It's About Us

{{Infobox album

| name = It's About Us

| type = studio

| artist = Alex & Sierra

| cover = Alex & Sierra - It's About Us.png

| alt =

| released = October 7, 2014

| recorded = 2014

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = {{flatlist|

Folk-pop

}}

| length = {{duration|m=42|s=3}}

| label = Columbia, Syco

| producer = {{flatlist|

}}

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = As Seen On TV

| next_year = 2016

| misc = {{Singles

| name = It's About Us

| type = studio

| single1 = Scarecrow

| single1date = June 23, 2014

| single2 = Little Do You Know

| single2date = October 6, 2014

}}

It's About Us is the only studio album by American duo Alex & Sierra, released on October 7, 2014 by Columbia Records.{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/its-about-us/895611637 |title=iTunes - Music - It's About Us by Alex & Sierra |publisher=iTunes |date=2014-07-15 |access-date=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2015-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707121232/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-about-us/id895611637 |url-status=live }} Their debut single and the album's lead single "Scarecrow" was written by the duo along with Martin Johnson and Sam Hollander and was released on June 23, 2014, while "Little Do You Know" was released as the second single from the album.

The album debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200 selling 27,000 copies within its first week of release.

Background and development

In 2013, Alex & Sierra won Season 3 of The X Factor. Their prize included a $1 million recording contract from Sony Music Entertainment. Following their win on The X Factor, Alex & Sierra announced they would be making their debut album 'quick' and 'right'.{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Shaunna|title=Alex & Sierra: 'X Factor' Winners Plan To Do 1st Album 'Quick' & 'Right'|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/12/20/alex-and-sierra-win-x-factor-reveal-plans-for-first-album-interview/|publisher=Hollywood life|accessdate=December 20, 2013|archive-date=December 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222151651/http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/12/20/alex-and-sierra-win-x-factor-reveal-plans-for-first-album-interview/|url-status=dead}} They've worked with Julian Bunetta, Sam Watters, John Shanks, Toby Gad, Jason Mraz and One Direction member Harry Styles,{{cite web|last=Robertson|first=James|title=Harry Styles secretly co-writes song with idol John Legend for US X Factor duo|website=Daily Mirror |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/harry-styles-solo-songwriting-john-3177994|accessdate=February 23, 2013|archive-date=February 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224235609/http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/harry-styles-solo-songwriting-john-3177994|url-status=live}} Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter John Legend also made a contribution to the early stages of the album, however the track was not selected to be on the album.{{cite web|last=Parker|first=Lyndsey|title='X Factor' Winners Alex & Sierra Writing With John Legend for Debut Album|date=24 January 2014 |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/x-factor-winners-alex-sierra-writing-john-legend-235736664.html|publisher=Yahoo|accessdate=8 February 2014|archive-date=28 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128103144/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/x-factor-winners-alex-sierra-writing-john-legend-235736664.html|url-status=live}} On May 3, 2014, Alex & Sierra revealed their debut single, "Scarecrow".

Alex & Sierra have commonly described the album as one that is not just filled with slow or upbeat songs. They hope it becomes one of those albums that you can listen to without the songs ever sounding the same. Also, in an interview with Glamour.com the two shared that they had never written a song before. The duo described it as a really laid-back and magical experience and added that they wrote a total of twenty songs in five days.{{cite web |last=Melby |first=Leah |url=http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/blogs/obsessed/2014/06/alex-and-sierra-new-album |title=The X-Factor's Alex and Sierra: Their New Album, Scarecrow, Jason Mraz, and More |publisher=Glamour.com |date=2014-06-23 |accessdate=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2015-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906165341/http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/blogs/obsessed/2014/06/alex-and-sierra-new-album |url-status=live }}

