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Fly South formed in 2007 by partners Mark Mercado, John Youngman and Randy Dease. The company is based in Orlando with offices in Nashville and Los Angeles. For more info contact info@flysouthmusic.com
As Paramore embark on the most successful year of their career, there seems to be no limit as to what they can accomplish. The band’s last 2007 album RIOT! has sold nearly two million copies worldwide, the group was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2008 for “Best New Artist” and even their live CD/DVD The Final Riot! has gone gold. However while these statistics are impressive, record sales have never been the driving force behind Paramore—and that fact has never been as evident as it is on the group’s highly anticipated third full-length brand new eyes. In fact, as excited as this group of young adults from Franklin, Tennessee are to have had the opportunity to tour with their heroes like Jimmy Eat World and No Doubt over the past few years, they seem even more ecstatic to share brand new eyes with the world. “I hope that every record is a progression for us, but this one is definitely a huge leap from RIOT!,” the band’s frontwoman Hayley Williams explains. “I just can’t wait to get back on the road and start playing these new songs live.”
Anyone who has seen the band on the road already knows Paramore have an incendiary live show; however with brand new eyes, the group has proved they’re also able to juxtapose all of their indie-minded influences into a seamless collection of songs that embrace the future without abandoning the band’s past. Additionally, the process of making brand new eyes seems to have taught the group—Hayley, guitarists Josh Farro and Taylor York, drummer Zac Farro and bassist Jeremy Davis—countless lessons about who they are both inside and outside of Paramore. “We’ve been through a ton of stressful, pressure-filled situations since RIOT! came out and I feel like I’m a completely new person,” Hayley explains, adding that brand new eyes ended up being the perfect cathartic outlet for the band’s creativity and, yes, frustration. “I think making the record was part of the healing process,” Hayley elaborates. “It was good for me both as a person and as an artist.”
Considering the fact that RIOT! went gold in Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and the U.K. and the band cracked the top five on the radio charts in the U.K. Australia, Mexico, Brazil, France, Germany and Southeast Asia, this global success story had a lot to live up to with brand new eyes. Co-produced by the band and Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance), who Paramore also worked with on the track “Decode” from the double-platinum soundtrack for the movie Twilight, the album is also the first disc to officially feature new guitarist Taylor York—although York has been a writing partner and frequent touring member since the band’s inception back in 2004. “It’s really nice having Taylor there because he’s the only other guitarist that I trust with our songs,” Josh explains. “It’s so exciting to be a five-piece again,” Hayley concurs, “that’s what we were originally intended to be, so I think the writing process was a lot more rewarding having him there.” While Josh and Hayley once again made up the main songwriting team on brand new eyes, Hayley is also quick to stress that this album is the most collaborative creation of the band’s career, a fact that is evident in the disc’s sonic diversity.
In fact brand new eyes is a case study in the band’s versatility and contains as many driving, first-pumping anthems like “Ignorance” as it does upbeat pop masterpieces like “Where The Lines Overlap” and lilting, acoustic ballads such as “Misguided Ghosts.” “We really tried to venture out and experiment with our sound to see how far we could push ourselves this time around,” Josh explains. “‘Misguided Ghosts’ is just finger-picking and that’s not really Paramore’s sound but for some reason it works,” he continues. “I don’t think it would have fit on RIOT! at all, but it’s definitely the perfect song for this album.” While Rob Cavallo was instrumental in helping the band fully realize their sound, the end result wouldn’t have come to fruition in the studio so quickly if the band didn’t have a clear-cut idea of what they wanted to accomplish from the onset. “I think we did a good job of guiding ourselves on this record,” Hayley explains, “but if there was ever was a time [Cavallo] had to step in he did and it was always perfect.”
The rollercoaster ride that Paramore have experienced over the past few years was also a huge influence on the lyrics for brand new eyes, however it was important for Williams not to write a clichéd collection of songs about the perils of success. “I watch all these bands go from being really hungry on their first album to talking about paparazzi following them around on their next one,” Hayley explains with a laugh. “I was so afraid of sounding like that.” Instead Hayley decided to dig into her own psyche and explore some of her deepest emotions. “I would sit in my room all day and not go anywhere, because I felt like I had to keep myself secluded in order to write lyrics,” Hayley recounts. “I’m really proud because looking back on all the songs this is really exactly what I was going through—and I think a lot of people are going through this, too.”
