American Authors
{{Short description|American rock band}}
{{About|the band|a list of American-born authors|Lists of American writers|the 1824–25 publication|American Writers}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name = American Authors
| image = American Authors at Heaven London, 2014 (1).jpg
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| caption = American Authors performing in 2014
| alias = The Blue Pages (2006–2012){{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/thebluepagesmusic|title=The Blue Pages|work=Myspace|access-date=October 26, 2015}}
| origin = Boston, US
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = 2006–present
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| website = {{URL|weareamericanauthors.com}}
| current_members =
- Zac Barnett
- Dave Rublin
- Matt Sanchez
| past_members = James Adam Shelley
}}
American Authors, formerly known as the Blue Pages, are an American rock band originally from Boston, based in New York City, that consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Zac Barnett, bassist Dave Rublin, and drummer Matt Sanchez. Guitarist and banjoist James Adam Shelley is a former member. They are best known for their hit singles "Believer" and "Best Day of My Life", from their debut album, Oh, What a Life, as well as their top 20 hit "Go Big or Go Home", from their second album, What We Live For. The band, previously signed to Island Records, now releases music independently.{{Cite web |last=Krietzberg |first=Ian |date=June 28, 2021 |title=American Authors interview: Zac Barnett discusses the band's next chapter |url=https://www.theyoungfolks.com/music/154921/american-authors-interview-zac-barnett/ |access-date=July 20, 2024 |website=The Young Folks}}
History
=2006–2011: Early years=
The members of American Authors met while attending Berklee College of Music in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.marleysmusicality.com/2013/01/12/interview-with-american-authors/|title=American Authors Interview |access-date=April 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208175547/http://www.marleysmusicality.com/2013/01/12/interview-with-american-authors/ |archive-date=February 8, 2013 }} The quartet spent their first years in Boston recording and performing music under the name The Blue Pages. In May 2010, the band opened for Cash Cash on the Robots in High-Tops tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1598531|title=Robots in High-Tops Tour|work=AbsolutePunk.net|access-date=October 26, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=55584|title=Feel Forever Young With Cash Cash On The Robots In High-Tops Tour|work=Top40-Charts.com|access-date=October 26, 2015}} In 2010, they relocated to Brooklyn. On December 1, 2010, the Blue Pages independently released their single "Run Back Home" on iTunes.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/run-back-home-single/405545773|title=Run Back Home – Single|work=iTunes|date=December 2010 |access-date=October 26, 2015}}
=2012–2015: Name change, debut album=
In 2012, the group changed their name to American Authors.{{cite web|title=Round Hill Music|url=http://roundhillmusic.com/placements/|website=Roundhillmusic.com|access-date=November 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205085044/http://roundhillmusic.com/placements/|archive-date=December 5, 2014|url-status=dead}} In January 2013, the band was signed to Mercury Records.{{cite web|url=http://dailyunsigned.com/2013/01/31/american-authors-sign-to-mercury-records/|title=American Authors sign to Mercury Records |access-date=April 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606090434/http://dailyunsigned.com/2013/01/31/american-authors-sign-to-mercury-records/ |archive-date=June 6, 2013 }} Their debut single, "Believer", garnered attention through alternative rock radio.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-chattman/a-sides-with-jon-chattman_b_2331026.html|title=A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Tres! American Authors, Hunter Valentine, and Clementine & The Galaxy|work=The Huffington Post|date=December 19, 2012 |access-date=October 26, 2015}} On March 19, 2013, they released their most successful single to date, "Best Day of My Life".{{Cite magazine |last=Cusson |first=Michael |date=January 2, 2013 |title=Adult Pop Airplay Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/adult-pop-songs/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}
File:Highfield - American Authors.jpg
American Authors released their self-titled debut EP on August 27, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://weareamericanauthors.com/post/55692774271/were-releasing-our-debut-ep-in-august|title= We're releasing our debut EP in August!|work=American Authors|access-date=October 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721181138/http://weareamericanauthors.com/post/55692774271/were-releasing-our-debut-ep-in-august|archive-date=July 21, 2015|url-status=dead}} In 2013, the group won Overall Grand Prize in the 18th Annual USA Songwriting Competition with their song "Believer".
