He Is We

{{quote box|width=280px|align=right|quote="The name He is We comes from the idea that Christ is in all of us", Trevor explains in an interview by Indievision Music. Previously the meaning was incorrectly stated as being about local bands with cocky auras,{{cite web |first=Rebecca |last=Cicione |url=https://www.indievisionmusic.com/interviews/he-is-we-2/ |title=He Is We: Indie Vision |publisher=Indie Vision |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=July 21, 2023 }}|source=Trevor Kelly}}

Rachel Taylor and Trevor Kelly met while working at Ted Brown Music Company, a music store in their hometown of Tacoma, Washington.{{cite web|first=Corey|last=Apar|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/he-is-we-mn0002424448|title=He Is We|work=AllMusic}} Rachel and Trevor were the founding duo that comprised He Is We. The touring members initially included Harrison Allen (drums), Carman Kubanda (guitar), and Aaron Campbell (keyboard/guitar). Later, Jake Randle (bass guitar) replaced Aaron Campbell.{{cite web|title=Optimism Encounters Frustration|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/09/arts/music/he-is-we-at-the-studio-at-webster-hall-review.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=July 8, 2011 |access-date=January 12, 2013}}{{Better source needed|date=April 2014}} He Is We initially relied on social networking, using websites such as Myspace and Facebook. This online presence and the release of an album of old demos in February 2010 led to their signing with Universal Motown Records. Prior to the release of My Forever, He Is We toured with The Rocket Summer.{{cite web|last=Boyer|first=Travis|title=He Is We Interview: SXSW 2010|url=http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/12/he-is-we-interview-sxsw-2010/|publisher=AOL Music|access-date=January 22, 2011|archive-date=September 10, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910120906/http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/12/he-is-we-interview-sxsw-2010/|url-status=dead}} Their debut album My Forever hit number 6 on Billboard{{'}}s Heatseekers Album Charts.{{cite web|title=THE WORKING GROUP PRESENTS: THE LOVE IS ALL AROUND US TOUR W/ THE SCENE AESTHETIC ...|url=http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/125037-the-working-group-presents-the-love-is-all-around-us-tour-w-the-scene-aesthetic.html|publisher=Alt sounds|access-date=January 22, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121230905/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/125037-the-working-group-presents-the-love-is-all-around-us-tour-w-the-scene-aesthetic.html|archive-date=January 21, 2011|df=mdy-all}} On December 20, 2011, the duo released a 6 track EP entitled Skip To The Good Part.

In early 2012, Rachel Taylor was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, and Stevie Scott filled in for the remainder of the tour.{{cite web|title=He Is We Lead Singer No Longer Able To Tour; Bringing In Touring Replacement|url=http://propertyofzack.com/post/21941153994/he-is-we-lead-singer-no-longer-able-to-tour-bringing|publisher=Property Of Zack|access-date=September 3, 2012}} Despite being officially replaced by Scott in August,{{cite web|title=He Is We announces new singer|url=http://www.indiependentmusic.net/2012/05/from-earlier-he-is-we-announces-new-singer/|publisher=indiependentmusic|access-date=September 3, 2012|archive-date=April 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416191546/http://www.indiependentmusic.net/2012/05/from-earlier-he-is-we-announces-new-singer/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.underthegunreview.net/2012/08/30/he-is-we-announce-new-vocalist-comment-on-rachel-taylors-departure/|title=He Is We Announce New Vocalist, Comment On Rachel Taylor's Departure|work=Under the Gun Review}} and having stated "Walking away from the label would mean that I would be walking away from the He Is We name but I would regain my freedom to be me. I would regain my ability to connect with you fans 100% with my words. I wouldn't feel like I can only release what THEY want me to. I could be the soul that longs to escape this dreary vessel.",{{cite web|url=http://www.underthegunreview.net/2012/08/28/rachel-taylor-blogs-about-leaving-he-is-we-discusses-future-plans/|title=Rachel Taylor Blogs About Leaving He Is We, Discusses Future Plans|work=Under the Gun Review}} she returned to the band at the end of October 2012,{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/rachel_taylor_rejoins_he_is_we|title=Rachel Taylor rejoins He Is We|work=Alternative Press}} while Trevor Kelly departed to form his own band.{{cite web|url=http://propertyofzack.com/post/34743025000/rachel-taylor-is-back-in-he-is-we-trevor-kelly-is-out|title=Rachel Taylor Is Back In He Is We; Trevor Kelly Is ...|work=propertyofzack.com}}

After Kelly left with Stevie Scott in 2012, Rachel continued to pursue the project herself. She said that she planned to release new music and tour in 2013. In 2013, their song "All About Us", with Aaron Gillespie, was included on The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones soundtrack. Despite rumors surfaced of her changing the name of He Is We and moving in a new direction, she insisted that the rumors were completely untrue and she would do no such thing. However, on June 23, 2014, Rachel Taylor broke away as a solo artist with her debut EP, Come Alive.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/rachel_taylor_he_is_we_announes_new_ep_come_alive|title=Rachel Taylor (He Is We) announces new EP, 'Come Alive'|work=Alternative Press|date=May 19, 2014}}

In August 2015, Taylor announced she was launching "a He Is We 2.0" with Adamm Mitchell entitled She Is We. On October 22, 2015, She Is We released their first single "Boomerang" and announced that their debut album War would be available for pre-order on October 23, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/she_is_we_formerly_he_is_we_premieres_new_single_boomerang_exclusive|title=She Is We (formerly He Is We) premieres new single, "Boomerang" (exclusive)|work=Alternative Press|date=October 22, 2015}} It was released by Vanguard Records on March 18, 2016. War was made available to stream prior to release on Billboard's website on March 11, 2016.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7120583/she-is-we-album-war-exclusive-premiere|title=Former He Is We Singer Rachel Taylor Debuts New She Is We Project With 'WAR' Album: Exclusive Premiere|magazine=Billboard}}

