Never Happy, Ever After Explained

Never Happy, Ever After
Type:studio
Artist:As It Is
Cover:Never_Happy,_Ever_After.jpg
Released:20 April 2015
Recorded:October–November 2014, St. Cloud, Florida
Genre:
    • Emo pop punk
Length:36:17
Label:Fearless
Producer:James Paul Wisner, As It Is
Prev Title:This Mind of Mine
Prev Year:2014
Next Title:okay.
Next Year:2017

Never Happy, Ever After is the debut studio album by British pop punk band As It Is. Following four self-released EPs, the band signed to Fearless Records in October 2014. A week after the signing, the band went to record with producer James Paul Wisner in St. Cloud, Florida, United States. Never Happy, Ever After was released through Fearless on 20 April 2015.

Background

As It Is was started in spring 2012[1] by vocalist Patty 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.[2] Guitarist Andy Westhead and drummer Patrick Foley replied to the advertisement and were accepted into the band.[3] Walters met guitarist Ben Biss while at university in Brighton.[4] As It Is self-released three EPs. Following the release of a music video for "Can't Save Myself" in early February 2014 the band went on its first tour.[4] The band's fourth EP, This Mind of Mine, was a crowdfunded effort, released in March 2014.[5] On 2 October, it was announced the band signed to Fearless Records,[6] the first UK band to do so. Walters called Fearless "one of my favorite record labels."[6] Bands on Fearless "have played a huge role in my life, inspiring me massively".[6]

Composition and recording

Rock Sound contributor Rob Sayce noted that the album was influenced by All Time Low's Nothing Personal (2009).[7] Sayce wrote that the album "was another milestone release for UK pop-punk, and those sky-scraping choruses bore the unmistakable mark of ATL."[7] The band spent "a stupid amount of time on really making sure that it was the record we wanted", according to Walters.[4] During the writing process, the band members had not seen their girlfriends in a few months.[8] Walters called this "the hardest thing" he has had to face.[8] "Dial Tones" was Walters and guitarist Ben Biss' way of handing the guilt the pair of them were facing.[8] The bridge for the song was written at the Playhouse Theatre in London.[9] The group demoed vocals for the song in the bar of the theatre.[9]

A week after signing to Fearless, the band went to record[6] in a studio located in St. Cloud, Florida, with James Paul Wisner and the band producing the sessions. Recording was done over the course of five and a half weeks. Working with Wisner was "a huge learning curve" for the band, according to Walters.[4] Wisner mixed the album, before it was mastered by Brad Blackwood at Euphonics.

Release

On 20 January 2015, "Dial Tones" was released as a single.[10] The music video for which was made by LifeIsArtFilms.[11] On 23 February, Never Happy, Ever After was announced for release, and the artwork was revealed.[12] Between late February and early April, As It Is supported Set It Off on the Glamour Kills Spring Break '15 tour.[13] On 3 March, "Concrete" was made available for steaming.[14] On 14 April, the album was made available for streaming.[15] On the same day, the music video for "Cheap Shots & Setbacks" was released.[15] The video was made by Dan Centrone.[16] Never Happy, Ever After was released by Fearless Records on 20 April.[17] In May, the band went on a co-headlining tour with This Wild Life with support from Seaway and Boston Manor.[18] The band played on the 2015 Warped Tour;[14] a music video was released for "Sorry" on 11 September with footage from the tour.[19]

Following this, they embarked on tours of Japan and Australia,[20] leading up to a support slot for Mayday Parade on the 2015 Alternative Press Tour in October and November.[21] On 10 November, a music video for "Speak Soft" premiered through Alternative Press website;[22] it was made by LifeIsArtVisuals and filmed on a beach in Newcastle in Australia in the early hours of the morning.[23] In December, the band supported Lower Than Atlantis on their tour of the UK.[24] In February and March, the band supported Sleeping with Sirens on the UK tour. A deluxe edition of the album was released on 8 April 2016. It featured a new song, "Winter's Weather", and acoustic versions of three tracks: "Dial Tones", "Cheap Shots & Setbacks" and "Concrete".[25] A music video had been released for "Winter's Weather" the previous day.[26]

Reception

"Dial Tones" was included on Alternative Presss "12 New Songs You Need To Hear From January 2015" list.[27] The album was included at number 19 on Rock Sounds top 50 releases of 2015 list.[28]

Track listing

All music and lyrics written by As It Is.