The first single "Scarecrow" was released on June 23, 2014 and was written by the duo, Martin Johnson and Sam Hollander. They described the single as "a song about hope, It's about believing in a relationship so strongly that a lack of communication isn't enough for you to give up on the other person. Everyone has trouble communicating sometimes... Or all the time, and everyone deserves to be believed in."{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6128817/alex-sierra-scarecrow-acoustic-video-premiere |title=Alex & Sierra's 'Scarecrow' Premiere: Watch The Exclusive Acoustic Video |publisher=Billboard.com |date=2014-06-24 |accessdate=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2015-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608234921/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6128817/alex-sierra-scarecrow-acoustic-video-premiere |url-status=live }}

Promotion

Alex & Sierra began promoting the album by performing on Today and Yahoo! Music on June 23, 2014 as part of the promotion for their single "Scarecrow".{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.mjsbigblog.com/alex-sierra-perform-scarecrow-today-show-video.htm |title=Alex & Sierra perform "Scarecrow" - Today Show - VIDEO |publisher=Mjsbigblog.com |date=2014-06-23 |accessdate=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2014-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701233901/http://www.mjsbigblog.com/alex-sierra-perform-scarecrow-today-show-video.htm |url-status=live }} They also promoted the single on popular blogging sites such as perezhilton.com{{cite web |url=http://perezhilton.com/2014-10-01-the-x-factor-usa-alex-sierra-simon-cowell-columbia-records-scarecrow-song-singers#.VD9svhbUjqY |title=EXCLUSIVE! Alex & Sierra Perform An Acoustic Version Of Scarecrow! |publisher=PerezHilton.com |date=2014-10-01 |accessdate=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2014-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117032822/http://perezhilton.com/2014-10-01-the-x-factor-usa-alex-sierra-simon-cowell-columbia-records-scarecrow-song-singers#.VD9svhbUjqY |url-status=live }} and rickey.org{{cite web |last=Yaneza |first=Rickey |url=http://www.rickey.org/alex-sierra-release-scarecrow-acoustic-performance-official-video/263647/ |title=Alex and Sierra release 'Scarecrow' acoustic performance official video |publisher=Rickey.org |date=2014-06-24 |accessdate=2015-04-01 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141016070514/http://www.rickey.org/alex-sierra-release-scarecrow-acoustic-performance-official-video/263647/ |archive-date=2014-10-16 |url-status=dead }} A lyric video featuring puppets instead of the singers themselves was released on May 27, 2014.{{cite web|title=Alex & Sierra - Scarecrow (Lyric Video)| date=27 May 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g1YpDK7Dcg|publisher=YouTube.com|accessdate=13 June 2014|archive-date=10 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610021440/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g1YpDK7Dcg|url-status=live}} While they released the official music video for the song on July 11, 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8R8oATk7NU |title=Alex & Sierra - Scarecrow |publisher=YouTube.com |date=2014-07-11 |accessdate=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2015-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515170712/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8R8oATk7NU |url-status=live }}

Reception

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Collar |first=Matt |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/its-about-us-mw0002710404 |title=It's About Us - Alex & Sierra | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2014-10-07 |accessdate=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2015-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407003916/http://www.allmusic.com/album/its-about-us-mw0002710404 |url-status=live }}

}}

=Critical=

Matt Collar of AllMusic gave a positive review of the album stating "Alex & Sierra have delivered an album that showcases their crowd-pleasing musical chemistry."

=Commercial=

It's About Us debuted at number 9 on the New Zealand Albums Chart the week ending October 13, 2014. The album debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200 with 27,000 copies sold within its first week of release.{{cite web |author=Christopher Morris |url=https://variety.com/2014/music/news/jason-aldean-old-boots-new-dirt-album-sales-1201330975/ |title=Country Keeps Its Hold on U.S. Album Charts With Jason Aldean in Top Spot |publisher=Variety.com |date=2014-10-15 |accessdate=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2014-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228051647/http://variety.com/2014/music/news/jason-aldean-old-boots-new-dirt-album-sales-1201330975/ |url-status=live }} The album has sold 86,000 copies in the United States as of August 2016.{{cite web |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160829210341/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |archivedate= August 29, 2016 |url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases |website=Hits Daily Double |publisher=HITS Digital Ventures }}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 42:03

