A Skylit Drive is an American Post-hardcore band from Lodi, California. The band has released one DVD, one EP and four studio albums: Wires...and the Concept of Breathing on May 20, 2008, Adelphia on June 9, 2009, Identity On Fire on February 15, 2011, and most recently Rise, released on September 24, 2013.
As of 2012, the band consists of Michael Jagmin (lead vocals), Brian White (bass guitar, unclean vocals), Nick Miller (guitar), Cory La Quay (drums, death growls), and Kyle Simmons (keys, synths, bass guitar). Original members Jordan Blake and Joey Wilson left the band in 2007 and 2012, respectively. Michael Jagmin has provided lead vocals for the band since 2008. He is often recognized for his unusual singing range.
Contents
History
Formation and She Watched the Sky EP (2006–2007)
A Skylit Drive's original members all met while attending Lodi High School in Lodi. Cory La Quay (drummer) attended Franklin High School in Elk Grove, California Their debut EP, She Watched the Sky, was released early in 2007 on Tragic Hero.[1] Following this the group toured with Four Letter Lie, Blessthefall, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Greeley Estates, Oh, Sleeper, The Blackout, Alesana, Before Their Eyes, Dance Gavin Dance, Kenotia, Pierce the Veil, and From First to Last.Jordan Blake left the band mid-tour around November 2007 due to ulcers that made it difficult for him to sing. Blake's departure was mutual between him and the other members of the group. He then formed the musical projects Watchout! Theres Ghosts!, JbdJ, Trances, and The Legend. The Leader with Etienne Sin and Dani Quero.
Following departure from A Skylit Drive, Jonny Craig aided A Skylit Drive for a few shows after leaving Dance Gavin Dance. A new singer, Michael "Jag" Jagmin, then joined, being the final lineup change the band would go through thus far. The band has also retained the same recording personnel which produced their earliest material. Jessy Mickles is their head recording supervisor.
Wires...and the Concept of Breathing (2008)
A demo version of "Knights of the Round," was performed live with Jonny Craig as the lead vocalist during his few performances with the band in November 2007. Though Craig had written lyrics to the song, only the chorus or refrain is believed to have been kept in the final album version sang by their new-found, permanent vocalist Michael "Jag" Jagmin, formerly of Odd Project. Craig Mabbitt also tried out for lead vocals after leaving blessthefall, but later joined Escape the Fate after dialing the wrong number in an attempt to contact A Skylit Drive's Manager, but instead reaching Escape the Fate's. The full length Wires...and the Concept of Breathing (produced by Mitchell Marlow and Allen Jacob) appeared in May 2008.[2][3][4][5] The album hit No. 171 on the U.S. Billboard 200,[6] as well as No. 9 on the Top Heatseekers Chart and No. 20 on the Top Independent Albums chart.[7] Shortly after the release of the album they filmed a music video for the nonprofit group To Write Love on Her Arms directed by Robby Starbuck.[8] They appeared at The Bamboozle Left in 2008 and toured in the summer of that year with Sky Eats Airplane, Breathe Carolina, and Emarosa.They toured with Greeley Estates, August Burns Red, Sky Eats Airplane, This or the Apocalypse, Escape the Fate, Alesana, Chiodos, and Silverstein during fall in 2008. They also filmed a live DVD called "Let Go of the Wires", which was released on December 9, 2008.
In Mid-November the band released a music video for the song "Wires and the Concept of Breathing". The video can be viewed through their MySpace profile. Their song "This Isn't the End" is now the music video on their MySpace directed by Robby Starbuck about teen suicide in conjunction with the non-profit organization To Write Love on Her Arms. Both videos are on their first full length album, Wires... and the Concept of Breathing, and the band has shot other videos for songs on the album. They have announced that there will be five brand new videos on their upcoming DVD "Let Go of the Wires" as well as live performance footage from a show at the Glasshouse in Pomona, CA. The DVD was released exclusively at Hot Topic on December 9, 2008.
On December 19, 2008, it was announced that A Skylit Drive would be a part of the Vans Warped Tour 2009 lineup. A day before Warped Tour 2009 began, the band appeared at a Hot Topic store in Montclair,CA.
