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Saosin

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Saosin
Saosin in 2015
Saosin in 2015
Background information
OriginOrange County, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2003–present (hiatus 2010–2012)
Labels
Members
Past members
Websitesaosin.com

Saosin is an American rock band formed in Orange County, California in 2003 by Beau Burchell, Justin Shekoski, Zach Kennedy, and Anthony Green. The band released their first EP, Translating the Name, in 2003. That year, vocalist Anthony Green left Saosin due to personal reasons, and was replaced by Cove Reber in 2004. With Reber, the group recorded their self titled debut album, released on Capitol Records in 2006.

Their second studio album, In Search of Solid Ground, was released in 2009 on Virgin Records and contains three re-recorded tracks from The Grey EP. In 2010, Reber was dismissed from the band. The band reformed in 2013 with all original members except Kennedy, and began touring. They released Along the Shadow, their third studio album and first studio album with Green, in 2016 through Epitaph Records.

Saosin emerged from the emo and post-hardcore scenes during the early 2000s, and has been regarded for their harmonizing vocals, lead guitar riffs with delays and natural harmonics as a form of creating melodies.[2] The band's line-up has changed several times, with Burchell as the only member who stayed in the band since its inception.

Origin of name

The band's name, "Saosin," was initially proposed by Anthony Green. In Chinese, "Saosin" translates to "careful" (小心 xiǎo xīn). The term originates from a 15th-century proverb that advises fathers not to become emotionally attached to their sons' wives, as they may pass away unexpectedly due to arranged marriages for financial gain. Green elaborated on the significance of this name, suggesting that it symbolized the impermanence of all things and the folly of becoming excessively attached to anyone or anything, as everything is destined to be lost eventually.[3]

Although Green's personal interpretation of the term 小心 is somewhat obscure, in general, it is used in Chinese to express caution. Notably, Green had previously used "Saosin" as the title of a track in his high school band, Audience of One, specifically in the album I Remember When This All Meant Something.[4][5]

On June 18, 2023, during their 20th-anniversary show in Garden Grove, California, Chris revealed that Beau had initially proposed naming the band "The Gift."

History

Formation and Translating the Name (2003–2004)

The original lineup of Saosin, comprising Burchell, Shekoski, Kennedy, and Green, came together during the summer of 2003[citation needed]. On June 17, the band unveiled their debut commercial production, the EP titled Translating the Name.[6] This release met immediate success and gained significant popularity on various online forums and music websites.

Saosin initially gained recognition through the power of the Internet, cultivating a distinctive musical identity even before the release of their first full-length studio album. They became well-known on social networking platforms and music-sharing sites, most notably MySpace. It's estimated that the EP sold approximately 62,000 copies.[7]

Bassist Zach Kennedy chose to leave the band early on to pursue a career in art, leading to his replacement by Chris Sorenson. Additionally, for the recording of the EP, a local Southern Californian drummer named Pat Magrath[8] was enlisted. While initially hired solely for recording purposes, the band was highly impressed by Magrath's drumming skills, and he later made guest appearances during live performances, notably on the track "Lost Symphonies." Alex Rodriguez, initially unable to record for Translating the Name due to prior commitments with his band Open Hand, was temporarily replaced by Danny King for live performances until Rodriguez could join Saosin full-time after fulfilling his obligations with Open Hand.[9] Following the release of Translating the Name, Saosin embarked on a U.S. tour with fellow bands Boys Night Out and Anatomy of a Ghost.

In February 2004, the band faced a significant change when their vocalist, Anthony Green, departed from Saosin and later went on to form the band Circa Survive. Green cited homesickness, depression,[10] and his desire to be closer to his family as factors contributing to his departure. He also expressed discontent with Saosin's creative direction and his exclusion from the songwriting process.[10] To fulfill their remaining obligations for the Warped Tour, Story of the Year's Philip Sneed temporarily took over vocal duties. Subsequently, a public, nationwide audition was conducted to find a replacement for Green.