Bonus tracks

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[29] As It Is

Production and design

Chart positions

Charts (2015)Peak
position
Scottish Albums Chart[30] 40
UK Albums Chart[31] 39
UK Album Downloads Chart[32] 37
UK Albums Sales Chart[33] 33
UK Physical Albums Chart[34] 52
UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart[35] 2
US Billboard 200[36] 159
US Billboard Alternative Albums[37] 17
US Billboard Heatseekers Albums[38] 2
US Billboard Independent Albums[39] 14
US Billboard Top Album Sales[40] 77
US Billboard Top Rock Albums[41] 23

References

Citations
Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Biddulph 2015, p. 36
  2. Web site: As It Is - DSCVR Interview. YouTube.com. DSCVR. 31 July 2015. 12 February 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150812161018/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hNy9vlleDk. 12 August 2015.
  3. Web site: 5 Things You Never Knew About... As It Is. YouTube.com. Rock Sound. 31 July 2015. 29 March 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150812161020/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1au-Bg1GEB0. 12 August 2015.
  4. Ritchie 2015, p. 34
  5. Web site: iTunes - Music - This Mind of Mine - EP by As It Is. iTunes. 17 March 2014 . 26 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150626213413/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/this-mind-of-mine-ep/id796450126. 26 June 2015.
  6. Web site: As It Is sign to Fearless Records. Alternative Press. Sharp, Tyler. 2 October 2014. 26 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150414050628/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/as_it_is_sign_to_fearless_records. 14 April 2015.
  7. Sayce 2015, p. 32
  8. Web site: Behind The Scenes of As It Is' "Dial Tones" music video. Alternative Press. Willcocks, Matthew. 20 January 2015. 26 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150626153450/http://www.altpress.com/photoop/entry/behind_the_scenes_of_as_it_is_featuring_youtuber_patty_walters_dial_tones_m. 26 June 2015.
  9. McMahon, ed. 2015, p. 19
  10. Web site: iTunes - Music - Dial Tones - Single by As It Is. iTunes. 20 January 2015 . 26 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150627002040/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/dial-tones-single/id956854004. 27 June 2015.
  11. As It Is - Dial Tones (Official Music Video). 19 January 2015. YouTube. Fearless Records. 26 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150526184442/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyBV4yoEZ6A. 26 May 2015.
  12. Web site: This Is What The Artwork For The Debut As It Is Album Looks Like. Rock Sound Magazine. Ritchie, Andy. 23 February 2015. 14 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150814170918/http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/this-is-what-the-artwork-for-the-debut-as-it-is-album-looks-like. 14 August 2015.
  13. Web site: Set It Off, Against The Current, more announced for Glamour Kills: Spring Break '15 Tour. Alternative Press. Sharp, Tyler. 7 January 2015. 26 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150626154339/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/set_it_off_against_the_current_more_announced_for_glamour_kills_spring_brea. 26 June 2015.
  14. Web site: As It Is stream "Concrete" from new album, 'Never Happy, Ever After'. Alternative Press. Sharp, Tyler. 3 March 2015. 26 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150626153448/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/as_it_is_stream_concrete_from_new_album_never_happy_ever_after. 26 June 2015.
  15. Web site: Stream As It Is' new album, 'Never Happy, Ever After'. Alternative Press. Sharp, Tyler. 14 April 2015. 26 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150626153447/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/stream_as_it_is_new_album_never_happy_ever_after. 26 June 2015.
  16. As It Is - Cheap Shots & Setbacks. 13 April 2015. YouTube. asitisVEVO. 14 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170204035945/https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLsBWlr67U5Ntm1ctHXFG6YUPIefPa_F1W&v=p0ve-o7POkc. 4 February 2017.
  17. Web site: As It Is Just Dropped A MASSIVE New Song. Rock Sound Magazine. Biddulph, Andy. 14 April 2015. 13 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150616041456/http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/as-it-is-just-dropped-a-massive-new-song. 16 June 2015.
  18. Web site: As It Is And This Wild Life Will Hit The UK Together In May. Rock Sound Magazine. Ritchie, Andy. 20 February 2015. 14 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150814172055/http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/as-it-is-and-this-wild-life-will-hit-the-uk-together-in-may. 14 August 2015.