Hayley’s honesty is evident in tracks like the acoustic ballad “The Only Exception” and album closer “All I Wanted,” both of which give an unapologetic glimpse into the inner workings of what was happening in her head over the past two years, a reality that was initially scary for the 20-year-old to advertise to the rest of the world. “Now that it’s all said and on paper I’m not as insecure about [these lyrics] because I think these songs form a full story that people are going to be able to connect with,” Hayley explains, adding that once the songs started to flow in the studio the band were instantly rejuvenated and remembered why they started Paramore in the first place. “There’s something Hayley is able to draw out of me that I can’t seem to do with anyone else,” Josh responds when asked how the band are able to craft music that defies gender and genre stereotypes. “Hayley hates the word ‘mature,’ but I think it’s really suitable for this record because there’s much growth that’s evident on this album.”
Never content to rest on their laurels, Paramore continue to look toward the future and can’t wait to see what the next few years have in store for them. “I don’t really care how many records we sell,” Josh explains, citing that this album is a full representation of the band’s disparate influences which include Mew, Jimmy Eat World and Death Cab For Cutie. “I want to come out on the other end happier than ever just knowing that we’ve done this together and it was fun,” Hayley summarizes. “I just want to feel like this is my band, this is awesome, I’m living the dream,” she adds, her voice taking on a palpably excited tone. “If we can accomplish that together, there’s nothing more that we can ask for.”
Hailing from Ocala, Florida, A DAY TO REMEMBER is one of the hardest working bands in the business. They have sold nearly 900,000 albums since forming in 2003. While topping the Billboard charts, they have also sold out entire continental tours all over the world.
The band’s latest album “What Separates Me From You” on Victory Records debuted at # 11 on the Billboard Top 200 selling over 58,000 copies first week and the first single off the album, the guitar-charged anthem “All I Want” was one of 2011’s most played songs at alternative radio. The album also debuted as the # 1 Rock Album in the UK. The band featuring vocalist Jeremy Mckinnon, guitarists Nell Westfall and Kevin Skaff, bassist Joshua Woodard and drummer Alex Shelnutt not only sold out nearly every date on their headline tour supporting the new album, they did it all around the world – UK, Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, South America and more. The band headlined the Warped Tour in summer 2011 to record crowds. The band has been a mainstay on the major worldwide festivals including Soundwave (Australia), Bamboozle (US), Rock am Ring / Park (Germany), Redding Leeds (UK), Download (UK) and KROQ’s Weenie Roast (US), among others. A Day To Remember was MTV Buzzworthy’s “Breakthrough Band Of The Year” in 2011. The band has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC), Hoppus On Music (Fuse) with their songs used in television programming as diverse as MTV’s Jersey Shore and ESPN. They have graced magazine covers worldwide in Alternative Press, Kerrang, Rock Sound, Blunt and have been featured in USA Today, Billboard Magazine, Guitar World and others.
Grand Rapid's Sleeping with Sirens are influenced by bands like Drop Dead Gorgeous and Dance Gavin Dance. Sleeping with Sirens finds a harmonious balance between melody and aggressive breakdowns. The band is signed to Rise Records and have sold more than 45k albums to date. They are also road warriors and have landed tours with Attack Attack, We Came As Romans, Falling In Reverse, From First To Last, The Ghost Inside, Enter Shikari, A Skylit Drive and others. The band proves that it's entirely possible for newcomers to kick down the doors and burst onto the scene. The band is set to headline a national tour in early 2012.
Hopeless Records is excited to announce that we have partnered with The Used and their label, Anger Music Group to release their highly anticipated follow up to 2009’s Artwork.
The final touches are being made to the album which will be released in the Spring of 2012. Vulnerable will be the bands 5th studio album.
Already chosen as one of Alternative Press Magazine’s Most Anticipated of 2012, front man Bert McCracken explains, “Vulnerable is about taking one step back and two steps forward. The sound of the record is as evolved as it possibly could be, it maintains the same emotional integrity as the first record [2002’s The Used], yet it sounds like the future (and the future sounds bright). Vulnerable is about taking a chance to let the real you shine. This record is for the outcasts, the misfits, the misunderstood, and the ones who have always dared to be themselves. I can’t wait for you to hear it.”
Forming in 2001 and hailing from Orem, Utah, The Used have released four studio albums: The Used, In Love And Death, Lies for the Liars and Artwork. Their self-titled debut, In Love And Death and Lies for the Liars have all been certified Gold by the RIAA. The band has performed on the Vans Warped Tour, Taste Of Chaos, Ozzfest and Projekt Revolution and have toured with bands such as Atreyu, Chiodos, Box Car Racer, Three Days Grace, Glassjaw, Green Day and Andrew WK.