In August 2016, Taylor announced that she had reunited with bandmate Trevor Kelly and that they were writing new songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/heiswe.official/videos/10154303286925977/|title=He Is We|website=www.facebook.com}} In September 2016, Taylor and Kelly announced that they would be touring together.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/heiswe.official/photos/a.422296600976.209955.157556445976/10154359942850977/?type=3&theater|title=He Is We|website=www.facebook.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/heiswe.official/videos/10154334750295977/|title=He Is We|website=www.facebook.com}}

In August 2017, touring members McBride, Mitchell and Chamberlain left the band and in September 2017, touring guitarist Macy Santa Maria accused Taylor of sexually assaulting her.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/macy_santa_maria_he_is_we_rachel_taylor_statements|title=He Is We sexual assault allegations: Macy Santa Maria, Rachel Taylor release statements - News - Alternative Press|website=Alternative Press|date=September 22, 2017}} Taylor responded with her own statement, denying that a sexual assault had occurred and alleging that Santa Maria's statement mischaracterized her actions and the nature of sexual assault."It disgusts me that the true allegation is "poking her butt while you were asleep in the hotel bed" and the words being used, imply sexual assault. ... I would not and did not do anything illegal and nothing was ever communicated implying anything like this." [https://substreammagazine.com/2017/09/exclusive-rachel-taylor-assault/ Exclusive: He Is We’s Rachel Taylor further comments on sexual assault allegations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217155956/https://substreammagazine.com/2017/09/exclusive-rachel-taylor-assault/ |date=February 17, 2018 }}. Substream Magazine, September 23, 2007. Following Santa Maria's allegations, He Is We were removed as support for Secondhand Serenade's fall 2017 tour.[https://substreammagazine.com/2017/09/he-is-we-assault-tour/ He Is We removed from Secondhand Serenade tour following assault allegations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003051917/https://substreammagazine.com/2017/09/he-is-we-assault-tour/ |date=October 3, 2017 }}. Substream Magazine, September 29, 2017. On June 4, 2019, Rachel Taylor was found not guilty of sexual assault following a one-day trial in Jamestown, North Dakota.{{cite web |title=HE IS WE SINGER RACHEL TAYLOR FOUND NOT GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS |url=https://www.altpress.com/features/he-is-we-rachel-taylor-not-guilty-allegations/ |website=altpress |date=June 28, 2019 |publisher=Alt Press |access-date=14 July 2019}}

In March 2017, He is We released Fall out of Line to iTunes, which contains old demos and re-released songs. The band's "For the Runaways" tour (March and April 2017) promoted the album by focusing on older He Is We songs. Trevor Kelly did not tour with the band during the "For the Runaways" tour, with Hans Hessburg filling in on acoustic guitar.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

In March 2018, He is We released He Is We Chapter One digitally, which contains re-released songs. Rachel Taylor announced in February 2018 that she was back in studio and that she would release a new He Is We EP in March or April 2018.

He Is We announced they would be touring with Vendetta Red in March 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.sidestagemagazine.com/launch-us-tour-vendetta-red/|title=He Is We Launch US Tour with Vendetta Red|website=www.sidestagemagazine.com|date=February 9, 2018}}

He Is We's new EP, Hold My Heart, was released on April 10, 2018.{{cite tweet|number=982388836146675712|user=HeIsWE|title="Hold My Heart" EP out in four days, April 10th! #Everyotherman |date=April 6, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hold-my-heart-ep/1366355856|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411113026/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hold-my-heart-ep/1366355856|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 11, 2018|title = Hold My Heart - EP by He is We|website = iTunes|date = April 10, 2018}}

He Is We's second studio album entitled Treehouse was released on February 11, 2022.

• A Mess it Grows (2009)
• Old Demos (2009)

• My Forever (2010)
• Acoustic/Live EP (2010){{cite web|url=http://www.purevolume.com/HEISWE/albums/ACOUSTIC%2FLIVE+EP%7ctitle=PureVolume%7cwork=PureVolume|title=HE IS WE on PureVolume|work=PureVolume}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

• Skip To the Good Part - EP (2011)

• Fall Out Of Line - EP (2017)

• He Is We Chapter One - EP (2017)

• Hold My Heart - EP (2018){{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hold-my-heart-ep/1366355856|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411113026/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hold-my-heart-ep/1366355856|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 11, 2018|title = Hold My Heart - EP by He is We|website = iTunes|date = April 10, 2018}}
• Treehouse (2022)

• Rockin' Romance 2 – "Replay" (Iyaz cover)

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.racheltaylorofficial.com/ He Is We singer Rachel Taylor's new site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005130054/http://www.racheltaylorofficial.com/ |date=October 5, 2015 }}
• [http://www.alterthepress.com/2010/12/interview-he-is-we.html Alter the Press Interview]
• [https://www.facebook.com/heiswe.official He Is We on Facebook]
• [http://songslyrics.name/he-is-we-songs-lyrics/ He Is We lyrics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073529/http://songslyrics.name/he-is-we-songs-lyrics/ |date=March 4, 2016 }}

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Category:Indie pop groups from Washington (state)

Category:Performing groups established in 2008

Category:2008 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Musical groups from Tacoma, Washington

Category:Universal Motown Records artists