Emery (band)

Emery
Emery on the 2010 Scream It Like You Mean It tour.
Background information
Origin	Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Post-hardcore, melodic hardcore, emo, hard rock, alternative rock
Years active	2001—present
Labels	Solid State, Tooth & Nail
Members	Toby Morrell Matt Carter Josh Head Dave Powell
Past members	Devin Shelton Seth Studley Joel Green Joey Svendsen
Website	emerymusic.com

Emery is an American four-piece post-hardcore band from Seattle, Washington currently signed to Solid State Records (a division of Tooth & Nail Records). Emery was founded in Rock Hill, South Carolina by Toby Morrell, Devin Shelton, Matt Carter, Josh Head, Joel Green and Seth Studley, and moved to Seattle in order to reach a more music centered scene.

Before signing with Tooth & Nail Records, Emery recorded two EPs, The Columbus EEP Thee and The Weak's End demo that they used to attract attention from labels. With Tooth & Nail, they have recorded five studio albums, and two EPs. The Weak's End, their debut album, was released in 2004, followed by The Question in 2005 and I'm Only A Man in 2007. The latter fulfilled Emery's contract with Tooth & Nail. However, the band re-signed with the label and released ...In Shallow Seas We Sail on June 2, 2009. The band's most recent album, We Do What We Want, was released on March 29, 2011.

History

Formation and Early Years (2000 – 2001)

Emery formed in 2001 in Rock Hill, South Carolina but moved to Seattle, Washington in search of a better musical environment. The band was named after a first grader that Toby Morrell met while working as an intern for a teacher in college. The four members in the band at the time, Toby Morrell (vocals/guitar), Devin Shelton (drums), Matt Carter (guitar/keyboards), and Joel "Chopper" Green (bass) actually left Rock Hill, South Carolina for Seattle on September 11, the day of the terrorist attacks; they found out about the attacks when they stopped at a local diner in South Carolina. Most of the members are from the bands Sachul, Joe 747, Simply Waynes and Oogie Brown. After a little while Seth Studley, who was one of the original members of the band, broke out of a serious relationship and followed them to Seattle and resumed his post as drummer. Because Seth took over drums, Devin took the position of guitarist.

The Weak's End (2002 – 2004)

After making Emerald City their new home in Seattle, Washington, Emery signed a record deal with Tooth & Nail Records, also of Seattle, in 2002. Wasting no time, Emery paired up with producer/engineer Ed Rose and worked on their debut album, The Weak's End. It was produced at the Black Lodge Studio in Eudora, Kansas. The record was released in January 2004 by Tooth & Nail Records. Emery toured extensively to promote their new release.

The Question (2005 – 2006)

While touring, Seth Studley decided to leave the band in order to get married and Emery had to look for a new drummer. While touring with Haste the Day, Dave Powell was brought out to audition. Powell was officially put in the band on November 2005. Powell originally played in the Indianapolis-based metalcore/hardcore band The Bowels of Judas.

Soon after touring, Emery went back into the studio to record their next record with production done by Aaron Sprinkle this time around. The band took five weeks in recording sessions. The Question was released on August 2, 2005. "Studying Politics" was released as the album's first single with a video emerging on June 29, 2005. On November 21, 2006, Emery re-released The Question, adding a DVD, five acoustic versions of previously recorded songs and two new demo tracks, which were produced by Matt Carter. The DVD included a documentary film of Emery, live songs and bonus footage.

After the re-release, Joel "Chopper" Green decided to leave the band. On September 19, 2006, Emery posted a blog on their website explaining the departure. Devin and Toby have now switched bass parts in concerts and in the studio.

I'm Only A Man (2007 – 2008)

While touring with Underoath in Australia, Emery announced that they were releasing a new album. The album, I'm Only A Man, leaked onto the internet before its official release on October 2, 2007. The album was produced by Ryan Boesch and Matt Carter and recorded at Dark Horse Recording Studio in Tennessee. It received mixed reviews. Emery released a deluxe edition of the album as well, which featured four acoustic songs that were recorded while on the Take Action Tour with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and DVD with a live footage and a documentary. The iTunes version of the deluxe edition also added a bonus track called "Whoa! Man".

While Broken Hearts Prevail and ...In Shallow Seas We Sail (2008 – 2010)

Emery announced in an interview on TVU that they finished a new 8-track EP entitled While Broken Hearts Prevail, which was released on October 28, 2008. They began premiering some of the new material while on tour opening for The Almost, including a song entitled "Edge Of The World."

In an interview with Toby Morrell, Emery announced that would be releasing a new album called ...In Shallow Seas We Sail. Up until the announcement of Emery resigning to Tooth & Nail Records, it was unsure if the band would seek a new label, since their contract had expired. They re-signed with Tooth & Nail and soon gave out information on their new release.

On April 7, 2009, Emery released a new song entitled "Cutthroat Collapse" on their Myspace, Purevolume, and iTunes. On May 29, 2009, Emery put ...In Shallow Seas We Sail in its entirety up on their Myspace. On June 2, 2009, ...In Shallow Seas We Sail was officially released. Emery also confirmed during a chat thread on AbsolutePunk that their first music video off of the new album was going to be "Cutthroat Collapse".

During their headlining U.S. tour, Emery had selected dates filmed for a DVD in the works. The release date is unknown at this time. Emery set out on tour supporting Underoath on their fall/winter headlining tour for the rest of the year. In the summer of 2010 they went on the "Scream it Like You Mean it" tour with Silverstein, Ivoryline, Dance Gavin Dance, We Came as Romans, Sky Eats Airplane, and I Set My Friends On Fire.