They released their debut studio album, Oh, What a Life, on March 3, 2014, and subsequently ranked at number nine on Billboard{{'}}s chart of Top New Artists for that year.{{cite magazine|title=Top New Artists|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/top-new-artists|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 15, 2014}} In July 2015, the band was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and featured on NBC's Today show, performing the song "Best Day of My Life".
=2015–2019: ''What We Live For'', ''Seasons''=
From 2015 to 2016, American Authors worked on their second album, What We Live For. The lead single, "Go Big or Go Home", was released on May 18, 2015, a year before the album's publication. On December 11, 2015, the band issued the single "Pride", and "What We Live For" followed on April 1, 2016. The album was released on July 1, 2016. "I'm Born to Run" was issued as the record's fourth and final single in 2017.
American Authors released the single "Deep Water" on May 17, 2018, preceding their third studio album.{{Cite web|url=https://leosigh.com/american-authors-deep-water-music-video-a-literal-take-on-the-song-title-to-some-extent/|title=American Authors 'Deep Water' music video — a literal take on the song title to some extent|date=June 7, 2018}} In December, they announced the record's title, Seasons. Its third single, "Say Amen", came out on November 16, 2018, followed by "Neighborhood" on December 7 and "Stay Around" on January 11, 2019. The song "Bring It on Home" was featured in an official trailer for the documentary film The Biggest Little Farm on January 29, 2019. Seasons was released on February 1, 2019.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
=2020–2022: ''Counting Down'', covers, and collaborations=
On January 17, 2020, American Authors released a new single titled "Microphone". On February 28, they published a song with Seeb, titled "Best I Can". On September 18, 2020, they released the EP Counting Down.
On April 23, 2021, the band announced on Twitter that James Adam Shelley would no longer be part of the band and that American Authors would continue without him.{{Cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/aauthorsmusic/status/1385653757841604613/photo/1|title=Hey everyone it's Zac, Dave, and Matt|website=Twitter|date=April 23, 2021}}
On June 25, 2021, American Authors released their first song as a trio, "Nice and Easy", which features Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/amp/c.php?url=American-Authors-Unveil-Summer-Anthem-Nice-And-Easy-20210625|title=American Authors Unevil Summer Anthem "Nice & Easy"|date=June 25, 2021}} They also announced that they would be moving forward with their own independent label. The band later teamed up with Rob Thomas and Santana for the song "Move", from the latter's most recent album, Blessings and Miracles. On October 29, 2021, they released an original Christmas song called 'Favorite Time of the Year".
In 2022, the band issued a cover of "Good 4 U" by Olivia Rodrigo and "Circles" by Post Malone, as well as two Christmas songs, "Christmas Karaoke" and "Sleigh Ride".
=2022–present: ''Best Night of My Life'', ''Call Your Mother''=
On September 9, 2022, American Authors released "Blind for Love", the first single from their fourth studio album, Best Night of My Life, which came out on February 10, 2023.{{cite news|title=American Authors Announces New Album, Shares New Song "Best Night of My Life" |url=https://www.pmstudio.com/music/20230114-18762 |website=pmstudio.com |date=January 14, 2023 |access-date=January 23, 2023}} They followed it on January 13, 2023, with the single "Best Night of My Life". On February 3, 2023, the third and final single, "We Happy", was released.{{Cite web |last=Major |first=Michael |title=American Authors Debuts Carefree 'We Happy' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/American-Authors-Debuts-Carefree-We-Happy-20230203 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=BroadwayWorld.com}}
After the release of Best Night of My Life, American Authors issued a few standalone songs online, beginning with a collaboration with Billy Raffoul, "Perfectly Imperfect", on August 18, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CwFtDMOgm3M/?igsh=aTFrcTN3MHl3ejY1 |access-date=June 22, 2024 |website=instagram.com}} On November 1, they published a cover of "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CzHWCNVpSHO/?igsh=MTJlczB0bnZ1Mm9wOA== |access-date=June 22, 2024 |website=instagram.com}} They ended the year by releasing two holiday singles, including the original song "Come Home to Me"{{cite web|title=Come Home to Me |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz4P9w1vYmM/?igsh=NWc5ZDl2dTl4ZzAx&img_index=1 |website=instagram.com |date=November 20, 2023 |access-date=June 22, 2024}} and a cover of "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C04QGPmruj6/?igsh=a2dwMW9mcDZxd244 |access-date=June 22, 2024 |website=instagram.com}}
