Somewhere Somehow (album)

Somewhere Somehow
Studio album by We the Kings
Released December 16, 2013
Recorded 2013 in Los Angeles, California
Genre Pop[1][2]
Length 48:01
Label Ozone Entertainment, We the Kings
Producer Steve Shebby, Travis Clark, Blake Healy, David Immerman
We the Kings chronology
Party, Fun, Love, and Radio EP
(2012)		 Somewhere Somehow
(2013)		 Stripped
(2014)
Singles from Somewhere Somehow
  1. "Just Keep Breathing"
    Released: April 5, 2013
  2. "Find You There"
    Released: May 3, 2013
  3. "Any Other Way"
    Released: June 15, 2013
  4. "Art of War"
    Released: December 10, 2013

Somewhere Somehow is the fourth studio album by American rock band We the Kings. Bassist Drew Thomson left the band after the release of Sunshine State of Mind (2011). Thomson was replaced by Charles Trippy, and keyboardist Coley O'Tootle was brought in. After parting ways with S-Curve, the group released "Just Keep Breathing" as a single in April 2013. Over the next couple of months, the band released "Find You There" and "Any Other Way" as singles before going on the Summer Fest tour. In late September, the band started a campaign to crowd-fund their next album. They eventually received over $149,000 from 2,309 people. The band recorded in Los Angeles, California, working with Blake Healy, Steve Shebby and David Immerman. The album was announced for release under the name Vitam Regum, before being changed to Somewhere Somehow a week later. "Art of War" was released as a single in early December.

Somewhere Somehow was released on December 16 through Ozone Entertainment and We the Kings. Following a U.S. tour in March 2014 the group toured Japan and Australia, before joining Warped Tour. A music video was released for "That Feeling" in mid January 2015. Somewhere Somehow charted at number 44 on Billboard 200, and reached the top 10 on several other Billboard charts. It also charted at number 88 in the UK, and in the top 20 on several UK charts. Critical reception was mixed.

Background

Following the release of Sunshine State of Mind (2011), bassist Drew Thomson left We the Kings, citing exhaustion from touring.[3] The band recruited Charles Trippy to replace Thomson and brought in keyboardist Coley O'Toole, both of whom the band knew from the Bradenton music scene.[3] The band toured throughout 2012, resulting in them having little time to compose new material.[3] Vocalist/guitarist Travis Clark managed to write one new song during Christmas break, "Just Keep Breathing".[3] The song was about being bullied as child for having red hair.[3] The group parted ways with record label S-Curve in 2013.[3]

After having a talk with their manager, Bret Disend, We the Kings released "Just Keep Breathing" as a single[3] on April 5, 2013.[4] Considered a success, the song would go on to sell over 149,000 copies in one month.[5] Following this up a month later, the group released "Find You There"[3] on May 5.[6] It would go on to sell 93,000 copies.[3] By this point, the band had four songs demoed.[3] A month later, the band released "Any Other Way"[3] on June 15.[7] In July and August, the band went on the Summer Fest tour, with support from Breathe Carolina, The Ready Set and T. Mills.[8]

Production

We the Kings planned to release a single a month but they grew impatient.[9] They decided to dedicate two months of studio time to write a new album.[3] Clark said the freedom of working without a label "lent a sense of relaxation to the [writing] process and a stress-free environment."[3] Not wishing to write the same album twice, Clark explained that the band "wanted [the new album] to feel “groovy”".[10] Thus, he spent more time on composing the songs.[10] Clark co-wrote three songs with Steve Shebby.[11] "Art of War" was written for inclusion on The Hunger Games (2012) soundtrack, but was left off.[11]

On September 26, 2013 We the Kings set up a crowd-funding campaign via IndieGoGo to record a new album with a target goal of $35,000.[12] The band offered 12[13] perks to fans where they could receive rewards for their contribution such as a "Thank You" in the credits section, and spending a day in the studio.[14] While the campaign ran for 30 days,[15] the goal was met within 24 hours.[16] The group soon received $67,000 in a matter of two days;[13] eventually receiving $149,483 in total from 2,309 contributors.[15] Initially, the group thought that this number was incorrect, and as a result ended up emailing IndieGoGo for a few days who confirmed it to be true.[15]

