American Authors

This article is about the band. For a list of American-born authors, see List of American novelists.
American Authors

American Authors performing at London's nightclub Heaven in November 2014
Background information
Also known as The Blue Pages (2006–2012)[1]
Origin Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Genres
Years active 2006–present
Labels Mercury, Island
Website weareamericanauthors.com
Members Zac Barnett
James Adam Shelley
Dave Rublin
Matt Sanchez

American Authors is an American indie rock band based in New York City and who are signed to Island Records.[2] They are best known for their hit singles "Believer" and "Best Day of My Life" from their debut album Oh, What a Life, as well as their Top 20 hit, "Go Big or Go Home", from their upcoming album, What We Live For.

History

2006–11: Early years

The members of American Authors met each other while attending Berklee College of Music in 2006.[3] The quartet spent their first years in Boston recording and performing music under the name the Blue Pages and recorded Surrounded by Wolves, Bear Fight, Night Hawke, Anthropology and Rich With Love. In May 2010 the band opened up for Cash Cash on the Robots in High-Tops tour.[4][5] In 2010, the band relocated to Brooklyn. On December 1, 2010, the Blue Pages independently released their single "Run Back Home" on iTunes.[6]

2012–present: Name change, Mercury Records and American Authors

In 2012, the group changed their name to American Authors.[7] In January 2013, the band was signed to Mercury Records.[8] Their debut single, "Believer," garnered attention through alternative rock radio.[9] Their second single, "Best Day of My Life", was featured in, among other things, a Lowe's television advertisement in the United States, a Hyundai television advertisement in the United Kingdom, an advertisement in South Africa for Castle Lager,[10] a Telecom New Zealand advertisement,[11] a trailer for the film Delivery Man, PES 2015 video game, the opening sequence for ESPN's 2013 World Series of Poker coverage, a trailer for the film Earth to Echo, a trailer for the film How to Train Your Dragon 2, the film Humpback Whales, and a trailer for the film St. Vincent. The song is also featured in the video game "Guitar Hero Live".[12] The song was also used in an advert for Centerparcs in the UK. The song won the newly established Sync Music Award at the SESAC Pop Awards 2015.[13][14] Their song "Go Big or Go Home" was featured in NBA videos showing highlights from the 2015 playoffs.

Singer Barnett at Highfield Festival 2014

American Authors released their self-titled debut EP on August 27, 2013.[15] Their song "Hit It" is featured on the FIFA 14 video game.[7] Their song "Best Day of My Life" was used in an MLB Fan Cave commercial and is the title music of Sky Sports News' My Special Day feature. It has also been featured in a television spot for the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, in an episode of the television show The Vampire Diaries, and in wedding,[16] sports[17] and other[18][19] videos. The song was ranked number one on Billboard's chart of Adult Pop Songs for 2014.[20] Their song "Home" was featured in a movie trailer for the movie This Is Where I Leave You and in a video honoring troops and their families.[21] In 2013, American Authors won Overall Grand Prize in the 18th Annual USA Songwriting Competition with their song "Believer". The group was number nine on Billboard's chart of Top New Artists for 2014.[22]

Tours

Supporting

The group has toured in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Festivals, concerts and other events

The group has appeared at various music festivals, concerts and other events, including: Lollapalooza,[23] SXSW Music Festival,[24] Firefly Music Festival,[25] Reading Festival,[26] Leeds Festival,[27] Bunbury Music Festival,[28] Freakfest,[29] Grammys on the Hill (an awards ceremony honoring artists and legislators who have improved the environment for music creators),[30] BottleRock Napa Valley,[31] Keloorah, Pukkelpop, and Polartec Big Air at Fenway.[32]

Discography

Extended plays

as The Blue Pages
Title and details Track listing
Surrounded by Wolves[33][34]
  • Type: EP
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: N/A
Bear Fight[35][36]
  • Type: EP
  • Released: January 20, 2009
  • Label: Walking City Records
Night Hawke[37]
  • Type: EP
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Walking City Records
Anthropology[38]
  • Type: EP
  • Released: February 1, 2011
  • Label: C*Medice Productions
Rich with Love[39]
  • Type: EP
  • Released: December 22, 2012
  • Label: C*Medice Productions
as American Authors
List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[40]		 US
Rock
[41]
American Authors
  • Released: August 27, 2013
  • Label: The Island Def Jam Music Group
  • Formats: Digital download
 156 42

