Fit for Rivals

Fit for Rivals is an American rock band that originated in Jacksonville, Florida. The bands core members are songwriter/vocalist Renee Phoenix and songwriter/guitarist Thomas Amason. The band released their debut album Steady Damage on July 9, 2009 and the follow up, Freak Machine was released on September 2, 2016.

Fit For Rivals
Fit For Rivals in 2013
Background information
OriginJacksonville, Florida, United States
Genres
Years active2008—current (Active)
Associated actsThe Explicits
Renee Phoenix
Pink Fly
Websitefreakmachinerecords.com
MembersRenee Phoenix
Thomas Amason

With hundreds of millions of streams, a top ten radio hit with "Novocain" and worldwide touring, Fit for Rivals has developed a dedicated fan-base through grassroots marketing and viral videos. Renee and Thomas continue to write music together and are planning on releasing new music through Phoenix’s label, Freak Machine Records in 2020.

History

Fit for Rivals formed in 2008 when Renee Phoenix met Thomas Amason while looking for a new guitarist for her band The Explicits. From there, they decided to set up a whole new project.

Steady Damage (2009)

In 2009, Fit for Rivals released their debut EP Was That Our Youth?. Later in the year the band began recording their debut studio album, Steady Damage, which was released on July 18, 2009. It spawned the singles "Crash" and "Damage" and music videos were recorded for both. The track "Crash" has notably been used as a theme song for WWE's Over the Limit pay-per-view and was featured in multiple films and television programs, including Legendary.

Freak Machine (2015-2016)

The band released their second EP Sugar on July 17, 2015 and consists of 4 tracks: "Special Kind of Crazy", "Light that Shines", "Freak Machine" and "Hit Me". A music video for "Hit Me" was released on August 27, 2014.[1] A fan music video for "Freak Machine" was posted on their YouTube channel on November 11, 2014.[2]

After the release of Sugar, Fit for Rivals began working on their second studio album entitled Freak Machine.[3] Freak Machine was released on September 2, 2016 and was produced by Thomas Amason.

Hiatus and Solo Work (2018-2020)

On March 17, 2018, Phoenix released her debut solo EP Renee Phoenix.[4] In May 2018, Phoenix announced that Fit for Rivals was going on a hiatus through an Instagram post and that she has started a new punk project called Pink Fly. A year later, Pink Fly entered hiatus and, nowadays, the band's official Instagram account has been terminated[5]. Renee and Thomas continued to write music together through this period, and were planning on releasing new music through Phoenix’s label, Freak Machine Records.

Freak Machine Records and New Projects (2020-present)

In 2020, Phoenix founded her own music label called Freak Machine Records, due to being unsatisfied with the treatment given to artists by labels, and therefore feeling the need to take it upon herself to create a friendlier environment[6]. The label now encompasses all of Renee's projects, and serves as the gateway to release all of the future material. Through the year of 2020, four songs have been released under the label, all being released as Fit For Rivals songs part of the B Sides & Oddities EP, which includes the fan-favorite track "No Way In Hell", a song that wasn't available on streaming services before despite its popularity among the fanbase and large amount of YouTube views while not even having an oficial upload by Fit For Rivals until December 4th 2020[7].

As of future projects, Phoenix has said she is working on her sophomore EP, which is going to be released under Freak Machine Records. Also, Phoenix, alongside Amason, have been working on the third Fit For Rivals album, which is also going to be released under Freak Machine Records[8]. Further information has not been provided publicly.

Musical Style

Fit for Rivals has been described as rock, punk rock and pop punk, as well as being a mix of Paramore, Joan Jett and The Foo Fighters.

Members

Current Members

  • Renee Phoenix – Vocals, Guitar (2009-present)
  • Thomas Amason – Keys, Guitar (2009-present)

Former Member

Associated Acts
  • The Explicits
  • Pink Fly
  • Love Arcade

Discography

Albums
The Explicits
  • The Explicits (2006)
Fit For Rivals
Renee Phoenix
  • Renee Phoenix (2018)

EPs
Fit For Rivals
  • Was That Our Youth? (2009)
  • Sugar (2015)[9]

Music videos
The Explicits
YearName
2007"Indestructible"[10]
Fit for Rivals
YearName
2009"Crash"[11]
2009"Damage"[12]
2014"Hit Me"[13]
2016"Novocain"[14]
Renee Phoenix
YearName
2017"Godless"[15]
2018"Swallow"[16]
Pink Fly
YearName
2019"Happy"[17]
2019"Peachy"[18]

References
  1. "Fit For Rivals - Hit Me". YouTube. Freak Machine Records. August 27, 2014.
  2. "Fit For Rivals, 'Freak Machine' (Fan Version)". YouTube. Freak Machine Records. November 11, 2014.
  3. "Fit For Rivals – 'Freak Machine' – Album Review". The Fuze Magazine. November 22, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  4. "EP release day!". Instagram. Renee Phoenix. March 17, 2018.
  5. "Pink Fly Music • Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  6. "Freak Machine Records". New Music USA. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  7. "Fit For Rivals - No Way In Hell". YouTube.
  8. "Freak Machine Records". New Music USA. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  9. "Album Review: Fit For Rivals – 'Sugar' EP". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  10. "The Explicits - Indestructible Music Video". YouTube.
  11. "Fit For Rivals – "Crash" HD". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  12. "Fit For Rivals – "Damage"". YouTube. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  13. "Fit For Rivals - Hit Me". YouTube.
  14. "Fit For Rivals - "Novocain"". YouTube. 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  15. "Renee Phoenix - Godless". YouTube.
  16. "Renee Phoenix - Swallow". YouTube.
  17. "Pink Fly - Happy". YouTube.
  18. "Fit For Rivals - Peachy". YouTube.
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