Clark commented that their fans "can expect this to be the best album we've ever made, because there are no strings attached. We are the ones deciding everything about this album and with your help we can truly make the best WTK album yet."[12] Recording took place in Los Angeles, California.[17] All of the songs on the album except for "Queen of Hearts", "That Feeling", "Phoenix Hearts" and "Sad Song" were produced by Blake Healy and Clark.[17] "Queen of Hearts", "That Feeling" and "Phoenix Hearts" were produced by Steve Shebby and Clark.[17] "Sad Song" was produced by David Immerman, Shebby and Clark.[17] "Die Young Live Forever" features guitar parts by Jose Carreon of TheKingsMen.[18] Carreon had contributed enough money that allowed him to record with the band.[18] "Sad Song" features guest vocals from Elena Coats.[17] Mixing was performed by Jeff Julliano at Fused, located in Harbeson, Delaware.[17]

Release and reception

On November 26, 2013 the band announced their new album, Vitam Regum, for release.[19] On December 3, it was announced that the band had changed the album title to Somewhere Somehow.[20] A couple of days later, the band revealed the album's artwork.[21] On December 10, "Art of War" was released as a single.[22] Five days later, a lyric video was released for "Art of War".[23] Somewhere Somehow was released on December 16[24] through Ozone Entertainment and We the Kings.[17] Some of the money raised from the crowd-funded campaign went towards marketing the album.[15] On January 30, 2014 the band released a lyric video for "I Like It".[25] In March, the band went on a tour of the U.S.[25] titled The Art of Tour with support from This Century and Crash the Party.[14] Following this, the band toured Japan and Australia.[14] From mid June to early August, the band went on the 2014 edition of Warped Tour.[26] Several of the songs were re-recorded acoustically for release on Stripped in November.[27] On January 16, 2015 the band released a music video for "That Feeling".[28] The band explained that Clark's wife Jenny "surprised him with a music video for a song that he wrote about her."[28]

Somewhere Somehow debuted at number 44 on the Billboard 200.[29] It also charted at number 3 on the Independent Albums chart,[30] number 5 on the Alternative Albums chart,[31] number 6 on the Top Rock Albums chart,[32] and number 8 on the Digital Albums chart.[33] Clark later called it "a huge success!"[14] AllMusic reviewer Mark Deming called the album "polished, heartfelt set of contemporary pop" with the group's "most accessible work to date".[1] Reviewing the album for Newsday, Glenn Gamboa called it the group's "best album yet", complete with "strong pop hooks and pristine production."[11] Gamboa noted that the band was continually improve their "sound, making everything catchier and harder-hitting."[11] Marcus Clark of SoSoActive called the "over produced pop" backing tracks "decent but I just can't [enjoy] it."[2] Referring to the album as "pop garbage with no kind of appeal", he was unsure why the album was as popular as it was.[2] He closed with calling the lyrics and vocals "just not that good."[2]

Track listing

All song writing credits per ASCAP, except for "Say It Now".[34]

  1. "Queen of Hearts" (Travis Clark, Stephen Ruchelman) – 3:34
  2. "Find You There" (Clark, Blake Healy) – 3:40
  3. "I Feel Alive" (Clark, Healy) – 3:52
  4. "I Like It" (Clark, Healy) – 3:19
  5. "That Feeling" (Clark, Ruchelman) – 3:58
  6. "See You in My Dreams" (Clark, Healy) – 4:29
  7. "Die Young Live Forever" (Clark, Ryan Daly) – 3:13
  8. "Phoenix Hearts" (Clark, Ruchelman) – 4:04
  9. "Any Other Way" (Clark, Fransisca Hall, Healy) – 3:44
  10. "Say It Now" – 4:22
  11. "Art of War" (Kevin Bard, Taylor Clark, Travis Clark, Daly, Healy) – 4:35
  12. "Sad Song" (feat. Elena Coats) (Bard, Clark, David Immerman) – 3:46
  13. "Just Keep Breathing" (Bard, Clark, Healy) – 4:05