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[40]		 US
Rock
[41]		 AUS
[42]		 AUT
[43]		 CAN
[44]		 GER
[45]		 UK
[46]
Oh, What a Life 15 3 35 58 12 68 26
What We Live For
  • Released: July 1, 2016
  • Label: Island Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — — — — — — —

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[47]		 US
Adult
[48]		 US
Rock
[49]		 AUS
[42]		 AUT
[43]		 CAN
[50]		 GER
[45]		 NZ
[51]		 SWE
[52]		 UK
[46]
"Believer" 2013 121 12 15 – – – – – – — Oh, What a Life
"Best Day of My Life" 11 1 2 10 20 5 34 13 10 17
"Trouble" 2014 – – 44 – – – – – – —
"Luck" – – – – – – – – – —
"In a Big Country"
(with The Mowgli's) 		– – – – – – – – – — Non-album single
"Go Big or Go Home"[57] 2015 – 22 20 – – – – – – — What We Live For
"Pride"[58] – 29 33 – – – – – – —
"What We Live For" 2016 – – – – – – – – – —
"I'm Born to Run" – – – – – – – – – —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Band members

Barnett grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Shelley grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, Rublin grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, and Sanchez grew up in San Antonio, Texas.[59][60]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Blue Pages". Myspace. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Island Records". Island Records. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  3. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20130208175547/http://www.marleysmusicality.com:80/2013/01/12/interview-with-american-authors/. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ "Robots in High-Tops Tour". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Feel Forever Young With Cash Cash On The Robots In High-Tops Tour". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Run Back Home - Single". iTunes. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Round Hill Music". Roundhillmusic.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20130606090434/http://dailyunsigned.com:80/2013/01/31/american-authors-sign-to-mercury-records/. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ "A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Tres! American Authors, Hunter Valentine, and Clementine & The Galaxy". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Castle Lager". Castlelager.co.za. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  11. ↑ YouTube. Youtube.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Guitar Hero". Guitar.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  13. ↑ "SESAC". Sesac.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  14. ↑ "SESAC". Musichistorian.net. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ "AMERICAN AUTHORS, We're releasing our debut EP in August!". Weareamericanauthors.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Wedding video". Youtube.com. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Red Sox". Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Tagalog version". Youtube.com. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Baby sea turtles". Youtube.com. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Adult Pop Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Honoring our troops". Youtube.com. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Top New Artists". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Lollapalooza". Suntimes.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  24. ↑ "SXSW". Vh1.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Firefly". Vh1.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Reading". Youtube.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Leeds". Leedsfestival.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Bunbury". Bunburyfestival.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Freakfest". Host.madison.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Grammys on the Hill". Grammy.org. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  31. ↑ "BottleRock". Pressdemocrat.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Pukkelpop". Pukkelpop.be. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  33. ↑ "The Blue Pages". Ourstage.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  34. ↑ "Surrounded by Wolves EP - The Blue Pages — Listen and discover music at". Last.fm. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  35. ↑ "The Blue Pages: Vans, Fans, Warped Tour, and Being the Next Berklee Band to Break Out | The Berklee Groove". Berkleegroove.com. 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  36. ↑ "Bear Fight: The Blue Pages: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  37. ↑ "The Blue Pages Online Store — "Night Hawke" EP". Thebluepages.bigcartel.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  38. ↑ "Anthropology | The Blue Pages". Thebluepagesmusic.bandcamp.com. 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  39. ↑ "Rich With Love | The Blue Pages". Thebluepagesmusic.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  40. 1 2 "American Authors – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  41. 1 2 "American Authors – Chart History: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  42. 1 2 "Discography American Authors". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  43. 1 2 "Discographie American Authors" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  44. ↑ "American Authors – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  45. 1 2 "Discographie American Authors" (in German). charts.de. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  46. 1 2 "American Authors". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  47. ↑ "American Authors – Chart History: The Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  48. ↑ "American Authors – Chart History: Adult Pop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  49. ↑ "American Authors – Chart History: Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  50. ↑ "American Authors – Chart History: Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Discography American Authors". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Discography American Authors". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  53. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  54. ↑ "BPI Certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  55. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life". Music Canada. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  56. ↑ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - October 26, 2015". Riaa.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  57. ↑ "American Authors "Go Big Or Go Home" | Republic Playbook". Republic Records. Archived from the original (Hot AC) on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  58. ↑ "American Authors - Pride". YouTube. 2015-12-11. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  59. ↑ "Interview". Charged.fm. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  60. ↑ "Minnetonka". Americansongwriter.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.

External links

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