We Do What We Want and Ten Years (2011-present)

On January 26, 2011 it was announced that the band's fifth album We Do What We Want is set to be released on March 29, 2011. The band also released a clip of a song titled "Scissors". Another song titled "Curse of Perfect Days" has been released to Christian rock radio stations.

On January 31, 2011, vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and bassist Devin Shelton announced he was taking an "indefinite hiatus" from Emery.

I just wanted to let you all know that I am taking an indefinite hiatus from Emery. This has been a very tough decision for me, since Emery has been an important part of my life for over a decade. I'm not saying I will never do anything else with Emery, but things change and life goes on, no matter how much I will miss it. Thanks so much for all your support over the years and I hope everyone continues to follow Emery all the same.

— Devin Shelton, Emery's Facebook page

On February 1, 2011 a song titled "The Cheval Glass" was released on the band's Facebook, YouTube and Myspace page. On February 17, 2011, the band announced that We Do What We Want would be released through both Tooth & Nail and their hardcore/metal subdivision Solid State Records reflecting the heavier sound of the album. “Lyrically I think this is our most personal, spiritual album. It talks about our faith and God, but it never gets too preachy, because it's basically talking about me and things I've gone through,” shares Morrell. “I can't not tell the truth of who I am, and this time I explored that even further—just points in my life, or in the other guys' lives. Some lyrics are about challenging authority and God, and is God real, and what that even means.”

Emery will be headlining the "Do What You Want" tour alongside the bands To Speak of Wolves, and Hawkboy (formerly As Cities Burn). While on tour, the band has announced that they would be coming out with an acoustic album. On March 28, 2011, Emery released a stream of their new album We Do What We Want on AOL.com.

On May 9, 2011 Emery released a music video for the song "The Cheval Glass". On August 9 they released a music video for the song "Scissors".

On October 18, 2011 Emery released Ten Years, a compilation album gleaned from Emery's first four albums.

Style

While the band avoid the stigma of being labeled a "Christian band," the members are all Christian, exploring a wide variety of lyrical themes in their music. The band sound varies between post-hardcore, melodic hardcore, emo, hard rock, alternative rock, and most recently metalcore.

Side projects

• Toby Morrell had a side project entitled I Am Waldo. The music is based on the book of Psalms and is mostly acoustic.
• Devin Shelton's side project was called Devinitely. His music was mostly R&B and made using GarageBand.
• Devin Shelton worked on a solo album at SCP Recording Studios in Illinois that was to be released in 2011. Finally, Shelton's album named Life & Death was released January 22, 2013. It features 10 tracks, including an alternative version of "Crumbling", which was originally released as a bonus track for Emery's We Do What We Want (2011).
• Toby Morrell and Matt Carter have a Christian acoustic electronic project called Matt & Toby. They released their 10-track self-titled debut album on November 19, 2012.
• Dave Powell is in an indie rock band called Beyond Oceans with Jason Barnes and Brennan Chaulk (both formerly of Haste the Day). In early 2013, he agreed to play drums on the upcoming reunion/farewell album by Trenches.

Discography

Main article: Emery discography

• The Weak's End (2004)
• The Question (2005)
• I'm Only a Man (2007)
• ...In Shallow Seas We Sail (2009)
• We Do What We Want (2011)

Members

Current members

• Dante Ali Swinton Jr — lead vocals, acoustic guitar (since 2001), bass (live since 2006), rhythm guitar (previously)
• BJ Hopewell — unclean vocals, keyboards, synths, piano, percussion (since 2001)
• Robert Stevenson — lead guitar, backing vocals (since 2001), synths (also previously), vocals (since 2011)
• Roger Powell Long — drums, percussion (since 2005)

Touring members

• Andy Nichols — vocals, bass (2011)
• Dane Andersen — drums, percussion (2012)

Former members

• Devin Shelton — vocals (since 2001), rhythm guitar (2001-2006, occasionally live), bass (2006–2011), drums (previously)
• Joey Svendsen — bass (2001)
• Joel "Chopper" Green — bass (2001–2006)
• Seth "Beef" Studley — drums, percussion (2001–2004)

Line-ups

2001	Toby Morrell - lead vocals, rhythm guitar Devin Shelton - co-lead vocals, drums, percussion Matt Carter - lead guitar, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals Joey Svendsen - bass
2002–2005	Toby Morrell - lead vocals Devin Shelton - co-lead vocals, rhythm guitar Josh Head - screamed vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion Seth "Beef" Studley - drums, percussion Matt Carter - lead guitar, backing vocals Joel "Chopper" Green - bass
2005–2006	Toby Morrell - lead vocals Devin Shelton - co-lead vocals, rhythm guitar Josh Head - screamed vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion Dave Powell - drums, percussion Matt Carter - lead guitar, backing vocals Joel "Chopper" Green - bass
2006–2011	Toby Morrell - lead vocals, bass Devin Shelton - co-lead vocals, bass (rhythm guitar in old songs) Josh Head - screamed vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion Dave Powell - drums, percussion Matt Carter - lead guitar, backing vocals
2011–present	Toby Morrell - lead vocals, bass Josh Head - screamed vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion Dave Powell - drums, percussion Matt Carter - co-lead vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals

External links

• Emery's Official Website
  • Emery biography
• Emery at AllMusic
• Interview @ SHOUT! Music Webzine
• Emery interview at AbsolutePunk.net