I See Stars
Encyclopedia
I See Stars is a post-hardcore
band formed in 2006 from Warren, Michigan
. They have released two full length albums. Their debut album, 3-D
, featured a guest appearance from Bizzy Bone
of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
. The album peaked at #176 on the Billboard 200
. Their second album, The End of the World Party
, was released on February 22, 2011.
The band covered the song "Your Love
" by The Outfield
for Fearless Records
' compilation album Punk Goes Classic Rock
.
The song "Comfortably Confused", off their album 3-D, was featured on the music video game
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString
.
The group released its debut EP Green Light Go! in 2007 and several demos, including a self-titled EP, before signing with Sumerian Records
in 2008.
, in 2008 at Chango Gridlock Studios in Orlando, Florida
with producer Cameron Mizell. The album featured Zach Johnson as the unclean vocalist and keyboardist, who left the band soon after the album's release on April 14, 2009. The band then gained Chris Moore
, formerly of We Came as Romans
and a merch salesman for the group, to join as the new unclean vocalist and keyboardist.
In August 2008, I See Stars embarked on the second annual "Artery Foundation Across the Nation" tour, headlined by Emarosa
with supporters Our Last Night
, In Fear and Faith
, Burden of a Day
and Broadway. In late 2009, I See Stars finished touring with Attack Attack!
, Breathe Carolina
, Asking Alexandria
and Bury Tomorrow
for the third annual Artery Foundation Across the Nation tour.
announced his departure from the band, citing "artistic differences". Former I See Stars member Zach Johnson re–joined the band and joined them on Warped Tour 2010.
The group entered the studio in May 2010 to begin writing and recording their sophomore studio album called The End of the World Party
with Sumerian Records and 3-D producer Cameron Mizell.
Almost immediately after finishing the album, the band played Vans Warped Tour
from June 24 to July 18, 2010. The band has also been confirmed for Soundwave 2011 in Australia.
The band released a preview of their second album's title track, "The End of the World Party", on November 4, 2010 to Sumerian Records' YouTube
page. They played the song at various live shows in 2010 before the album's release. The full version of the title track was released to iTunes
on December 7, 2010.
The band revealed the album's track listing on January 17, 2011. Before the album's release, the band played another song entitled "Glow" at various live concerts. On February 1, 2011, Alternative Press started streaming a new song from the album entitled "Wonderland". The full album was released on February 22, 2011.
The band has played in the Soundwave 2011 tour in Australia. They supported We the Kings
alongside VersaEmerge
in the United Kingdom
. They also participated in the 2011 American AP Tour along with Conditions, Versa Emerge, Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows and Black Veil Brides
.
On May 31, 2011, the band made their national TV debut, while performing the songs "Glow" and "What This Means to Me" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
and Chiodos
as headliners. The tour also features the rapper Mod Sun, The Color Morale and the new metalcore band from Rise Records, The Air I Breathe.
On recent interviews the band stated that they will begin recording a new album in September as soon as the Scream It Like You Mean It Tour finishes. After a few recording sessions they will begin another tour in November. The new album will be produced by Joey Sturgis
.
On October 6th, it was hinted that the album would be released in January 2012, since they updated a status stating a CD release tour in January with Stick To Your Guns
.
In a recent article in Alternative Press, Devin Oliver (clean vocalist) stated that the new album would be released in February, 2012.
and electronica
characteristics. Reviewers have stated that the band "strays away from all the musical features you are used to, blending all genres of music." Heavy use of auto-tune
d or synthesized vocals along with screamed vocals and typical hard rock instrumentation has defined their music. Due to this, the band has been labeled electronicore, or synthcore.
In addition to post-hardcore, electronica, punk rock and electronicore, I See Stars has been described as representing pop punk
, screamo
, alternative rock
, and emo
.
Former members
EPs
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band formed in 2006 from Warren, Michigan
Warren, Michigan
Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census places the city's population at 134,056, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb....
. They have released two full length albums. Their debut album, 3-D
3-D (I See Stars album)
3-D is the debut album from the band I See Stars. The album debuted at number 176 on the Billboard 200, number 5 on Top Heatseekers, and number 22 on Top Independent Albums...
, featured a guest appearance from Bizzy Bone
Bizzy Bone
Bryon Anthony McCane II , better known by his stage name Bizzy Bone, is an American rapper and a member of the Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.- Solo career :Bizzy Bone started his solo career in 1998...
of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is an American Hip-Hop/R'n'B band from Cleveland, Ohio formed in 1991. It originally consisted of rappers Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone. Rapper Eazy-E of the group N.W.A signed Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to Ruthless Records in 1994, when Bone...
