial Tones". Kerrang.com. Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  14. Carter, Emily (14 April 2015). "As It Is Unveil New Song, Cheap Shots & Set Backs". Kerrang.com. Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  15. Chepurny, Gabi (8 April 2015). "Warped Tour Announces Summer 2015 Lineup, Free Tickets for Parents, Comedy Slate". Billboard.com. Billboard. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  16. "Reading Line-Up - As It Is". ReadingFestival.com. Reading Festival. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  17. "Leeds Festival Line-Up - As It Is". LeedsFestival.com. Leeds Festival. Archived from the original on 29 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  18. "As It Is part ways with guitarist Andy Westhead - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  19. "As It Is' London Show Over The Weekend Broke A Record - News". Rocksound.tv.
  20. "Here's who is supporting As It Is on their 'Ben Today, Gone Tomorrow' tour". Rocksound.tv.
  21. Is, As It (9 September 2019). "Dear friends & fans; I have made the difficult decision to step away from As It Is. I will cherish always the memories we made together. I will be doing one last tour in November to say goodbye properly & have one last week playing music with my best friends. BLBpic.twitter.com/exmOl5QMjJ". Twitter.com.
  22. https://twitter.com/ASITISofficial/status/1344010302606757889?s=20
  23. Monger, Timothy. "As It Is | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  24. James (14 April 2015). "My Record Collection by As It Is". HMV. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  25. Monger, Timothy. "Never Happy, Ever After - As It Is - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  26. Marvel, Emillie (22 April 2015). "Album Review: As It Is – Never Happy, Ever After | idobi Network". Idobi.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  27. "AS IT IS". officialcharts.com.
  28. "ARIA CHART WATCH #405". auspOp. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  29. "As It Is Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  30. "As It Is Just Dropped A MASSIVE New Song". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  31. Dickman, Maggie (22 September 2016). "As It Is announce new album, release new song—listen". Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  32. Jamieson, Brii (17 May 2018). "Welcome to the new era of As It Is: 'The Great Depression'". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  33. "Two Track - AS IT IS". AS IT IS. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  34. "Blenheim Place - AS IT IS". AS IT IS. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  35. "Blenheim Place Acoustic - AS IT IS". AS IT IS. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  36. "As It Is EP Coming To Vinyl". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  37. "This Mind of Mine - AS IT IS". AS IT IS. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  38. "As It Is have reworked songs from their recent album for a new EP, and it's out now". Dork.
  39. Timothy Monger. "As It Is - Discography - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  40. "Okay - As It Is | Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  41. "Pretty Little Distance - As It Is | Release Info". Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  42. "As It Is - Behind the Scenes of "Dial Tones"". YouTube.com. Fearless Records. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  43. Fearless Records (10 November 2015). As It Is - Speak Soft (Official Music Video). YouTube. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  44. Fearless Records (13 October 2016). As It Is - Pretty Little Distance (Official Music Video). YouTube. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  45. "As It Is - Vans Warped Tour". VansWarpedTour.com. Vans Warped Tour. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.

Sources

  • Biddulph, Andy (April 2015). Bird, Ryan (ed.). "New Noise: As It Is". Rock Sound. London: Freeway Press Inc. (198). ISSN 1465-0185.
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