Remember that "book" I (Sydney) began to write and was sharing it with you all in the form of blog posts? Here's the next part. To read a previous excerpt click
here.
Anthem Lights:
In 2010, the four guys switched their name from Yellow Cavalier to Anthem Lights. They explain the name as a description of themselves and the style of music they sing. Therefore, just by hearing the title, someone can sort of figure out what to expect in the album or in concert. More importantly, they feel that the name has spiritual significance. Kyle Kupecky once expounded on this wonderfully by saying, “These songs [and] this record is our anthem to the world saying, ‘Listen, we know there's a lot of darkness in this life, but in the end, light is gonna win.’ And we wanna be the light to people and just show them who the light of the world is.” After making the name switch, the band signed on with Reunion Records who produced their new music. The “Anthem Lights” EP was released on February 1, 2011. The music had great reaction, with the first song “Can’t Shut Up” rating #42 on Billboard’s Christian Songs chart, and at #27 on CHR radio charts. The EP was only 3 songs, and the debut album, “Anthem Lights,” consisting of ten songs (“Can’t Shut Up,” “I Wanna Know You Like That,” “Circles,” “Can’t Get Over You,” “Stranger,” “Outta My Mind,” “Lifeline,” “Lighthouse,” “Freedom Into Slavery,” and “Where The Light Is”) was released on May 10, 2011. They also released “The Acoustic Sessions,” a 5-track download on January 13, 2012. The band was featured on the “Rock and Worship Roadshow” (MercyMe, Jars of Clay, and The Afters) in the winter of 2011, and, in the spring of the same year, the “Listen to the Sound” tour with Building 429 and Revive. After a show in Williamsburg, Virginia on May 6, 2012, Kyle Kupecky informed the fans that he would be leaving Anthem Lights. It appears that he had let Alan, Caleb, and Chad know quite some time before this. While Kyle had enjoyed singing in Anthem Lights, his life began to turn in a different direction. Around this time, he proposed to his girlfriend, Kelsey Kingsbury (daughter of Christian author, Karen Kingsbury). Kupecky plans to present himself as a Christian solo music artist down the road. While the Lightbulbs would miss Kyle, the empty spot in the quartet wouldn’t last long. A week later, Anthem Lights announced Joseph Stamper as their newest band member.
Going along with all the curves and changes in their career, AL decided to minister to people in a new way as well. The group began releasing covers to popular secular songs starting in June of 2012. Examples are Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me,” and “All Around the World,” Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” and Demi Lovato’s “Heart Attack,” and “Give Your Heart a Break.” They also produced a One Direction melody that featured “What Makes You Beautiful,” “One Thing,” and “Gotta Be You,” and also recorded a “Best of 2012 Mashup.” Anthem Light’s hope is that people who wouldn’t normally listen to Christian music would find their covers and listen to them. Then, out of curiosity find the band’s original music, and through the process, accept Christ as their Savior. Katy Perry’s “Roar,” was be released on iTunes on September 24, 2013. Covers Pt. II was put on iTunes in the fall of 2013, and Covers Part III is expected this July (2014). It is available for pre-buy with singles "Say Something" and Frozen's "Let It Go" right now.
In the Spring/Summer of 2013, Anthem Lights started to go back to their initial ministry, writing and performing their own songs. They feel like they’ve turned the page to a new chapter of their career. Originals “Hide Your Love Away” (2/14/13), “Best Thing” (3/27/13), and “Fight Forever,” complete with a music video, (7/16/13). The band plans to put out a fifteen-track original album named “You Have My Heart” before the end of 2013. In order to get the project going, Powell, Grimm, Graham, and Stamper put it on “Kickstarter” for thirty days (August 13 – September 12). Their goal was $55,000. Incentives were added to boost people’s interest in supporting the group. Things like a download of the CD a week in advance, a signed copy of the CD or poster, dinner with the guys in Nashville, a video shout-out, personal 20-minute Skype concert, phone call, visit and free concert, or even their own tour bus if someone pledged enough are some examples. The album was funded days before the deadline on September 9th. At that time, the band began to express their gratitude via tweets, Telly videos, and short movie clips on Instagram. It wasn’t long before they had another great motivator. With about three days remaining until the deadline, AL tweeted, “NEW GOAL & NEW INCENTIVE: $75,000 and we'll play a USTREAM show of the NEW songs that will be on the album!!!” The lighbulbs exceeded the goal minutes before the deadline with a total of 1,072 backers that pledged a combined a whole $83,901. The album’s release date was February 4th, 2014. They also put out "Covers Pt. II" in the fall of 2013, and will also release "Covers Pt. III" on April 8th, 2014 (the day after this post goes live.)
Remember: another blog post coming next Monday!!! :D