Highly stylized aesthetics and lushly layered pop might be where to find the roots of States in terms of sound, but the essence of the band holds itself under the idea that creation comes from collaboration. Ideas need to be cultivated, grown, and harvested. "Here we are," front woman Mindy White declares, “and we can go wherever we want." With no confines and no chief-songwriters to be praised—or the pressures of hype and business—States debut album Room to Run is much more than an album full of '90s chart minded hooks; it's a debut of a band that works as a collective.
In fall of 2009 the emotionally driven outfit Copeland had announced that their time was at an end, and with a farewell tour in the works guitarists Bryan Laurenson and his brother Steve, who had become a touring member of the band, knew they had to begin weaving themselves into a new project, one that would be more focused on urgent grandiose melodies than soft spoken ballads. "I was the pop kid in Copeland," Bryan added, which makes him and his brother's return to pop centric music all that more natural.
Wanting to move on as soon as the final curtain fell the two quickly turned to former Lydia keyboardist, and past tour mate, Mindy White to see if she had interest in stepping to the front of the stage, but even before she heard a song or mention of the project she asked if the two wanted to start a band together. The three began organically refining the early demos that both Laurenson brothers had sketched. Once hearing early mixes ex-Copeland drummer Jonathan Bucklew and bassist Dean Lorenz joined in to fill out the line up.
By the fifth adaptation it was clear the songs could be released on their own, making the Line 'Em Up EP act as a preview of what States had in store and reintroduced them to the fans they had gained from their previous bands. Soon after release States embarked on their first tour opening for Anberlin.
"We’re doing what we wanted and we'll take the band where's is supposed to go,” White explains, a child-like joy and smile marks her statement. It’s in the creative freedom that Room to Run acts as a story of the band itself. "I know there is a purpose in us finding each other."
Under the production guise of Aaron Sprinkle at the Compound Recording Studios in Seattle, Washington each song’s eclectic axis became multi-layered portraits shedding light on what it took to get States to be a band, their past growth and self-discovery had been frozen and framed into a debut album.
From Versus the Mirror, a song inspired by the self-doubt that grabbed White on initially leaving Lydia, to the reoccurring themes of journeying into the unknown of one’s own decisions, it's quite clear that States is band that makes their own path.
Room to Run is an album about moving on as much as it is about the surprise of crafting songs free of hesitation—a glorious letting go to roam free, unbound, like the lost boys in Neverland. The rules here are what you make it.
Forget everything you knew about The Devil Wears Prada.
The technically proficient, guitar-driven American metal that you’ll hear on the band’s fourth studio album, Dead Throne, is bigger and more balanced than what was contended with on 2009’s breakthrough offering, With Roots Above and Branches Below, and 2010‘s Zombie EP.
Dead Throne signals a more evolved, more progressive The Devil Wears Prada that is not only larger sonically, but goes much deeper, lyrically. The album contains more than a dozen cutting-edge, razor-sharp, straight-ahead metal tracks that are utterly brilliant not only in their composition, but also in their flawless delivery.
“The songs are inspired by a lot of the things in my heart, per usual,” explains frontman Mike Hranica. “A lot of the subject matter was very specific for this record, which is something that has evolved for me. I’d call the album very ‘lyrically intentional.’”
Dead Throne was expertly produced by Killswitch Engage mad genius Adam Dutkiewicz at his Massachusetts-based recording studio -- a collaboration born out of a mutual admiration first realized in early 2010, when The Devil Wears Prada supported Killswitch Engage on tour.
“We got along with Adam very well and he dropped some hints about how he was interested in working with The Devil Wears Prada,” Hranica said. “Like any heavy band, clearly we've always been curious about working with the dude, so when he was so cool with us, it really felt natural and right. His impact as far as sound and engineering is purely his ability to capture the rawness of our band and reduce the sterility of it; something I've wanted for a very long time. I couldn't be happier with Adam’s influence and I think it works really, really well for us.”
Rounded out by guitarist and clean vocalist Jeremy DePoyster, guitarist Chris Rubey, bassist Andy Trick, keyboardist James Baney, and drummer Daniel Williams, The Devil Wears Prada wrote all of the songs that appear on Dead Throne before heading into the studio with Dutkiewicz, a man the band trusts and respects.
