Infinity (AJR EP) explained

Infinity
Type:EP
Artist:AJR
Cover:AJR Infinity EP.png
Genre:
Label:
  • AJR Productions
  • WMG
Producer:Ryan Met
Prev Title:6foot1
Prev Year:2013
Year:2014
Next Title:Living Room
Next Year:2015
Chronology:AJR

Infinity is the third extended play by American indie pop band AJR, published through Warner Music Group and the band's label AJR Productions. It was released on September 23, 2014, to accommodate the delay of the band's debut studio album, Living Room (2015). The EP produced the sole single "Infinity", which received praise from critics and commercial success. The song would later be included on their debut album alongside "Pitchfork Kids".

Background and promotion

Following the commercial success of AJR's 2013 extended play 6foot1, the band signed with Warner Music Group to release an album.[2] Living Room was scheduled for release on September 30, 2014, but was pushed back due to unfinished production on August 15 to an expected release of February 2015. Alongside this, Infinity was announced as an EP to follow 6foot1 and precede the album.[3] "Infinity" was released as the EP's sole single on September 11, 2014.[4] Infinity released on September 23, 2014, with the band additionally announcing the Infinity Tour, a 10-date tour across the eastern United States.[5]

Content

"Infinity"

"Infinity" is an upbeat pop song,[6] with string and acoustic-focused instrumentation and vocals led by all three brothers.[7] The song was described by Idolator as "a stripped-back, folk-tinged pop song with a powerful sing-a-long chorus".[1] "Infinity" was initially released on YouTube in 2013 before its proper release with updated production.[8] The song was picked as a single to contrast their previous single "I'm Ready", with band member Adam Met stating "we didn't want something that sounded exactly the same, and we didn't want to, kind of, pigeonhole ourselves into just doing that very specific kind of music" in an interview with Niagra Frontier Publications.[9]

Alongside its release on September 11, 2014, AJR published a lyric video for the song,[4] featuring stills of the band floating in the air with lyrics appearing on top of the images.[10] A music video for "Infinity" was released on January 14, 2015.[11] The video cuts between the band performing the song in a solid white room and illustrations of positive and negative relationship aspects.[12] The animation for the video was done by filming the scenes in-person and tracing over certain aspects of it.[13] "Infinity" was additionally performed on Today on May 19, 2015.[14] The song was included as the second track of the band's debut album Living Room (2015).[7]

Other songs

"Alice by the Hudson" is a downtempo waltz song, with vocals provided by each member in barbershop style.[8] The song's post-choruses electronically manipulate and cut up the vocals,[15] which the band refers to with the term "spokestep".[16] "Pitchfork Kids" is an uptempo electropop song, with heavy percussion and production.[8] This is accompanied by hip-hop influence in instrument choice and further use of "spokestep". "Pitchfork Kids" was included as the sixth track of Living Room (2015),[7] while also being a fan-favorite of the EP and album. "3AM" is a soft love song, additionally featuring whistling,[8] ukulele, and light piano. "I'm Ready - Remix by AJR" is a dance remix of the band's debut single, "I'm Ready",[15] changing the tempo of various sections and adding percussion.[8]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Niagara Frontier. Emerging indie-pop group AJR set to release full-length debut album 'Living Room' March 3. Niagara Frontier Publications. en. January 8, 2015. April 10, 2024.
  2. Web site: Mochizuki. Hitomi. 10 Things You Need To Know About AJR. The Pitch. November 13, 2014. April 10, 2024.
  3. Web site: Wippsson. Johan. AJR Move Release Of Debut Album "Living Room" To Feb. 2015. Melodic Net. en. August 15, 2014. January 26, 2024.
  4. Web site: Wass. Mike. AJR Return With Nostalgic New Single "Infinity": Watch The DIY Lyric Video (Idolator Premiere). Idolator. September 11, 2014. January 26, 2024. December 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231219025533/https://www.idolator.com/7534385/ajr-infinity-lyric-video. live.
  5. Web site: Digital Tour Bus. AJR Announce "The Infinity Tour" For The Fall. Digital Tour Bus. en. September 23, 2014. January 26, 2024.
  6. Web site: Baker. Elizabeth. Critical Voices: AJR, Living Room. George Town Voice. en. March 5, 2015. April 10, 2024.
  7. Web site: Duff. Chelsea. AJR's new album Living Room will have you dancing all around the house. GirlsLife. en. February 1, 2016. April 10, 2024.
  8. Web site: Curto. Justin. The Music Man: EP review: "Infinity EP" by AJR. Mill Valley News. en. September 24, 2014. April 10, 2024.
  9. Web site: Maloni. Joshua. Interview: AJR is A-mazing. Niagra Frontier Publications. October 29, 2014. October 26, 2023. October 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231026014643/https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/featured/2014/10/29/118217/interview-ajr-is-a-mazing. live.
  10. Web site: Veronica. AJR's Powerful Infinity Lyric Video!. Sweety High. en. October 18, 2014. April 10, 2024.
  11. Web site: Whitmore. Laura. AJR Premiere New Video for Their Single "Infinity". Guitar World. en. January 14, 2015. April 10, 2024.
  12. Web site: Szubiak. Ali. AJR Debut 'Infinity' Music Video. PopCrush. en. January 14, 2015. April 10, 2024.
  13. Web site: McGahan. Michelle. Go Behind the Scenes of AJR's 'Infinity' Video. PopCrush. en. February 5, 2015. April 10, 2024.
  14. Web site: Today. AJR performs 'Infinity' in Studio 1A. Today. en. May 19, 2015. April 10, 2024.
  15. Web site: Veronica. Infinity is AJR's New EP!. Sweety High. en. September 24, 2014. April 10, 2024.
  16. Web site: Fuse. AJR Went from Street Performing to Creating Their Own Genre. Fuse. en. July 31, 2014. April 10, 2024.
  17. Web site: Credits / Infinity - EP / AJR - TIDAL . TIDAL. July 22, 2014. January 23, 2024.