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As It Is (band)

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As It Is (often stylised as ΛS IT IS or Λ\\) are a British-American rock band based in Brighton, England. The band was formed in 2012, and signed to Fearless Records in 2014.[4] Following a hiatus, they reunited under Slam Dunk Records.[5]

As It Is
As It Is performing at SXSW 2015
As It Is performing at SXSW 2015
Background information
OriginBrighton, England, UK
Genres
Years active
  • 2012-2022
  • 2024–present
Labels
Members
  • Patty Walters
  • Benjamin Biss
  • Patrick Foley
  • Alistair Testo[3]
Past members
  • Ronnie Ish
  • James Fox
  • Andy Westhead
Websiteasitisofficial.com

The band released seven extended plays and four studio albums in their career. The debut album, Never Happy, Ever After, was released by Fearless Records in April 2015; the second album, okay., was released in January 2017;[6] the third album, The Great Depression, was released in August 2018; and the band's latest album, I Went to Hell and Back, was released in February 2022. By September, the band had entered a hiatus, with their disbandment being officially announced in January 2024. In August 2024, the group announced a reunion for 2025 consisting of Foley, Langford-Biss, Testo and Walters.[3]

History

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

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As It Is was formed in spring 2012[7] by Minnesota-born Patrick 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.[8] Andrew Westhead and Patrick Foley replied to the advertisement and were accepted into the band[9] along with Benjamin 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.

In early 2014 they added bassist Alistair Testo, 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.[10] The band members began working on the group's debut full-length album in 2014 in Florida with producer James Paul Wisner.[11]

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.[12][13] Three singles were released from the album, "Dial Tones",[14] "Concrete"[13] and "Cheap Shots & Setbacks".[15]

The band performed at every date on the 2015 edition of Warped Tour.[16] The band performed at the 2015 Reading and Leeds Festivals in the United Kingdom.[17][18]

okay., line-up changes, and The Great Depression (2017–2020)

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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."[19]

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.[20]

The success of The Great Depression prompted an additional release, The Great Depresssion: Reimagined, in which the band interpolated and re-adapted the original songs into new genres and sounds across a series of multiple EPs mimicking the stages laid out on the original release. The album was released in its entirety on November 8, 2019.[21]

On Monday September 9, 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,[22] to pay tribute to his departure.[23]

On Tuesday December 29, 2020, As It Is announced on twitter that drummer Patrick Foley would be leaving the band to pursue a new career as a firefighter.[24]

I Went to Hell and Back and hiatus (2021–2024)

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On 27 May 2021, the band released their first single as a trio titled "IDGAF",[25] followed by "I Lie to Me" on 5 August,[26] "ILY, How Are You?" and "IDC, I Can't Take It" on 3 September,[27] "I Miss 2003" on 11 November,[28] and "In Threes" on 9 December.[29] The release of "I Miss 2003" came along with the announcement of the band's fourth album I Went to Hell and Back which released 4 February 2022 by Fearless Records.[28]

On Tuesday, August 23, 2022, bassist Alistair Testo announced he would be leaving the band.[30] Following Testo's departure, As It Is played that year's Reading and Leeds Festivals as a three-piece with touring musician Ross Brown returning on drums. These turned out to be their final shows before indefinite hiatus.

In January 2024, Patty Walters announced the group's hiatus through a rare Instagram post, stating "Here's to another new chapter. It's never goodbye. It's just 'see you around'",[31] quoting his previous hiatus as a former YouTube content creator.

Reunion and future plans (2025)

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In August of 2024, the band's social media accounts were wiped and rebranded as "Transatlantic pop-punk. Sellouts since 2012" with a link to a new website that hinted at a reunion.[32] On September 2nd, 2024, a reunion of their best-known lineup including Walters, Biss, Foley, and Testo was announced, with plans to return in 2025.[3]

Style and influences

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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, The Starting Line, All Time Low, Silverstein, Underoath, My Chemical Romance, Rise Against, and AFI.[33] The Wonder Years has been listed as a big influence.[34] Their early material on Never Happy, Ever After has been described as more emo[35]-pop punk. Their sophomore album okay. falls under a lot of similar genres to their debut, but notably does have a few songs on it that stand out as very different from previous work. Overtime, their styles have been considered more diverse on their later work, exploring more of the themes seen on okay. by taking a notable stylistic departure into darker territory on The Great Depression.[35][36]