“Adam did have an impact as far as structure and pulling things out and reorganizing. He sped up a number of the songs, cut measures in half, and generally trimmed fat,” Rubey offered. “Usually, this would be something that we wouldn’t be into coming from a producer, but with Adam it totally worked for the best,” he added.
With Dead Throne, The Devil Wears Prada has turned a corner, by turning up the aggression and turning on the emotions. Dead Throne is the product of hard work and The Devil Wears Prada’s inevitable musical evolution, which tends to focus more on the band’s unique, punishing dual-vocal assault this time around.
“We aim to give listeners and fans something they can enjoy, but we’ll also always make songs we personally stand behind,” says Hranica. “We'd write differently if we were purely trying to sell albums: that’s just not how it works for us. No compromises.”
Dead Throne finally takes hold of what the band has merely hinted at in the past, and fans both old and new will quickly see this album for what it is -- a brilliant, emotional, captivating and brutal journey brought forth from the heart of a band that won’t conform to the latest trends. Ultimately, Dead Throne tackles issues of failed relationships and perseverance of faith.
“The album has a number of love lost songs,” says Hranica. “It’s a poetic topic I’ve always touched upon in the songs, and exaggerated, but this time around it was a little bit different as far as where it was coming from. My biggest lyrical models for the album are also very ‘love lost’-generated writers, which have an influence on me. The record contains a lot of self-loathing and a lot of bitterness, which all has a spin on it to where the only thing that does not pass in our lives is our faith and our trust in God. Dead Throne takes a bitter perspective: the world is dead and the only thing we have is the Lord.” And as for the world, the The Devil Wears Prada have already set their sights on breaking territories around the world the same way they established their loyal following in the States, through non-stop touring. The band toured Europe multiple times in 2011, with the last run ending at the UK’s premier rock event, Download Festival with a main stage performance. 2011 and 2012 will see The Devil Wears Prada touring throughout America, Europe, Australia and South America, among other territories.
What do you get when you mix four quirky kids with enough southern charm to make Colonel Sanders blush and some of the freshest pop-punk on any side of the Mississippi? You get Veara, a band that's currently pulling the rug out from under today's “scene” with their unique blend of explosive edgy pop-punk riffs and catchy hook driven choruses. And with the release of their new album What We Left Behind, Veara are taking their southern mosh-pitality to a whole new level!
Formed in the halls of a Augusta, GA high school in 2003, vocalist Brad Wyrosdick, guitarist Patrick Bambrick, bassist Bryan Kerr and drummer Brittany Harrell, have since released a self distributed EP and full-length and have toured with bands The Maine, DangerRadio and Powerspace. In 2009 the band partnered up with Jeremy McKinnon and Joshua Woodard of pop-punk powerhouse A Day To Remember, who were looking for bands to work with on their newly formed company Running Man Records, and the rest is history.
“The dudes in Veara called me one night to see if I was in town and if I wanted to stop by and check out their new demos they had just wrapped up,” explains Woodard. “I got them to burn me a CD, and within 5 minutes of leaving them I knew they were the band I wanted to work with.”
In January of 2010, Veara entered Wade Studios in Ocala, FL, with McKinnon in the producer's chair and Andrew Wade tracking and mixing, where they recorded their forthcoming album. Once the album was complete, the music made it to the ears of Epitaph's owner and president Brett Gurewitz who was immediately interested and inked a deal to release it.
Veara has a lot to prove with the release of What We Left Behind, a title which the band says is about leaving behind doubt and naysayers, and a theme that can be found throughout the album. After years of fighting a revolving door of band members, ceaseless doubt and small town narrow-mindedness, Veara respond with a bold new album.
“We have been through a lot of turmoil as a band,” says drummer Brittany Harrell. “Whether it be people doubting us, saying you can't do this, members quitting, people lying, etc. The songs on this record have to do with everything that we were going through within that year. It pretty much means all those topics are being left behind because we can do this and we will do this no matter what.”
“It's not just for us though,” adds vocalist Bradley Wyrosdick. “It's for everyone that has a dream and has people telling them they can't do what they want to do with their life. It's your life and you can accomplish whatever you put your mind to, and that's what we did with What We Left Behind.”
And the proof is in the music. Bouncy choruses, ripping riffs and terrorizing drums rule on What We Left Behind. Featuring tracks like the fiery opener, “We Have a Body Count,” the newly released sing-along “My B-Side Life” and the mosh-popper “Head For The Hills,” What We Left Behind is an honest take of the band's life experiences over the past several years, set to a musical score of anthemic pop-punk.
