The Afters

The Afters
Background information
Origin	Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Christian rock, CCM, alternative rock, pop rock
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Columbia, INO, Sony BMG, Integrity
Website	theafters.com
Members	Matt Fuqua Josh Havens Jordan Mohilowski Dan Ostebo

The Afters are a Christian pop rock band founded by Joshua Havens and Matt Fuqua. Havens and Fuqua first worked together in a Starbucks coffee shop in Mesquite, Texas, where they played for customers, before deciding to form a band. They added Brad Wigg and Marc Dodd, who were also employed at the same Starbucks, under their original name of Blisse. Their song "Never Going Back to OK" was the most-played song on R&R magazine's Christian CHR chart for 2008.^[1]

History

Screaming Mimes (1999-2000)

As a precursor to Blisse, Matt and Josh performed several shows around Dallas as The Screaming Mimes, a reference to a St. Francis of Assisi quote "Witness at all times. Sometimes use words." The songs during this period were largely the same as they would be performed and recorded as Blisse. While Brad was a founding member of the group, he took time away from the band to perform with his own blues project, playing lead guitar. Shows at the Door in Deep Ellum were filled in by Dallas bassist Eric Kitchens and bassist/filmmaker Niko Red Star.

Blisse (2000-2002)

Under the name Blisse, the band recorded a six-song EP in 2000. From this they made enough money to cut their first album, When the World Is Wonderful, which was released independently in 2001. This album contains songs also released on their major label debut album I Wish We All Could Win. In 2002 they released a live concert DVD filmed at a local Dallas club called The Door.

I Wish We All Could Win (2002–2006)

The band changed its name after discovering that another "Blisse" already existed. Settling on "The Afters", they continued to play local clubs in the Dallas area. They were eventually discovered by INO Records and signed to a four-record deal. After this, word of the band got to Epic Records, who signed the band to a deal for mainstream promotion and distribution. Their first major label album, I Wish We All Could Win, was released on February 22, 2005. The first single from the album was "Beautiful Love", written by Josh Havens about a time when his wife was abroad doing humanitarian aid. The single's music video led The Afters to a 2005 MTVu "Streaming Woodie" award. In addition, "Beautiful Love" became the theme song for the MTV show, 8th and Ocean about the life of female and male fashion models living in Miami, Florida. The song was also featured in the 2006 film, Just My Luck. The song "Until the World" was the theme song for the American drama television series that aired on the ABC Family Network Beautiful People.

Never Going Back to OK (2006–2008)

The Afters are currently promoted through INO Records and Columbia Records. In an update posted on their official website, the band went into the studio in August 2006 to start recording their second album, Never Going Back to OK. It was originally scheduled to be released on December 26, 2007 as per a post on their MySpace blog, but was ultimately delayed and released on February 26, 2008.^[2]

The first single from the album, the title track "Never Going Back to OK" premiered on October 16, 2007 on Total Axxess. It was also released as a streaming file on The Afters' MySpace page on November 10, 2007.^[3] The song hit the R&R magazine charts in December 2007. It reached No. 1 on the R&R CHR chart in March 2008^[4] and R&R magazine ranked it as the most played song on U.S. Christian CHR radio in 2008.^[1]

In spring of 2008, the band began their own headlining tour along with Falling Up, Ruth, and Everyday Sunday.^[5]

Light Up the Sky (2009-2011)

The Afters performing on the Rock & Worship Roadshow in 2011

The Afters stated in their Twitter account that they started recording their next album on October 27, 2009.^[6] The album, called Light Up the Sky, was released on September 14, 2010.^[7] The album's first single, the title track, has reached No. 1 on Billboard's Christian CHR radio, and also received an appearance on MTV's The Hills.^[8] In January 2011 The Afters joined the Rock And Worship Roadshow national tour headlined by MercyMe.^[9] Light Up the Sky was produced by Dan Muckala.^[10]

Life is Beautiful (2012-present)

The Afters has announced they are creating a new album and on April 17, 2012 they released a new single entitled "Life is Beautiful" on iTunes, in which the song was part of the soundtrack for the movie October Baby.^{[citation needed]} On February 19, 2013, a new single, "Every Good Thing", became available on iTunes.^{[citation needed]} The new album's title was Life is Beautiful.^{[citation needed]}

Band members

Current members

• Joshua Havens - lead vocals / keys and guitars
• Matt Fuqua - vocals and guitars
• Jordan Mohilowski - drums
• Dan Ostebo - bass guitar

Former members

• Brad Wigg - guitars / bass guitar and vocals
• Marc Dodd - drums
• Niko Red Star - bass

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums and DVDs

• Live @ the Door (2002) (As Blisse)

EPs

• Never Going Back to OK - EP (2008)

Singles

Awards

GMA Dove Award wins and nominations

References

External links

• Official website
• The Afters - I Wish We All Could Win