Band members

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  • Patty Walters – lead vocals, additional guitar (2012-2022, 2024-present), drums, percussion (2020-2022), bass (2022)
  • Ben Langford-Biss – lead and rhythm guitar, co-lead vocals (2012-2019, 2024-present)
  • Patrick Foley – drums, percussion (2012-2020, 2024-present)
  • Alistair Testo – bass, backing vocals (2012-2022, 2024-present)

Former members

  • Ronnie Ish – lead guitar, backing and co-lead vocals (2018-2022; touring member 2017-2018)
  • James Fox – bass, backing vocals (2012-2013)
  • Andy Westhead – lead guitar, backing vocals (2012-2017)

Touring members

  • Maxx Danziger – drums (2021)
  • Ross Brown – drums (2022)

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[37] 		AUS
[38] 		US
[39]
Never Happy, Ever After 39 — 159
okay.
  • Released: 20 January 2017[41]
  • Label: Fearless (FEAR00137)
  • Format: CD, DL, LP
 48 96 —
The Great Depression
  • Released: 10 August 2018[42]
  • Label: Fearless
  • Format: CD, CS, DL, LP
 29 — 198
I Went to Hell and Back
  • Released: 4 February 2022[43]
  • Label: Fearless
  • Format: CD, DL, LP
 — — —

Extended plays

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List of extended plays
Title EP details
Two Track
  • Released: 28 May 2012[44]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: DL
Blenheim Place
  • Released: 15 April 2013[45]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: DL
Blenheim Place Acoustic
  • Released: 21 October 2013[46]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: DL
This Mind of Mine[nb 1]
  • Released: 9 March 2014[48]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, DL, 7" vinyl
Denial: Reimagined[49]
  • 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

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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

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List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Dial Tones"[50] 2015 Never Happy, Ever After
"Cheap Shots & Setbacks"[50]
"Concrete"[50]
"Okay"[51] 2016 Okay.
"Pretty Little Distance"[52]
"No Way Out"
"The Wounded World"[42] 2018 The Great Depression
"The Stigma (Boys Don't Cry)"
"The Reaper"
"IDGAF"[25] 2021 I Went to Hell and Back
"I Lie to Me"[26]
"ILY, How Are You?"[27]
"IDC, I Can't Take It"[27]
"I Miss 2003"[28]
"In Threes"[29]

Music videos

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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[53]
"Cheap Shots & Setbacks" Dan Centrone
"Speak Soft" LifeIsArtVisuals[54]
"Winter's Weather" 2016 Ian Coulson
"Pretty Little Distance" Joshua Halling[55]
"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
"IDGAF"[25] 2021
"ILY, How Are You?" Alex Bemis
"IDC, I Can't Take It"
"I Miss 2003" Ian Coulson
"I Hate Me Too" 2022 Cody Blue

Festivals

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  • Vans Warped Tour 2015[16][56] (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

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Footnotes

  1. ^ Pressed on vinyl through Mutant League in November 2014.[47]