. The album peaked at #176 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Their second album, The End of the World Party
The End of the World Party
- Chart positions :- Personnel :I See Stars*Devin Oliver – lead vocals*Zach Johnson – unclean vocals, synthesizers, keyboards, programming*Brent Allen – lead guitar*Jimmy Gregerson – rhythm guitar*Jeff Valentine – bass guitar*Andrew Oliver – drums...
, was released on February 22, 2011.
The band covered the song "Your Love
Your Love (The Outfield song)
"Your Love" is a song from The Outfield's debut album, Play Deep. It was written by John Frederick Spinks. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #7 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1986.-Covers:...
" by The Outfield
The Outfield
The Outfield are an arena rock-influenced English pop rock/power pop power trio based in London, England. The Outfield are unusual for a British band in that they enjoyed commercial success in the U.S., but never reached the album or singles charts in their homeland...
for Fearless Records
Fearless Records
Fearless Records is an alternative rock-oriented record label that has been signing artists since 1994. Fearless is based in Westminster, California and are best known for their early pop-punk moments captured in the Fearless Flush Sampler and Punk Bites releases, as well as additional releases by...
' compilation album Punk Goes Classic Rock
Punk Goes Classic Rock
Punk Goes Classic Rock is the ninth album in the Punk Goes... series, released by Fearless Records. It was released on April 27, 2010. This also features Your Love by The Outfield for the second time to be covered. And also has a Bonus Sampler CD with it...
.
The song "Comfortably Confused", off their album 3-D, was featured on the music video game
Music video game
A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs...
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString is a rhythm game developed by Seven45 Studios, a sister company of First Act which produces low-cost, entry-level musical instruments...
.
Inception and Green Light Go (2006–2008)
In an interview with BVTV, featuring band members Devin Oliver and Brent Allen, Oliver stated: "me, Brent, the drummer's my brother, and the bass player, Jeff, we all lived on the block from each other since we were kids, [in] elementary school." In the same interview, it is also stated that there is no specific reason for the band's name, I See Stars, other than the fact they needed a title and "someone brought it to the table". The band was officially formed in 2006.The group released its debut EP Green Light Go! in 2007 and several demos, including a self-titled EP, before signing with Sumerian Records
Sumerian Records
Sumerian Records is an American independent record label based in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. The label was founded in 2006 by Ash Avildsen, who is also a booking agent, and is managed by Shawn Keith. Fellsilent became the first non-US band to be signed to the label, in 2008. The label made a...
in 2008.
3-D, Johnson's departure and Moore's arrival (2008–2009)
I See Stars recorded their debut album, 3-D3-D (I See Stars album)
3-D is the debut album from the band I See Stars. The album debuted at number 176 on the Billboard 200, number 5 on Top Heatseekers, and number 22 on Top Independent Albums...
, in 2008 at Chango Gridlock Studios in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
with producer Cameron Mizell. The album featured Zach Johnson as the unclean vocalist and keyboardist, who left the band soon after the album's release on April 14, 2009. The band then gained Chris Moore
Chris Moore (musician)
Christopher James Moore, also known by his alias CDVR , is an American vocalist and keyboardist. He has performed in bands Dead Like Me, We Came as Romans, I See Stars, and now is concentrating independently on his solo experimental project, CDVR. He is also a graphic designer under the name of...
, formerly of We Came as Romans
We Came as Romans
We Came as Romans is an American rock band from Troy, Michigan. Formed in 2005, the band signed to Equal Vision Records in April 2009 and have released two EPs, Demonstrations and Dreams , and two full-length albums, To Plant a Seed and Understanding What We've Grown to Be...
and a merch salesman for the group, to join as the new unclean vocalist and keyboardist.
In August 2008, I See Stars embarked on the second annual "Artery Foundation Across the Nation" tour, headlined by Emarosa
Emarosa
Emarosa is an American rock band from Lexington, Kentucky. Formed in 2006, they released one EP in 2007 titled This Is Your Way Out, and shortly after, the group underwent significant lineup and sound changes, dropping their heavy metal influence and leaning toward a soul inspiration...
with supporters Our Last Night
Our Last Night
Our Last Night is a Post-Hardcore band, formed in 2004 by five members, consisting ofTrevor Wentworth , Matthew Wentworth , Alex "Woody" Woodrow , Colin Perry , Tim Molloy , who were "fed up with merely jamming and playing cover songs".-Early years :After a few lineup changes, the group was...