  19. Web site: As It Is release Warped Tour music video for "Sorry". Alternative Press. Bazley, John. 11 September 2015. 15 June 2020.
  20. Web site: "Going on tour with them is pretty mind-blowing": Benjamin Biss of As It Is talks the AP Tour. Alternative Press. Richman, Jesse. 13 October 2015. 15 June 2020.
  21. Web site: Mayday Parade, Real Friends, This Wild Life, As It Is announced for AP Tour. Alternative Press. AltPress. 22 July 2015. 15 June 2020.
  22. Web site: Take a look inside As It Is' new "Speak Soft" music video (exclusive). Alternative Press. AltPress. 9 November 2015. 15 June 2020.
  23. Web site: As It Is share music video for "Speak Soft". Alternative Press. AltPress. 11 November 2015. 15 June 2020.
  24. Web site: Are Lower Than Atlantis Doing A 1975 On Us?. MTV. Viacom. 14 September 2015. 22 January 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925150339/http://www.mtv.co.uk/lower-than-atlantis/news/are-lower-than-atlantis-doing-a-1975-on-us. 25 September 2015.
  25. Web site: Ralph. Caityln. As It Is Announce New Song with Deluxe Edition of 'Never Happy, Ever After'. Alternative Press. 26 February 2016. 26 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160226225400/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/as_it_is_announce_new_song_with_deluxe_edition_of_never_happy_ever_after. 26 February 2016.
  26. Web site: Listen to a new As It Is song. Alternative Press. Ralph, Caitlyn. 7 April 2016. 15 June 2020.
  27. Web site: 12 New Songs You Need To Hear From January 2015. Alternative Press. Whitt, Cassie. 28 January 2015. 26 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150816145114/http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/12_new_songs_you_need_to_hear_from_january_2015. 16 August 2015.
  28. Bird, ed. 2016, p. 26
  29. Never Happy, Ever After. As It Is. 2015. booklet. Fearless Records. FLR302082.
  30. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100. officialcharts.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150612104749/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20150426/40/. 12 June 2015.
  31. Web site: AS IT IS. officialcharts.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150606190128/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/47045/as-it-is/. 6 June 2015.
  32. Web site: Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100. officialcharts.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150612104817/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20150426/7003/. 12 June 2015.
  33. Web site: Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100. officialcharts.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044414/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-sales-chart/20150426/7511/. 4 March 2016.
  34. Web site: Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100. officialcharts.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150612104800/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/physical-albums-chart/20150426/2/. 12 June 2015.
  35. Web site: Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40. officialcharts.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150612104806/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-albums-chart/20150426/112/. 12 June 2015.
  36. Web site: As It Is - Chart history (Billboard 200). billboard.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150812161040/http://www.billboard.com/artist/6546577/as-it-is/chart?f=305. 12 August 2015.
  37. Web site: As It Is - Chart history (Alternative Albums). billboard.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150812161041/http://www.billboard.com/artist/6546577/as-it-is/chart?f=794. 12 August 2015.
  38. Web site: As It Is - Chart history (Heatseekers Albums). billboard.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150812161042/http://www.billboard.com/artist/6546577/as-it-is/chart?f=324. 12 August 2015.
  39. Web site: As It Is - Chart history (Independent Albums). billboard.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150812161041/http://www.billboard.com/artist/6546577/as-it-is/chart?f=326. 12 August 2015.
  40. Web site: As It Is - Chart history (Top Album Sales). billboard.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150812161042/http://www.billboard.com/artist/6546577/as-it-is/chart?f=2160. 12 August 2015.
  41. Web site: As It Is - Chart history (Top Rock Albums). billboard.com. 9 June 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150812161042/http://www.billboard.com/artist/6546577/as-it-is/chart?f=408. 12 August 2015.

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