Veara are ready to get back to what they love doing the most, touring, and with a sold out run of dates with mentors A Day To Remember already under their belt, the sky's the limit as the band spreads their charming mosh-pop across the country.
The scene’s most notorious front man Ronnie Radke returns from years of mandatory silence to form Falling In Reverse, the loudest, most hard-hitting rock outfit to hit streets since his departure from Escape The Fate over three years ago. The Drug In Me Is You drops on July 26th and features eleven mega-hits that can be pre-ordered today along with the first single, “Raised By Wolves” available now on iTunes. Check out what Ronnie has been up to here.
After years of drama and speculation following Ronnie Radke’s departure from Escape The Fate, the talented frontman lifts himself from the depths of adversity to emerge as one of the most dynamic and talented stars in the music scene today. Joining Radke on his forward climb to claim his position at the top are Jacky Vincent (Lead Guitar), Ryan Seaman (Aiden, I Am Ghost) on drums, bass player Mika Horiuchi and rhythm guitarist Derek Jones.
“Raised By Wolves,” the first digital single from Falling In Reverse is a 3:25 minute journey into the mind of Radke - where his brutally honest lyrics break down his tumultuous past, while Falling In Reverse’s ferocious sonic breakdowns pick up right where Ronnie leaves off - shredding guitar solos, massive hooks and in your face guitar riffs, reminding us all of what Ronnie is capable of…
Formed in 2007, the band has built a following with two previous records, Fury And The Fallen Ones and Returners, as well as their riveting live performances touring with bands such as Bring Me The Horizon, Parkway Drive and The Devil Wears Prada.
The Ghost Inside’s powerful and affecting sound merges insightful and introspective lyrics with charging drums, lightning fast riffs and devastating breakdowns. The group is currently working on their yet untitled Epitaph debut with Jeremy Mckinnon (of A Day To Remember) producing.
t The Ghost Inside will be taking their energetic live show on the road when they tour North America.
It's a truly rare occasion when a debut by a band is met with the kind of feverish fan anticipation that encircled Lucky Street, the full-length debut by Tallahassee, Florida melodic rockers Go Radio. But then again, none of those other groups have Jason Lancaster at the helm.
The Go Radio singer/songwriter, who's been crafting unflinchingly honest, breathtakingly beautiful music since venturing out on his own in 2007, boasts arguably the most goosebump-inducing combination of raw vocal talent and songwriting prowess in rock today. Backed by a gifted band with two stellar EPs under their belts, Lancaster Go Radio are only just beginning to explore the seemingly endless potential for their mind-blowing creations. Go Radio released the Lucky Street Deluxe Edition, featuring stunning fan-loved ballad "Goodnight Moon", in fall 2011. The Deluxe Edition features un-released tracks, demos and a cover of Adele's "Rolling In The Deep". Go Radio has toured with A Day To Remember, Secondhand Serenade, Mayday Parade, and most recently with Yellowcard and label-mates Every Avenue.
Throw rock, reggae, punk, and pop into a blender, power it up and you get Ballyhoo!, acclaimed by fans to be “America’s-Favorite-Feel-Good-Party-Band.” It’s hard to argue with the masses, but these road-warriors have tirelessly toured to bring their music to the people. Between the road and the studio, Ballyhoo! has crafted a sound distinctly their own; fresh, fun, and embodied by the soul of the party lifestyle. Lead singer and guitarist, Howi Spangler, has a reputation for mixing slick lyrics with his smooth but powerful voice. Drummer Donald “Big D” Spangler lays out the hard-hitting beats, which are underlined by JR Gregory’s funky and witty bass lines. Scott Vandrey (aka DJ Blaze) rounds it out on the turntables and keys.
BALLYHOO!’s unique sound, hardcore devotion to the road and their fans has pitched them into snowballing success. After concluding the Last Calls and Liabilities tour with respected contemporaries, Pepper, they were honored with being included on the ever-popular 2011 Hollister Holiday Playlist. Ballyhoo! has toured with a myriad of the genre’s biggest names; Authority Zero, The Expendables, 311, and The Supervillains. In Jan 2011, they got a well-deserved nod from LAW Records and were signed to the Hawaii-based independent record label. Yesod Williams of the dub rock music mega-sensation PEPPER and owner of LAW Records says of his newest addition, “Having BALLYHOO! join the LAW Records family is a perfect fit. They are an incredibly talented band with a really catchy style”. 2011 has been a paramount year for Ballyhoo! as they wrap up the year with a few holiday bashes.