Adelphia (2009–2010)
In their DVD, "Let Go of the Wires", the band discussed plans for their next album. The album was to be titled "Glaciers". The band later announced that this would not be the title of their new album. On May 26, 2009, A Skylit Drive released a new song, entitled "Those Cannons Could Sink a Ship" onto iTunes and also for play on their MySpace page. The song is the first of their new album to be released on iTunes.[9] Their second full-length album, Adelphia, was released on June 9, 2009 and peaked at number 64 on the Billboard 200.[10] The band released a music video for "Those Cannons Could Sink A Ship!" on October 19, 2009, directed by Spence Nicholson.On January 8, 2009, the band announced, via a MySpace bulletin, that they were now a part of Fearless Records and to expect a new album release sometime in 2009. They also announced tour dates with Dance Gavin Dance. A Skylit Drive was a part of Warped Tour for the 2009 season. the band also did a signing at hot topic in Montclair,CA the day before the first day of Warped Tour 2009. During the tour they did signings for the non-profit organization Music Saves Lives. A Skylit Drive recently announced a new tour with Senses Fail starting on September 30.[11] After their American tour, the band did their first tour of Europe.
On December 6, 2009, the band recorded a cover of Journey's "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" for the next Punk Goes compilation.
During February–March 2010, the band toured with We Came as Romans, Of Mice & Men, The Word Alive, and headliners Alesana, nationwide. During a New York City set on February 16, Dee Snider (vocalist of Twisted Sister) appeared to see the show, and hang out with the band(s). On his Twitter, Jag was quoted saying, "I'm never going to get over hearing Dee Snyder compliment my voice. Dee, "can you really pull it off every night?". Me, "You'll see."
This tour, titled The Emptiness Tour, will continue Spring 2010 in the U.K. and Europe. While Of Mice & Men, We Came as Romans, and The Word Alive won't be appearing out of the U.S. shows, ASD (as well as Alesana) will be sharing the tour with Emarosa and Bury Tomorrow.
Identity on Fire (2011)
On his Formspring account, Jagmin predicted that A Skylit Drive would begin writing and recording a follow-up to Adelphia during Summer 2010. He also suggested that the album would see an early 2011 release.[12]In February 2010 Hassle Records published on their web site "We have new recruits to the Hassle Records family, please welcome A Skylit Drive with open arms... Fresh out of California, A Skylit Drive have been together in their current line-up since 2007 and have been touring their unique brand of metalcore across the US. We released their second album Adelphia in October and the UK joined the ever growing A Skylit Drive bandwagon. Catch the band on the rapidly selling out UK / Europe tour with Alesana in April."[13]
The band announced via MySpace that on May 29, 2010, the band Desires of Sires will debut on their Adelphia tour. Recently, Michael Jagmin hinted on Twitter that A Skylit Drive is currently writing new material.[14] A Skylit Drive is recording new demos. The band's MySpace layout changed in July 2010 with a new message saying that A Skylit Drive was in the studio recording a new album with Cameron Webb for early 2011.[15]
The band was on the "Average Guys with Exceptional Hair" tour with bands Woe, Is Me, For All Those Sleeping, Motionless in White and Scarlett O'Hara.
On December 7, 2010, the band announced the tracklisting for the album and a date set on February 15, 2011. They have been on tour mid January through February with Underoath, Thursday, and Animals as Leaders.[16] The band has released a music video for "Too Little Too Late" on January 12, 2011.
They will participate in all dates of the Warped Tour 2011[17] at the Ernie Ball stage.
The band has also announced they will be on a European tour set for Autumn 2011 along with Woe, Is Me, I Set My Friends on Fire, and Sleeping with Sirens.
On September 9, 2011 the band posted that they're in the studio recording a cover song for the upcoming Punk Goes... Compilation.[18] The pre-production began on Monday September 12.[19][20][21] The cover of "Love the Way You Lie" was announced via Facebook.
On January 20, 2012 A Skylit Drive released The Cali Buds music video, via Altpress.com.
In February 2012, A Skylit Drive toured South East Asia with Australian band, For This Cause.
Departure of Joey Wilson, Fallen & Rise (2012–present)
On July 22, 2012 the band posted that they had officially began the pre-production (first half) for the follow up to "Identity On Fire".[22] They stated that they would be entering the studio with Cameron Mizell around summer 2013. On September 19, it was speculated by fans that lead guitarist Joey Wilson had left the band. He confirmed this via a Facebook post stating he has parted ways with the band.[23] There is no official word from the band and he has yet to state an official reason for his departure. Wilson has stated that he intends on furthering his music career with a new project with former A Skylit Drive lead vocalist Jordan Blake, called Speak Of The Devil.[24]A Skylit Drive entered the studio on Friday, October 26, 2012 to begin recording a new single;[25][26] however, the actual recording sessions for the new album did not begin until June 1, 2013.[27]
Their new single, titled "Fallen", was released on November 30, 2012 on the band's YouTube channel.[28] On November 29, the lyric video for the single was posted on Tragic Hero Records' official YouTube channel with Fearless stating the new album will be a joint venture between both labels.[29] On November 26, the band embarked on the Nut Up or Shut Up tour with Skip the Foreplay, At the Skylines, and Blessthefall. On December 4, A Skylit Drive performed "Fallen" live for the first time at the Opera House in Toronto, Canada.
The second half of pre-production began on February 3, 2013 in LA.[30][31]
It was announced on April 22, 2013, that the band entered the studio a week before to continue writing their album with Jim Wirt (Hoobastank, Alien Ant Farm). It's also known that Kit Walters, Mitchell Marlow and Al Jacobs who already worked on the debut album Wires And The Concept Of Breathing, will be involved as well.[32]
On April 26, 2013 A Skylit Drive attended a press conference for the Pulp Summer Slam XIII Til Death Do Us Part rock festival in Manila, Philippines. The press conference also included progressive rock bands Coheed and Cambria and Circa Survive, which played the festival along with metal bands DragonForce, As I Lay Dying, Cannibal Corpse, and Amoral.[33]
The last day of pre-production with Jim Wirt in Cleveland was on May 10, 2013.[34] The official recording sessions with producer Cameron Mizell began on June 1 at the Chango Studios in Lake Mary, Florida.[35][36] Drums, bass, guitar and electronics were officially completed on June 14.[37] with the band then going to Cameron Mizell's studio in Phoenix, Arizona, to record vocals. Lead vocalist Michael Jagmin has also stated in fan mail that unclean vocals are performed by himself, White and LaQuay.[38] The band finished recording on June 30, 2013.[39][40]
On July 18, the band announced that their brand new album will be entitled Rise, and is set for release on September 24. They have also announced a headlining tour with supporters For All Those Sleeping, Wolves at the Gate, I the Mighty, and PVRIS in support of the new album. The first batch of tour dates were announced on July 24.
On July 31, the band released the first single and title track off their new album, "Rise". The band also announced an Australian tour supporting Dream On Dreamer on August 13, and on the following day, released the tracklisting for Rise along with another batch of tour dates for their headliner. On September 6, the band release the second single of the album titled "Unbreakable".
Rise was released on September 24, 2013, and sold over 10,000 copies in its first week of release. It marked the biggest opening week for both A Skylit Drive and Tragic Hero Records. The band also announced on October 7 that they would be headlining a UK and European tour during November - December 2013 with supporters Violet and Here Lies a Warning.
Discography
Main article: A Skylit Drive discography
- Studio albums
- Wires...and the Concept of Breathing (2008)
- Adelphia (2009)
- Identity on Fire (2011)
- Rise (2013)
- EPs
- She Watched the Sky (2007)
Members
- Current members
| Name | Instrument | Membership | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Jagmin | lead vocals | (2008–present) | Former vocalist of Odd Project and Of An Era |
| Nick Miller | guitar | (2005–present) | Founding Member |
| Brian White | bass, screamed vocals | (2005–present) | |
| Cory La Quay | drums, screamed vocals | (2005–present) | Founding Member |
| Kyle Simmons | keyboards, synthesizer, bass guitar, guitar | (2005–present) | Founding Member |
- Former members
| Name | Instrument | Membership | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Blake | lead vocals | (2005-2007) | Current vocalist of Speak of the Devil, and former vocalist of Watchout! Theres Ghost, Razing Alexandria and The Legend. The Leader. |
| Joey Wilson | lead guitar | (2005–2012) | Former guitarist of Speak of the Devil |
| Curtis Daniger | bass | (2005) | Founding Member |
- Touring members
| Name | Instrument | Membership | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonny Craig | lead vocals | (2007) | Former vocalist of Dance Gavin Dance and Emarosa |
| Craig Mabbitt | lead vocals | (2007) | Current vocalist of Escape the Fate and The Dead Rabbitts and former vocalist of blessthefall and The Word Alive |