Personnel

We the Kings

Chart performance

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Scottish Albums Chart[35] 81
UK Albums Chart[36] 88
UK Downloads Chart[37] 17
UK Independent Album Chart[38] 7
UK Independent Album Breakers Chart[39] 1
U.S. Billboard 200[29] 44
U.S. Billboard Alternative Albums[31] 5
U.S. Billboard Digital Albums[33] 8
U.S. Billboard Independent Albums[30] 3
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums[32] 6

References

  1. 1 2 Deming, Mark. "Somewhere Somehow - We the Kings | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Clark, Marcus (December 23, 2013). "Music Week in Review Dec 17th: B.O.B., Lorde, Talib Kweli, Future and more". SoSoActive. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Parker, Chris (March 27, 2014). "Pop-poppers We the Kings ditch the majors and find success going it alone". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  4. ↑ Common, Tyler (April 5, 2013). "We The Kings release new single, “Just Keep Breathing”". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ Music News Desk (September 26, 2013). "We the Kings Turn to Indiegogo to Fund Fourth Album". Broadway World. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  6. ↑ Bird, Michele (May 5, 2013). "We The Kings release new song, “Find You There”". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Any Other Way - We the Kings | Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ Common, Tyler (May 22, 2013). "We The Kings announce “Summer Fest” tour with Breathe Carolina, the Ready Set and T. Mills". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  9. ↑ Wade, Kim (March 26, 2014). "We the Kings bring tour to Armstrong". Do Savannah. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Duan, Crystal (March 12, 2014). "Q-and-A with Travis Clark of We The Kings". Move. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Gamboa, Glenn (December 23, 2013). "We The Kings' 'Somewhere, Somehow' review: Their best album yet". Newsday. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  12. 1 2 Crane, Matt (September 26, 2013). "We The Kings launch IndieGoGo campaign for new album". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  13. 1 2 Luzar, Charles (September 28, 2013). "‘We The Kings’ Turns To Indiegogo Over Indie Labels For 4th Album". Crowd Fund Insider. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Mar, Maria (March 19, 2014). "We The Kings launch IndieGoGo campaign for new album". The Aquarian Weekly. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 4 McCummings, Zakiya (June 12, 2015). "We the Kings". Anchorage Press. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  16. ↑ DeAndrea, Joe (September 27, 2013). "We The Kings Indiegogo". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Somewhere Somehow (Sleeve). We the Kings. Ozone Entertainment/We the Kings. 2013. none.
  18. 1 2 Tatangelo, Wade (December 24, 2013). "Interview: Travis Clark of Bradenton's We the Kings". Ticket Sarasota. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  19. ↑ Bird, Michele (November 26, 2013). "We The Kings announce new album, ‘Vitam Regum’". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  20. ↑ Bird, Michele (December 3, 2013). "We The Kings announce new album title, ‘Somewhere Somehow’". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  21. ↑ Bird, Michele (December 5, 2013). "We The Kings reveal ‘Somewhere Somehow’ album cover". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Art of War - We the Kings | Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  23. ↑ Bird, Michele (December 15, 2013). "We The Kings premiere “Art Of War” lyric video". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  24. ↑ Tate, Jason (December 4, 2013). "We the Kings Album Cover". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  25. 1 2 Bird, Michele (January 30, 2014). "We The Kings release “I Like It” lyric video". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  26. ↑ Bird, Michele (February 18, 2014). "We The Kings added to Warped Tour 2014 lineup". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  27. ↑ Tatangelo, Wade (December 25, 2014). "We the Kings singer ready for a family". Ticket Sarasota. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  28. 1 2 Crane, Matt (January 16, 2015). "We The Kings release “That Feeling” music video". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  29. 1 2 "We the Kings - Chart history (Billboard 200)". billboard.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  30. 1 2 "We the Kings - Chart history (Independent Albums)". billboard.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  31. 1 2 "We the Kings - Chart history (Alternative Albums)". billboard.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  32. 1 2 "We the Kings - Chart history (Top Rock Albums)". billboard.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  33. 1 2 "We the Kings - Chart history (Digital Albums)". billboard.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  34. ↑ https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx
  35. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". officialcharts.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". officialcharts.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". officialcharts.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". officialcharts.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Official Independent Album Breakers Chart Top 20". officialcharts.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.

External links

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