| title1 = Scarecrow

| writer1 = {{hlist|Alex Kinsey|Sierra Deaton|Sam Hollander|Martin Johnson}}

| extra1 = Johnson

| length1 = 3:26

| title2 = Give Me Something

| writer2 = {{hlist|Kinsey|Deaton|Ruth-Anne Cunningham|John Ryan|Eddie Serrano}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Julian Bunetta|Ryan}}

| length2 = 3:12

| title3 = Bumper Cars

| writer3 = {{hlist|Steve Mac|Claude Kelly}}

| extra3 = Mac

| length3 = 4:00

| title4 = Almost Home

| writer4 = {{hlist|Kinsey|Deaton|Cunningham|Hollander|John Shanks|Ali Tamposi}}

| extra4 = Shanks

| length4 = 3:23

| title5 = Here We Go

| writer5 = {{hlist|Kinsey|Deaton|Cunningham|Shanks|Julian Bunetta}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Shanks|Bunetta}}

| length5 = 3:23

| title6 = It's About Us

| note6 = Interlude

| writer6 = {{hlist|Paul Cannon|Jason Mraz|Michael Natter}}

| extra6 =

| length6 = 1:01

| title7 = Little Do You Know

| writer7 = {{hlist|Deaton|Cunningham|Tamposi|Toby Gad}}

| extra7 = Gad

| length7 = 3:05

| title8 = Cheating

| writer8 = {{hlist|Bunetta|Gad|Tamposi}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Bunetta|Ian Franzino{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length8 = 2:27

| title9 = Just Kids

| writer9 = {{hlist|Kinsey|Deaton|Hollander|Tamposi|Ryan}}

| extra9 = Steve Shebby

| length9 = 3:28

| title10 = I Love You

| writer10 = {{hlist|Johan Carlsson|Harry Styles}}

| extra10 = Carlsson

| length10 = 3:49

| title11 = Broken Frame

| writer11 = {{hlist|Kinsey|Deaton|Hollander|Tamposi|Ryan}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Bunetta|Ryan}}

| length11 = 3:40

| title12 = Back to You

| writer12 = {{hlist|Kinsey|Deaton|Jamie Scott}}

| extra12 = Scott

| length12 = 3:52

| title13 = All for You

| writer13 = {{hlist|Kinsey|Deaton|Cunningham|Ryan}}

| extra13 = Ryan

| length13 = 3:11

}}

Notes

{{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} significes a co-producer

Personnel

Lead vocals – Alex & Sierra
Background vocals – John August, Johan Carlsson, Sam Hollander, Martin Johnson, Kyle Moorman, Brandon Paddock, Ali Tamposi
Violin – Paul Cartright, Stephan Hovsepian, Carrie Kennedy, Emily Moore, Joel Pargman, Jen Simone, Audrey Solomon, Ina Velli
Guitar – Josh Cumbee, Toby Gad, Martin Johnson, Alex Kinsey, Jamie Scott, John Shanks
Piano – Sierra Deaton, Toby Gad, Martin Johnson, Steve Mac, Jamie Scott, John Shanks,
Cello – Ira Glansbeek, John Krovoza
Trumpet – Sean Eric
Percussion – Martin Johnson
Rhythm/string arrangements – Nick Squires, Steve Mac
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Johan Carlsson, Ian Franzino, Toby Gad, Steve Mac, John Ryan, John Shanks
Vocal producers: Steve Shebby, Peter Carlsson, Steve Mac, David "DQ" Quinones
Engineers: Nico Grossfield, John Hanes, Sam Holland, Martin Johnson, Paul Lamalfa, Chris Laws, Edwin Menjivar, Brandon Paddock, Dann Pursey, John Ryan, John Shanks
Assistant engineers: Ian Franzino, Keith Munson
Programming: Toby Gad, Martin Johnson, Kyle Moorman, Brandon Paddock, John Ryan, John Shanks, John August, Julian Bunetta, Johan Carlsson, Josh Cumbee
Mixing: Michael H. Brauer, Serban Ghenea, Ash Howes, Joe Zook
Mixing assistant: Ryan Lipman, Brandon Paddock
Photography: Sierra Deaton, Sami Drasin, Alex Kinsey, Chris Whittle
Artwork: Pamela Littky, Sierra Deaton, Alex Kinsey