Translating the Name was recognized for pushing the boundaries of the post-hardcore genre and reshaping the music landscape.[11] Alternative Press noted that with the release of this EP, Saosin made waves in the underground music scene, attracting considerable attention from record labels.[12]

Arrival of Cove Reber and Saosin EP (2004–2006)

Following an extensive audition process and the temporary use of guest vocalists for demos, the band announced their new permanent lead singer, the then 19-year-old Cove Reber. Reber had submitted an acoustic demo tape featuring "Mookie's Last Christmas," which has since surfaced on the internet. It is widely believed that this demo included a few songs from their earlier release, Translating the Name. Interestingly, when Beau Burchell first encountered the demo, he suspected it was a prank orchestrated by Anthony Green, given the striking vocal resemblance between Reber and Green during the original recording of the demo.

In an interview with Euphonia Online, Reber expressed his admiration for his new bandmates, stating, "everyone I've played with wants to make music their lives... Saosin is a band on a completely different level. All these dudes are freaks about music."[13]

Reber's addition to the band proved to be a challenge, as the more seasoned Anthony Green had been the focal point of Saosin in the eyes of their fans. Many fans consider the period with Green to be distinct from the era with Reber, and there continues to be debate among fans as to which vocalist is a better fit for the band as a whole[citation needed].

Saosin embarked on their first Taste of Chaos tour that winter, sharing the stage with prominent bands such as The Used, My Chemical Romance, Killswitch Engage, Senses Fail, and A Static Lullaby.[14] In March, Saosin signed with Capitol Records and once again participated in the United States' Warped Tour. During that summer, they released the Saosin EP. Initially conceived as a free sampler, Capitol Records decided to release it as an EP instead. The EP featured demo versions of songs that would later appear on their debut full-length album. A music video for their new single, "Bury Your Head," was filmed during this tour. The band continued to tour extensively throughout 2005, opening for acts like Avenged Sevenfold and Coheed and Cambria.

Saosin LP and Come Close (2006–2008)

After a respite from touring between February and June, the Warped Tour 2006 and numerous demos and compilation appearances, Saosin released their first full-length album Saosin on September 26, 2006. The well-known music producer Howard Benson was hired for the production of the album. Benson had worked with several major rock bands such as My Chemical Romance and Blindside. The guitar riffs on the album were listed on Alternative Press's "Best Guitar Riffs of 2000s Rock."[15] The first single, "Voices" was listed on the Top 46 post-hardcore songs of the 2000s, and the second single "You're Not Alone" was listed on the Top 10 Essential Emo Power Ballads by the Alternative Press.[16]

During the rest of 2006, Saosin toured on the International Taste of Chaos Tour, playing their first shows outside of America. They also toured the United States with Bleeding Through and Senses Fail. They kept on touring for the whole year of 2007, beginning with a tour with Senses Fail, Alexisonfire, The Sleeping and Drop Dead, Gorgeous. Saosin also invited the non-profit organization Invisible Children for a portion of the tour. In February they joined the Taste of Chaos 2007 tour. Between April and June they toured in Europe, Australia, Japan and Indonesia.

Saosin with Cove Reber, live on Projekt Revolution Tour, in 2007

When Saosin returned home they continued their headlining tour with Poison the Well, The Receiving End of Sirens, Fiore and Flight 409. In the later summer of 2007, they were part of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour.

After this they headlined yet another tour in USA and Canada with Alexisonfire, Envy on the Coast, Norma Jean and The Dear and Departed. Concert footage was recorded during the tour stop on November 3, 2007 at The Theater of Living Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The concert footage was compiled for a live album and concert movie entitled Come Close.

Saosin toured from January 26 to February 8, 2008 with Armor for Sleep, Meriwether, and The Bled; from February 9 to 16 Fear Before joined the tour. They went to Australia between February and March, after which they performed in Singapore on March 7 as the opening performance for Incubus on their Light Grenades Tour. On their way home they also visited Bali, Hawaii and Mexico. After two final shows at home in California in April, they took a nine-month break from touring.

The Grey EP and In Search of Solid Ground (2008–2010)

Saosin returned to touring in October 2008 alongside Underoath and The Devil Wears Prada.

In early 2009, they started recording a new album with producer Butch Walker. They partnered with Hurley to broadcast the recording process live on Hurley's website.[17]

Saosin released a new EP titled The Grey EP on October 14, 2008. The EP was sold on tour and on iTunes and featured three new demos, as well as an acoustic version of "Come Close".[18] The purpose of The Grey EP was to show demos they had been recording; a similar manner in which the Saosin EP contained demos for their debut LP.

Saosin released In Search of Solid Ground on September 8, 2009. Two songs were released as a download to anyone who bought a shirt, and a digital pre-order. The songs were "On My Own" and "Is This Real". These two songs were released as singles on iTunes August 4, 2009. On August 5 a new song titled "Changing" was made available for streaming on the internet. The single was then put up for download on iTunes August 11. Another track titled "The Worst of Me" was also released as part of a free Warped Tour song package on hurley.com/warpedtour. The song "Why Can't You See?" was made available on Last.fm.[citation needed]

"Move Slow" was released on the TV show, NCIS's original soundtrack.[citation needed] "Deep Down" was released in May 2010.[citation needed]

Saosin toured Australia nationally during June 2010 in support of Story Of The Year's Australian tour. Blessthefall also joined Story Of The Year and Saosin.[19]

Three unreleased Saosin songs have leaked onto the internet through the Hurley Live Recording Stream they broadcast while recording In Search of Solid Ground. Fans have titled them "The Norma Jean Song," "Back to Greatness" and the third is still known as "Untitled".

The band stated on Twitter that they have parted ways with Virgin Records and are going back into a "DIY" direction.[1]

The departure of Cove Reber and period of inactivity (2010–2014)

On July 21, 2010, guitarist Beau Burchell delivered significant news to Saosin's fans, revealing that the band had decided to part ways with lead singer Cove Reber. This decision was prompted by concerns over Reber's declining stage performance and vocal abilities. In Burchell's words, "We didn't feel he could represent the music that we have recorded well on stage."[20]

Following his departure from Saosin, Cove Reber became the lead vocalist for the band Dead American.

Amidst the uncertainty about Saosin's future, guitarist Beau Burchell shared updates on the band's progress in the studio, expressing enthusiasm for their forthcoming record. The departure of Reber left questions about the band's vocal direction and the search for his replacement.

Reports surfaced that Charles Furney, lead singer of Secret and Whisper, might fill the vacant vocalist position. However, Saosin quickly denied these claims on their Facebook page, asserting that they had not yet found a new singer.[21]

There were speculations that Tides of Man vocalist, Tilian Pearson, would audition for Saosin's vacant position. Pearson confirmed these rumors and acknowledged his interest in joining Saosin, which ultimately led to his departure from Tides of Man. However, Justin Shekoski clarified that although Pearson expressed a strong desire to join Saosin, the band had not met him in person yet.

During this period, a leaked demo fueled speculation about Pearson's involvement with Saosin. In an interview, Pearson clarified that the leaked demo was for a track that Saosin's bassist, Chris Sorenson, had been working on, and Pearson had provided vocals for it.[22]

Tilian Pearson's association with Saosin remained uncertain, and no official announcements were made regarding his status with the band. On February 23, 2012, Saosin's Twitter account confirmed that they were no longer actively searching for a new vocalist, leaving their future direction in question.

Despite periods of inactivity and rumors of a breakup, Saosin dispelled these speculations in November 2012 by sharing a photo from the studio on their social media, suggesting ongoing work on new music.

On December 16, 2012, during an encore performance, Anthony Green, the former lead singer of Saosin, joined Beau and Justin on stage for the first time in nearly a decade, performing "Seven Years."

In February 2013, Saosin hinted at their continued activity by announcing that they had written 14 new songs, sparking anticipation among their fans.

A second demo featuring Tilian Pearson, recorded over an instrumental track originally released as a bonus track on the iTunes version of In Search of Solid Ground entitled "Exfoliator," surfaced on YouTube on May 7, 2013.

In an interview with Alternative Press, Anthony Green expressed openness to the idea of rejoining Saosin if the timing and circumstances were right, while reflecting on the band's ten-year anniversary of the Translating The Name EP.

On January 25, 2014, Beau Burchell provided further hints of Saosin's activities by tweeting a photo from Hurley Studios, indicating that he was tracking drums with Alex Rodriguez.[23]

Anthony Green's return and Along the Shadow (2014–2017)

On May 17, 2014, Saosin made a significant announcement by performing at the Skate and Surf festival and subsequently embarking on a West Coast tour in early June 2014, reuniting with their original vocalist, Anthony Green.[24]

During an interview with Alternative Press, the band hinted at the possibility of a future collaboration with Anthony Green, further fueling anticipation among fans.[25]

From January 19 to January 25, 2015, Saosin embarked on a tour with Anthony Green returning as the vocalist. During these shows, they unveiled two new songs and announced their progress in creating a new full-length album.

In 2015, after 13 years of collaboration, Justin Shekoski and Saosin parted ways, with Shekoski subsequently becoming the lead guitarist for the band The Used.[26] To fill the role of lead guitarist during the upcoming East Coast tour, Phil Sgrosso, then of Wovenwar (now As I Lay Dying), stepped in.[27]

During their 2016 spring tour, Saosin announced that their highly anticipated new album would be released on May 20. In the buildup to this release, they unveiled several music videos, including "The Silver String" on March 16, 2016,[28] "Racing Toward A Red Light" on April 6, 2016,[29] and "Control and the Urge to Pray" on April 27, 2016,[30] all building anticipation for the album.

Finally, on May 20, 2016, Saosin released "Along the Shadow" under the Epitaph Records label, marking a highly anticipated chapter in their discography.

Translating The Name 20th anniversary shows and Cove Reber's touring return (2018–Present)

In a memorable reunion, on December 16 and 17, 2018, Saosin graced the stage at the Glass House in Pomona. This marked a special occasion as the band reunited with their former frontman, Cove Reber, for two shows. During these performances, they delivered iconic tracks such as "Voices," "You're Not Alone," and a duet of "Seven Years" featuring both Reber and Anthony Green. This reunion was a significant moment, marking the first time in eight years that the band had performed on stage with Reber since his departure in 2010.[31]

In 2020, Saosin released four singles, all featuring Anthony Green's distinctive vocals. Among these releases was a revamped version of their early demo "I Can Tell There Was an Accident Here Earlier",[32] as well as three renditions of "Mookie's Last Christmas," including remixes by Monogram Sound and Jeremy Sh Griffith, along with an acoustic interpretation.

On November 10, 2022, it was announced that Saosin would embark on their inaugural Australian headlining tour in March 2023. However, this tour faced public scrutiny due to its promotion under the title "All The Hits, All The Albums," with the band exclusively performing songs that featured Green as the vocalist.[33]

On May 3, 2023, Saosin's 2006 single "You're Not Alone" received Gold certification from the RIAA, marking a significant milestone in their career.[34]

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of their debut EP, Translating the Name, Saosin staged two remarkable shows in Garden Grove, CA, on June 17 and 18. These shows featured a special opening set with Cove Reber returning as the vocalist, alongside guest appearances by Donovan Melero and founding member Zach Kennedy.[35][36]

On August 29, 2023, Saosin made an exciting announcement regarding their second tour across Asia and Australia, featuring Cove Reber as part of touring lineup.[37]

Musical style

Saosin has been described as post-hardcore,[38][39][40] emo,[41] indie rock,[40] and alternative rock.[38]

Band members

Timeline

Discography

Main article: Saosin discography

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ a b "Saosin on Twitter: "Yes, we parted ways with emi/virgin/capitol. Not a huge deal to us. Were very excited about taking a DIY route again. #TheFuturesBright #FTW"". Twitter. May 4, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  2. ^ "The Vault: Why Saosin's debut EP, "Translating The Name", remains one of post-hardcore's finest". NewFuryMedia. October 9, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  3. ^ Samantha Klingman. "Saosin FAQ". Saosin.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2006.
  4. ^ Corey Apar. "Saosin biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  5. ^ "Audience of One; Anthony Green's high school band". Punknews.org. January 7, 2005. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  6. ^ Andrew Martin. "Saosin: Translating the Name". Emotionalpunk.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2007. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  7. ^ "Saosin -- band profile". Absolutepunk.com. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  8. ^ "Pat Magrath". YouTube. January 19, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  9. ^ "Saosin Bio". Nipp.com. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  10. ^ a b "Interview with Anthony Green @ Punkbands.com". Archived from the original on October 23, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  11. ^ "The Vault: Why Saosin's debut EP, "Translating The Name", remains one of post-hardcore's finest". New Fury Media. October 10, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  12. ^ AltPress (May 3, 2016). "Taste Of Tuesday: In 2006, Saosin were tasked with surpassing their own accomplishments". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  13. ^ "Euphonia Online". New Singer Interview - Cove Reber (Saosin). Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  14. ^ "'Taste Of Chaos' Takes Shape". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  15. ^ Waldman, Scott (June 22, 2020). "Here are the 20 greatest guitar riffs from the 2000s". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  16. ^ Magazine, Alternative Press (February 10, 2020). "Top 46 post-hardcore songs from the 2000s". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  17. ^ "Hurley Official Website. Nike.com". Hurley.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  18. ^ DeAndrea, Joe (September 15, 2008). "Saosin: The Grey EP". absolutepunk.net. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
  19. ^ "Happy Easter..." Facebook. April 1, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  20. ^ Reid, Sean (August 20, 2009). "Cove Reber Leaves Saosin". Alter The Press!. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  21. ^ "Thanks for the..." Facebook. November 26, 2010. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  22. ^ "MEB Interview: Tilian Pearson". Mind Equals Blown. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  23. ^ "beau burchell on Instagram: "Tracked this Frankenstein kit yesterday. Fibes floor tom, vintage Ludwig rack, Ludwig legacy kick. Craviotto snare. at #hurleyrecordings…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  24. ^ "POZ Interview: Saosin". PropertyOfZack.com. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  25. ^ Crane, Matt. "Saosin and Anthony Green talk reunion, future plans, more". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  26. ^ "News—The Used & Saosin". justinshekoski.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  27. ^ "Instagram". Instagram. March 8, 2016. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  28. ^ Noal Murphy (March 16, 2016). "Saosin - "The Silver String"". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  29. ^ "Saosin - "Racing Toward A Red Light"". YouTube. April 6, 2016. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  30. ^ EpitaphRecords (April 15, 2016), Saosin - "Control and the Urge to Pray", archived from the original on December 12, 2021, retrieved April 27, 2016
  31. ^ WATCH SAOSIN AND FORMER VOCALIST COVE REBER REUNITE ONSTAGE, Altpress.com
  32. ^ Saosin Release Early Demo 'I Can Tell There Was an Accident Here'
  33. ^ Gallagher, Alex (March 14, 2023). "Saosin Fans Accuse the Band of "False Advertising" on Australian Tour". Music Feeds. Evolve Media. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  34. ^ Saosin Awarded Their First-Ever Gold Single In The United States - Theprp.com
  35. ^ Saosin (@saosinofficial) | Instagram
  36. ^ Saosin (@saosinofficial) | Instagram
  37. ^ "Saosin announce dates for rescheduled Asia tour". NME. May 12, 2023.
  38. ^ a b "Saosin". Sputnik. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  39. ^ Apar, Corey. "Saosin Bio". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  40. ^ a b French, Janice (March 7, 2007). "Saosin". Gigwise. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  41. ^ Lakshmin, Deepa (April 15, 2016). "107 Emo Bands You Knew About Before Anyone Else". MTV. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  42. ^ "Instagram".
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