On March 11, 2024, the band announced their fifth studio album, Call Your Mother.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C8pDcdJpVN-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=instagram.com}}{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4Q0EvpPMlC/?igsh=cG5mZmdlMGJmeXNr |access-date=June 22, 2024 |website=instagram.com}} The lead single, "My Last Dime", came out on March 29 and was followed by "Daises" on April 19. The third single, issued on May 17, was a cover of "Save Tonight" by Eagle-Eye Cherry. The fourth single, "Can't Stand the Mourning", was released on June 21, 2024.{{cite web|title=Can't Stand the Mourning |url=https://musicbrainz.org/release/29417fcb-ea68-47bf-829b-13501065b94c |website=musicbrainz.org |access-date=July 20, 2024}} The fifth single, "Something Amazing", which features Rozes, was issued on July 26, 2024, and was followed by the sixth single, "Come Too Far", on August 22, 2024. The seventh single, "Bon Voyage", came out on September 20, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Melodic Net - We Rock, Do You? |url=http://melodic.net/news/american-authors-set-to-release-new-album-call-your-mother-on-october-18th-drops-latest-single-bon-voyage-now |access-date=September 27, 2024 |website=melodic.net}} Call Your Mother came out on October 18, 2024.
In other media
The American Authors song "Hit It" is featured in the EA Sports game FIFA 14. Their song "Best Day of My Life" was used in an MLB Fan Cave commercial and is the title music of Sky Sports News' My Special Day feature. It has also appeared in a television spot for the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, in an episode of the television show The Vampire Diaries, and in the 2013 Boston Red Sox World Series championships.{{cite web|title=Red Sox|website = YouTube| date=November 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR97E41pZdY|access-date=November 28, 2014}} The song was ranked number one on Billboard's 2014 Adult Pop Songs chart.{{cite magazine|title=Adult Pop Songs|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/adult-pop-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 15, 2014}} The song "Home" was featured in a trailer for the movie This Is Where I Leave You and in a video honoring troops and their families.{{cite web|title=Honoring our troops|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZYWYRZwxUs|website=Youtube| date=December 23, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2014}}
American Authors' second single, "Best Day of My Life", was featured in, among other things, a Lowe's television advertisement in the United States, a Hyundai television advertisement in the United Kingdom, an advertisement in South Africa for Castle Lager,{{cite web|title=Castle Lager|url=http://www.castlelager.co.za/superfanzone/gallery/superfans/Superfans_TVC|website=Castlelager.co.za|access-date=February 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213075202/http://www.castlelager.co.za/superfanzone/gallery/superfans/Superfans_TVC|archive-date=February 13, 2015|url-status=dead}} and a Telecom New Zealand advertisement.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyw-q1_lh8A/|title=YouTube|access-date=October 26, 2015}} It appears in a trailer for the film Delivery Man, in the Konami video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2015, in the opening sequence for ESPN's 2013 World Series of Poker coverage, in a trailer for Earth to Echo as well as How to Train Your Dragon 2, in the film Humpback Whales, and a trailer for St. Vincent. The track is also featured in the video game Guitar Hero Live.{{cite web|title=Guitar Hero|url=http://guitar.com/articles/guitar-hero-live-reveals-first-13-songs|website=Guitar.com|access-date=April 28, 2015|archive-date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518080826/http://guitar.com/articles/guitar-hero-live-reveals-first-13-songs|url-status=dead}} The song won the newly established Sync Music Award at the SESAC Pop Awards 2015.{{cite web|title=SESAC|url=http://www.sesac.com/News/News_Details.aspx?id=2230|website=Sesac.com|access-date=May 15, 2015}}{{cite web|title=SESAC|url=http://musichistorian.net/tag/sesac-pop-music-awards/|website=Musichistorian.net|date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 15, 2015}} American Authors band members also had cameos in the TV show Bar Rescue.{{Cite web|title=A Serious Fire Hazard - Bar Rescue (Video Clip)|url=https://www.paramountnetwork.com/video-clips/6oxnab/bar-rescue-a-serious-fire-hazard|access-date=October 14, 2020|website=Paramount Network}}
Festivals and events