Citations

  1. ^ "As It is release new song and announce album". Altpress. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  2. ^ "As It Is sign to Fearless Records". Altpress. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Wilson-Taylor, James (2 September 2024). "As It Is Are Officially Back!". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  4. ^ Sharp, Tyler (2 October 2014). "As It Is sign to Fearless Records". AltPress.com. Alternative Press.
  5. ^ "As It Is announce A Decade Uneventful compilation album". Kerrang!. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ^ Maggie, Dickman (22 September 2016). "As It Is announce new album, release new song—listen". Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  7. ^ Biddulph 2015, p. 36
  8. ^ "As It Is - DSCVR Interview". YouTube.com. DSCVR. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  9. ^ "5 Things You Never Knew About... As It Is". YouTube.com. Rock Sound. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  10. ^ "As It Is Have Become The First UK Band To Sign To Fearless Records. Like, Ever". Rock Sound Magazine.
  11. ^ "James Paul Wisner - Credits". AllMusic.com. All Music. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Never Happy, Ever After on Amazon". Amazon.co.uk. Amazon. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  13. ^ a b 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ a b 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.
  17. ^ "Reading Line-Up - As It Is". ReadingFestival.com. Reading Festival. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  18. ^ "Leeds Festival Line-Up - As It Is". LeedsFestival.com. Leeds Festival. Archived from the original on 29 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  19. ^ "As It Is part ways with guitarist Andy Westhead - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  20. ^ "As It Is' London Show Over The Weekend Broke A Record - News". Rocksound.tv.
  21. ^ "Banquet Records: The Great Depression [Reimagined]". Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Here's who is supporting As It Is on their 'Ben Today, Gone Tomorrow' tour". Rocksound.tv. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  23. ^ @ASITISofficial (9 September 2019). "Dear friends & fans; I have made the difficult decision to step away from As It Is. I will cherish always the memo…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ @ASITISofficial (29 December 2020). "Our brother and friend @foley_as_it_is has decided to step back from As It Is, to pursue a brand new career as a fi…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ a b c "As It Is are back with their new single, "IDGAF"". Upset. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  26. ^ a b Ruskell, Nick (5 August 2021). "As It Is release new single, "I Lie to Me"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  27. ^ a b c Carter, Emily (3 September 2021). "As It Is share two new singles ahead of Slam Dunk Festival". Kerrang!. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  28. ^ a b c Ruskell, Nick (11 November 2021). "As It Is announce new album with killer new song "I Miss 2003"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  29. ^ a b Carter, Emily (9 December 2021). "As It Is drop "intensely dark" new single "In Threes", featuring Set It Off and JodyPurp". Kerrang!. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  30. ^ Rogers, Jack (23 August 2022). "As It Is and Bassist Alistair Testo Have Parted Ways". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  31. ^ "Patty Walters on Instagram". Instagram. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  32. ^ "asitis.store "Stay Tuned for New Activity"". 21 August 2024. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  33. ^ Monger, Timothy. "As It Is | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  34. ^ James (14 April 2015). "My Record Collection by As It Is". HMV. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  35. ^ a b Monger, Timothy. "Never Happy, Ever After - As It Is - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards o". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  36. ^ Marvel, Emillie (22 April 2015). "Album Review: As It Is – Never Happy, Ever After | idobi Network". Idobi.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  37. ^ "AS IT IS". officialcharts.com.
  38. ^ "ARIA CHART WATCH #405". auspOp. 28 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  39. ^ "As It Is Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  40. ^ "As It Is Just Dropped A MASSIVE New Song". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  41. ^ Dickman, Maggie (22 September 2016). "As It Is announce new album, release new song—listen". Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  42. ^ a b Jamieson, Brii (17 May 2018). "Welcome to the new era of As It Is: 'The Great Depression'". Rock Sound Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  43. ^ Rogers, Jack (11 November 2021). "As It Is Have Announced Their New Album I Went to Hell and Back". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  44. ^ "Two Track - AS IT IS". AS IT IS. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  45. ^ "Blenheim Place - AS IT IS". AS IT IS. 15 April 2013. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  46. ^ "Blenheim Place Acoustic - AS IT IS". AS IT IS. 21 October 2013. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  47. ^ "As It Is EP Coming To Vinyl". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  48. ^ "This Mind of Mine - AS IT IS". AS IT IS. 9 March 2014. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  49. ^ "As It Is have reworked songs from their recent album for a new EP, and it's out now". Dork. March 2019.
  50. ^ a b c Timothy Monger. "As It Is - Discography - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  51. ^ "Okay - As It Is | Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  52. ^ "Pretty Little Distance - As It Is | Release Info". Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  53. ^ "As It Is - Behind the Scenes of "Dial Tones"". YouTube.com. Fearless Records. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  54. ^ Fearless Records (10 November 2015). As It Is - Speak Soft (Official Music Video). YouTube. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  55. ^ Fearless Records (13 October 2016). As It Is - Pretty Little Distance (Official Music Video). YouTube. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  56. ^ "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 (198). London: Freeway Press Inc. ISSN 1465-0185.
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