, In Fear and Faith
In Fear and Faith
In Fear and Faith is an American rock band from San Diego, California. Formed in 2006, the group is currently signed to Rise Records and have released two studio albums and two EPs. Their debut full-length, Your World on Fire, being released nearly a year after the band's signing to Rise in 2008,...
, Burden of a Day
Burden of a Day
Burden of a Day was a Christian post-hardcore band from Sarasota, Florida, formed in January 2000. They were formally signed to Rise Records before their breakup. Some of their influences include the likes of Thrice, The Bled, All That Remains. They recently had their last show in Sarasota on March 6...
and Broadway. In late 2009, I See Stars finished touring with Attack Attack!
Attack Attack!
Attack Attack! is an American metalcore band from Westerville, Ohio, formed in 2005. Attack Attack!'s first release, an independent EP titled If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords?, was released in 2008, which lead to the signing of the band to Rise Records the same year...
, Breathe Carolina
Breathe Carolina
Breathe Carolina is an American electronic rock musical duo from Denver, Colorado, composed of David Schmitt and Kyle Even. Breathe Carolina have released three albums, one EP, and five music videos to date.-Beginnings :...
, Asking Alexandria
Asking Alexandria
Asking Alexandria are a British metalcore band from York, North Yorkshire. Founded in 2008 when Ben Bruce contacted his old companions upon returning to the UK after residing in Dubai...
and Bury Tomorrow
Bury Tomorrow
Bury Tomorrow are a five piece British metalcore band from Hampshire, England. The Band is composed of vocalist Dani Winter-Bates, guitarist Mehdi Vismara, guitarist and singer Jason Cameron, bass guitarist Davyd Winter-Bates and drummer Adam Jackson...
for the third annual Artery Foundation Across the Nation tour.
Moore's departure, Johnson's return and The End of the World Party (2010)
On June 14, 2010 the band's keyboardist/screamer Chris MooreChris Moore (musician)
Christopher James Moore, also known by his alias CDVR , is an American vocalist and keyboardist. He has performed in bands Dead Like Me, We Came as Romans, I See Stars, and now is concentrating independently on his solo experimental project, CDVR. He is also a graphic designer under the name of...
announced his departure from the band, citing "artistic differences". Former I See Stars member Zach Johnson re–joined the band and joined them on Warped Tour 2010.
The group entered the studio in May 2010 to begin writing and recording their sophomore studio album called The End of the World Party
The End of the World Party
- Chart positions :- Personnel :I See Stars*Devin Oliver – lead vocals*Zach Johnson – unclean vocals, synthesizers, keyboards, programming*Brent Allen – lead guitar*Jimmy Gregerson – rhythm guitar*Jeff Valentine – bass guitar*Andrew Oliver – drums...
with Sumerian Records and 3-D producer Cameron Mizell.
Almost immediately after finishing the album, the band played Vans Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
from June 24 to July 18, 2010. The band has also been confirmed for Soundwave 2011 in Australia.
The band released a preview of their second album's title track, "The End of the World Party", on November 4, 2010 to Sumerian Records' YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
page. They played the song at various live shows in 2010 before the album's release. The full version of the title track was released to iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
on December 7, 2010.
The band revealed the album's track listing on January 17, 2011. Before the album's release, the band played another song entitled "Glow" at various live concerts. On February 1, 2011, Alternative Press started streaming a new song from the album entitled "Wonderland". The full album was released on February 22, 2011.
The band has played in the Soundwave 2011 tour in Australia. They supported We the Kings
We the Kings
We the Kings is an American powerpop band formed in 2005 from Bradenton, Florida, currently signed to record label S-Curve Records. The group released their self-titled full-length debut album in 2007, which peaked at No. 151 on the Billboard 200. Their second full-length album, Smile Kid, was...
alongside VersaEmerge
VersaEmerge
VersaEmerge is an American rock band consisting of Sierra Kusterbeck and Blake Harnage, originating from Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA, currently signed to the label Fueled by Ramen. They have three EPs - Cities Built on Sand, Perceptions, and the self-titled release. Their debut album, Fixed at...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. They also participated in the 2011 American AP Tour along with Conditions, Versa Emerge, Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows and Black Veil Brides
Black Veil Brides
Black Veil Brides is an American rock band based out of Hollywood, California. The group is composed of Andrew Biersack , Ashley Purdy , Jake Pitts , Jinxx , and Christian "CC" Coma...
.