The group has appeared at various music festivals and events, including Lollapalooza,{{cite web|title=Lollapalooza|url=http://www.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/?story=21689066|website=Suntimes.com|access-date=December 14, 2014}} SXSW Music Festival,{{cite web|title=SXSW|url=http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2014-03-19/american-authors-autocamera-sxsw/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320155113/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2014-03-19/american-authors-autocamera-sxsw/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 20, 2014|website=Vh1.com|access-date=December 14, 2014}} Firefly Music Festival,{{cite web|title=Firefly|url=http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2014-07-03/american-authors-firefly/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720162225/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2014-07-03/american-authors-firefly/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 20, 2014|website=Vh1.com|access-date=December 14, 2014}} Reading Festival,{{cite web|title=AMERICAN AUTHORS @ Reading Festival 2014 |author=Discovered Magazine |date=September 19, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FECHQfhPPEA|website=Youtube|access-date=December 14, 2014}} Leeds Festival,{{cite web|title=Leeds|url=http://www.leedsfestival.com/photos/083f3fec-2bf8-11e4-bb7d-8293f4fa3655|website=Leedsfestival.com|access-date=December 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220201435/http://www.leedsfestival.com/photos/083f3fec-2bf8-11e4-bb7d-8293f4fa3655|archive-date=December 20, 2014|url-status=dead}} Bunbury Music Festival,{{cite web|title=Bunbury|url=http://www.bunburyfestival.com/alumni-2013/bands/american-authors|website=Bunburyfestival.com|access-date=December 14, 2014}} Freakfest,{{cite web|title=Freakfest|url=http://host.madison.com/daily-cardinal/atmosphere-american-authors-to-headline-freakfest/article_fc10e574-3cf3-11e4-b264-d35ab8283be9.html|website=Host.madison.com|date=September 15, 2014 |access-date=December 14, 2014}} Grammys on the Hill (an awards ceremony honoring artists and legislators who have improved the environment for music creators),{{cite web|title=Grammys on the Hill|url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/advocacy|website=Grammy.org|access-date=April 28, 2015|archive-date=March 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316102257/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/advocacy|url-status=dead}} BottleRock Napa Valley,{{cite web|title=BottleRock|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/gallery/4005287-181/american-authors-at-bottlerock|website=Pressdemocrat.com|access-date=June 1, 2015|archive-date=July 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721141518/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/gallery/4005287-181/american-authors-at-bottlerock|url-status=dead}} Keloorah, Pukkelpop, and Polartec Big Air at Fenway.{{cite web|title=Pukkelpop|url=http://www.pukkelpop.be/en/bands/american-authors/|website=Pukkelpop.be|access-date=December 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214223629/http://www.pukkelpop.be/en/bands/american-authors/|archive-date=December 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}
Band members
Current
- Zac Barnett – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2006–present), lead guitar (2021–present)
- Dave Rublin – bass, backing vocals, keyboards (2006–present)
- Matt Sanchez – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2006–present)
Past
- James Adam Shelley – lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, banjo, mandolin (2006–2021)
=Timeline=
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Discography
{{Main|American Authors discography}}
Studio albums
- Oh, What a Life (2014)
- What We Live For (2016)
- Seasons (2019)
- Best Night of My Life (2023)
- Call Your Mother (2024)
See also
- List of alternative rock artists
- List of Berklee College of Music alumni
- List of Mercury Records artists
{{Portal bar|Rock music|New York City}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|weareamericanauthors.com}}
- [http://guitar.com/articles/american-authors-interview-james-shelleys-peak-performance December 2014 American Authors interview on Guitar.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211061123/http://www.guitar.com/articles/american-authors-interview-james-shelleys-peak-performance |date=December 11, 2014 }}
{{American Authors}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2006 establishments in Massachusetts
Category:Alternative rock groups from Massachusetts
Category:Alternative rock groups from New York (state)
Category:Indie rock musical groups from Massachusetts
Category:Indie rock musical groups from New York (state)
Category:Berklee College of Music alumni
Category:Mercury Records artists
Category:Musical groups established in 2006
Category:Musical groups from Boston
Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn