Are You Alright? (EP)
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| Are You Alright? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | 9 May 2021 | |||
| Recorded | March 2021[1] | |||
| Studio | Electric (Brighton)[1] | |||
| Genre | Indie rock | |||
| Length | 12:07 | |||
| Producer | Cameron Nesbitt | |||
| Lovejoy chronology | ||||
| ||||
Are You Alright? is the debut EP by English indie rock band Lovejoy, released independently on 9th May 2021.[2] It contains four tracks and runs only 12 minutes and 7 seconds. Due to this, it was not able to chart by itself. However, three out of the EP's four tracks charted on the UK Singles Chart,[a][3] and the band debuted at number 10 on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart on 20 May 2021.[4] The name of the band's label, Anvil Cat Records, is a nod to the cover art of the EP. Over a year after its release, it was released on vinyl as a compilation album with Lovejoy's second EP Pebble Brain.[5]
Background
[edit]William Gold (stage name Wilbur Soot), an English YouTuber, streamer, and musician, had a previously established audience from his participation in SootHouse,[6] a comedy channel, and the Dream SMP,[7] a roleplaying Minecraft server. Additionally, he had already released several singles[8][9] and an EP, Your City Gave Me Asthma, prior to the release of Are You Alright? Thus, Lovejoy had gained a sizable following from Gold's fanbase even before the release of Are You Alright?
In early 2021, Gold formed the band Lovejoy with Joe Goldsmith, who had previously been in a folk group with him.[10]: 20:07 They were joined by Ash Kabosu and Mark Boardman, and began immediately recording their first EP.
Recording
[edit]The EP was recorded in two days in March 2021 at Brighton Electric.[1] Gold told music magazine Dork that the band "didn’t get enough done" during the recording sessions due to how much it would have cost the band to keep returning to the studio to complete the recordings, and hence was forced to use his draft vocals on the EP. As a result of this, some of the lyrics of the songs on the EP are incorrect, leading to confusion among fans when they are played at concerts.[11]
Track listing
[edit]The description of the EP's official YouTube video credits William Gold, Joe Goldsmith, Ash Kabosu and Mark Boardman as writers.[12] However, on streaming platforms, Gold and Goldsmith are solely credited as writers for all tracks.[13]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Taunt" | 2:13 |
| 2. | "One Day" | 2:25 |
| 3. | "Sex Sells" | 4:07 |
| 4. | "Cause for Concern" | 3:22 |
| Total length: | 12:07 | |
Personnel
[edit]Lovejoy
- William Gold – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, writing
- Joe Goldsmith – lead guitar, writing
- Ash Kabosu – bass, writing[b]
- Mark Boardman – drums, writing[b]
Production
From Studio 4
[edit]| From Studio 4 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| EP by Anvil Cat featuring Lovejoy | |
| Released | 7 April 2023 |
| Genre | Acoustic rock |
| Length | 13:45 |
| Label |
|
An acoustic version of Are You Alright?, titled From Studio 4, was released independently through Anvil Cat Records and AWAL on 7 April 2023[14] by Lovejoy under the alias "Anvil Cat", though all tracks on the EP also credit "Lovejoy" as a featuring artist.[15] It features an acoustic version of the scrapped instrumental track originally meant as an introduction for Are You Alright?, titled "Tomorrow". From Studio 4 was released on vinyl in the United States on 24 November 2023 for RSD Black Friday.[16]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks written by William Gold and Joe Goldsmith, except for "Tomorrow", which is written by Gold, Goldsmith, Ash Kabosu and Mark Boardman.[17]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tomorrow" (acoustic) | 1:17 |
| 2. | "Taunt" (acoustic) | 2:29 |
| 3. | "One Day" (acoustic) | 2:44 |
| 4. | "Sex Sells" (acoustic) | 3:41 |
| 5. | "Cause for Concern" (acoustic) | 3:34 |
| Total length: | 13:45 | |
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label | Version | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 10 May 2021 | Self-released | Original | [2] | |
| 14 October 2022 | LP |
|
Compilation with Pebble Brain | [5] | |
| 7 April 2023[c] |
|
Acoustic (From Studio 4) | [14] | ||
| United States | 24 November 2023[c] | 12" EP | [16] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Taunt", "One Day" and "Sex Sells" peaked on the chart at No. 75, No. 54 and No. 93 respectively. While the EP's other track "Cause for Concern" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, it entered the UK Independent Singles Chart on 27 May 2021 at No. 47.
- ^ a b Only credited as a writer in the description of the EP's official YouTube video, not on streaming platforms.
- ^ a b As "Anvil Cat", with "Lovejoy" credited as a featuring artist.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Boardman, Mark [@markboardman_lvjy] (19 April 2021). "Studio Archive 1: EP recording sessions March 2021. Final tweaks to the drums and vocals & mixing to do on the songs- then it's off to be mastered!" – via Instagram.
- ^ a b "Lovejoy - Are You Alright? EP Album Reviews, Songs & More". Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023 – via AllMusic.
- ^ "Lovejoy". Official Charts. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Emerging Artists Chart". Billboard. 22 May 2021. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Store". Lovejoy. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "SootHouse – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ "Wilbur Soot's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) - Social Blade Stats". 18 July 2023. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Wilbur Soot". Official Charts. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "American certifications – Wilbur Soot". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Nivison Jr., Theodore; jschlatt; Gold, William (13 August 2022). "Wilbur Soot's Deepest Secrets - Chuckle Sandwich EP 55". YouTube. Chuckle Sandwich. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ Firth, Abigail (1 June 2023). "Wake Up! Lovejoy are already a phenomenon". Dork. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Lovejoy - Are You Alright? (Full EP) [Official Audio]". YouTube. Lovejoy. 8 May 2021. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Are You Alright?". Spotify. Lovejoy. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ a b Ingle, Alex (7 April 2023). "Lovejoy have released a surprise acoustic EP, 'From Studio 4'". Dork. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "From Studio 4". YouTube Music. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ a b RSDBF '23 Special Release: Anvil Cat - From Studio 4, retrieved 3 October 2023
- ^ "From Studio 4". Spotify. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.