On May 31, 2011, the band made their national TV debut, while performing the songs "Glow" and "What This Means to Me" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
New album and touring (2011–present)
The band toured on the Scream It Like You Mean It tour with Breathe CarolinaBreathe Carolina
Breathe Carolina is an American electronic rock musical duo from Denver, Colorado, composed of David Schmitt and Kyle Even. Breathe Carolina have released three albums, one EP, and five music videos to date.-Beginnings :...
and Chiodos
Chiodos
Chiodos is an American post hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to filmmakers Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo, responsible for the film Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Chiodos released their...
as headliners. The tour also features the rapper Mod Sun, The Color Morale and the new metalcore band from Rise Records, The Air I Breathe.
On recent interviews the band stated that they will begin recording a new album in September as soon as the Scream It Like You Mean It Tour finishes. After a few recording sessions they will begin another tour in November. The new album will be produced by Joey Sturgis
Joey Sturgis
Joey Sturgis is an American record producer and owner of The Foundation Recording Studio in Connersville, Indiana. Joey Sturgis started recording in 2004. Foundation Recording Studio managed by Rise Records founder Craig Ericson...
.
On October 6th, it was hinted that the album would be released in January 2012, since they updated a status stating a CD release tour in January with Stick To Your Guns
Stick to Your Guns
Stick to Your Guns is an American hardcore band from Orange County, California, formed in 2003. They are currently signed to Sumerian records, and have released three full-length albums to date. "The Hope Division" was released June 1, 2010 through Sumerian Records.-Biography:Stick to Your Guns is...
.
In a recent article in Alternative Press, Devin Oliver (clean vocalist) stated that the new album would be released in February, 2012.
Musical style
I See Stars is recognized primarily for its stylistic mixture of post-hardcorePost-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
characteristics. Reviewers have stated that the band "strays away from all the musical features you are used to, blending all genres of music." Heavy use of auto-tune
Auto-Tune
Auto-Tune is a proprietary audio processor created by Antares Audio Technologies. Auto-Tune uses a phase vocoder to correct pitch in vocal and instrumental performances. It is used to disguise off-key inaccuracies and mistakes, and has allowed singers to perform apparently perfectly tuned vocal...
d or synthesized vocals along with screamed vocals and typical hard rock instrumentation has defined their music. Due to this, the band has been labeled electronicore, or synthcore.
In addition to post-hardcore, electronica, punk rock and electronicore, I See Stars has been described as representing pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
, screamo
Screamo
Screamo, though used loosely to generally describe music that features screamed vocals, is actually a musical subgenre of hardcore punk which predominantly evolved from emo, among other genres, in the early 1990s...
, alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, and emo
Emo
Emo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...
.
Band members
Current members- Devin Oliver – lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
(since 2006) - Brent Allen – lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(since 2006) - Jimmy Gregerson – rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(since 2006) - Jeff Valentine – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(since 2006) - Andrew Oliver – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(since 2006) - Zach Johnson – unclean vocalsScreaming (music)Screaming is a vocal technique that is most popular in subgenres of heavy metal, punk and hard rock, including metalcore, deathcore, post-hardcore, groove metal, black metal, and grindcore...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
(2006–2009; since 2010)
Former members
- Chris MooreChris Moore (musician)Christopher James Moore, also known by his alias CDVR , is an American vocalist and keyboardist. He has performed in bands Dead Like Me, We Came as Romans, I See Stars, and now is concentrating independently on his solo experimental project, CDVR. He is also a graphic designer under the name of...
– unclean vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, programming (2009–2010)
Discography
Studio albums| Year | Title | Label | Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Indie | US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
|||
| 2009 | 3-D 3-D (I See Stars album) 3-D is the debut album from the band I See Stars. The album debuted at number 176 on the Billboard 200, number 5 on Top Heatseekers, and number 22 on Top Independent Albums... |
Sumerian Sumerian Records Sumerian Records is an American independent record label based in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. The label was founded in 2006 by Ash Avildsen, who is also a booking agent, and is managed by Shawn Keith. Fellsilent became the first non-US band to be signed to the label, in 2008. The label made a... |
176 | 22 | 5 |
| 2011 | The End of the World Party The End of the World Party - Chart positions :- Personnel :I See Stars*Devin Oliver – lead vocals*Zach Johnson – unclean vocals, synthesizers, keyboards, programming*Brent Allen – lead guitar*Jimmy Gregerson – rhythm guitar*Jeff Valentine – bass guitar*Andrew Oliver – drums... |
144 | 18 | 1 | |
| 2012 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | |
EPs
- Green Light Go! (Self-released, 2007)
- I See Stars (Self-released, 2008)
Videography
- "What This Means to Me"
- "3-D"
- "The Common Hours"
- "The End of the World Party"
- "Wonderland*
- "Glow"