Charts

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" style="width:18em;"\|Chart (2014–16) !scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| Australian Albums Chart{{cite web\|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/slipknot-land-no-1-album-on-aria-chart-20141025\|title=Slipknot Land No 1 Album On ARIA Chart\|publisher=Noise11\|last=Ryan\|first=Gavin\|date=2014-10-25\|accessdate=2014-10-28\|archive-date=2014-10-31\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031053700/http://www.noise11.com/news/slipknot-land-no-1-album-on-aria-chart-20141025\|url-status=live}} \| 97
{{album chart\|Flanders\|199\|artist=Alex & Sierra\|album=It's About Us\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=September 23, 2016}}
scope="row"\| Canadian Albums Chart{{cite web \|author= \|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-albums?page=1 \|title=Canadian Albums: Top Albums Chart \|publisher=Billboard.com \|date=2015-03-28 \|accessdate=2015-04-01 \|archive-date=2015-06-10 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610133728/http://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-albums?page=1 \|url-status=live }} \| 11
scope="row"\| New Zealand Albums Chart{{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2011-11-11 \|title=NZ Top 40 Albums Chart \| The Official New Zealand Music Chart \|publisher=Nztop40.co.nz \|access-date=2015-04-01 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511210518/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums \|archive-date=2012-05-11 }} \| 9
scope="row"\| US Billboard 200 \| 8
scope="row"\|US Digital Albums (Billboard){{cite web \|author= \|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/digital-albums/ \|title=Digital Albums Chart \|publisher=Billboard.com \|date=2015-03-28 \|accessdate=2015-04-01 \|archive-date=2015-03-29 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329131828/http://www.billboard.com/charts/digital-albums \|url-status=live }} \| 3

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col" style="width:18em;"|Chart (2014–16)

!scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australian Albums Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/slipknot-land-no-1-album-on-aria-chart-20141025|title=Slipknot Land No 1 Album On ARIA Chart|publisher=Noise11|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|date=2014-10-25|accessdate=2014-10-28|archive-date=2014-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031053700/http://www.noise11.com/news/slipknot-land-no-1-album-on-aria-chart-20141025|url-status=live}}

| 97

{{album chart|Flanders|199|artist=Alex & Sierra|album=It's About Us|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 23, 2016}}

scope="row"| Canadian Albums Chart{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-albums?page=1 |title=Canadian Albums: Top Albums Chart |publisher=Billboard.com |date=2015-03-28 |accessdate=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610133728/http://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-albums?page=1 |url-status=live }}

| 11

scope="row"| New Zealand Albums Chart{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2011-11-11 |title=NZ Top 40 Albums Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart |publisher=Nztop40.co.nz |access-date=2015-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511210518/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums |archive-date=2012-05-11 }}

| 9

scope="row"| US Billboard 200

| 8

scope="row"|US Digital Albums (Billboard){{cite web |author= |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/digital-albums/ |title=Digital Albums Chart |publisher=Billboard.com |date=2015-03-28 |accessdate=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2015-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329131828/http://www.billboard.com/charts/digital-albums |url-status=live }}

| 3

Release history

Region ! Date ! Label ! Format
class="wikitable"
Australia \|rowspan=4\| October 7, 2014 \|rowspan=4\|Columbia \|rowspan=4\|Digital
Brazil
United Kingdom
United States

References

Category:2014 debut albums

Category:Alex & Sierra albums

Category:Columbia Records albums

Category:Sony Music albums

Category:Albums produced by Johan Carlsson