American Authors

American Authors (formerly known as The Blue Pages) is an American rock band based in New York City, currently signed to Island Records. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Zac Barnett, bassist Dave Rublin, and drummer Matt Sanchez. Former member includes guitarist and banjoist James Adam Shelley. They are best known for their hit singles " Believer" and "Best Day of My Life", from their debut album, '' Oh, What a Life'', as well as their top 20 hit "Go Big or Go Home", from their second album, ''What We Live For''.

History

2006–2011: Early years

The members of American Authors met while attending Berklee College of Music in 2006. The quartet spent their first years in Boston recording and performing music under the name The Blue Pages. In May 2010, the band opened for Cash Cash on the Robots in High-Tops tour. In 2010, they relocated to Brooklyn. On December 1, 2010, the Blue Pages independently released their single "Run Back Home" on iTunes.

2012–2014: Name change, ''American Authors''

In 2012, the group changed their name to American Authors. In January 2013, the band was signed to Mercury Records. Their debut single, " Believer", garnered attention through alternative rock radio.

American Authors released their self-titled debut EP on August 27, 2013. In 2013, American Authors won Overall Grand Prize in the 18th Annual USA Songwriting Competition with their song "Believer". The group was number nine on ''Billboards chart of Top New Artists for 2014. In July 2015, the band was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and was featured on NBC's ''Today'' show, performing their single "Best Day of My Life".

2015–present: ''What We Live For'', ''Seasons'', and forthcoming fourth studio album

From 2015 to 2016, American Authors worked on their second album, ''What We Live For''. The band released their single "I Wanna Go Out" on August 3, 2017. The song is included as the fourth track of their third studio album, ''Seasons''. They also released a Christmas song, "Coming Home to You", on November 19, 2017.

In 2018, the band appeared in the ''Bar Rescue'' episode "Not Clear for Takeoff", doing recon for The Airliner, and also performed at the bar's grand reopening. The band released their single "Deep Water" on May 17, 2018, preceding their third studio album. In December, they announced the title of the third album, ''Seasons'', and released it
on February 1, 2019.

The third single from ''Seasons'', "Say Amen", was released on November 16, 2018. The fourth single, "Neighborhood", came out on December 7, 2018, and "Stay Around" followed on January 11, 2019.

The eighth single from ''Seasons'', "Bring It on Home", was featured in an official trailer for the American documentary film '' The Biggest Little Farm'' on January 29, 2019.

On January 17, 2020, the band released a new single titled "Microphone". On February 28, they published a song with Seeb, titled "Best I Can".

On April 23, 2021, the band announced on Twitter that James Adam Shelley would no longer be part of the band and that American Authors would continue without him.

On June 25, 2021, American Authors released the song "Nice and Easy", which features Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray.

Also in 2021, they teamed up with Rob Thomas and Santana for "Move", from the latter's most recent album, '' Blessings and Miracles''.

In other media

The American Authors song "Hit It" is featured in the EA Sports game ''FIFA 14''. Their song "Best Day of My Life" was used in an MLB Fan Cave commercial and is the title music of Sky Sports News' ''My Special Day'' feature. It has also appeared in a television spot for the movie ''The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'', in an episode of the television show ''The Vampire Diaries'', and in the 2013 Boston Red Sox World Series championships. The song was ranked number one on ''Billboards 2014 Adult Pop Songs chart. The song "Home" was featured in a trailer for the movie ''This Is Where I Leave You'' and in a video honoring troops and their families.

American Authors' second single, "Best Day of My Life", was featured in, among other things, a Lowe's television advertisement in the United States, a Hyundai television advertisement in the United Kingdom, an advertisement in South Africa for Castle Lager, and a Telecom New Zealand advertisement. It appears in a trailer for the film ''Delivery Man'', in the Konami video game ''Pro Evolution Soccer 2015'', in the opening sequence for ESPN's 2013 World Series of Poker coverage, in a trailer for ''Earth to Echo'' as well as ''How to Train Your Dragon 2'', in the film ''Humpback Whales'', and a trailer for '' St. Vincent''. The track is also featured in the video game ''Guitar Hero Live''. The song won the newly established Sync Music Award at the SESAC Pop Awards 2015. American Authors band members also had cameos in the TV show ''Bar Rescue''.

Festivals and events

The group has appeared at various music festivals and events, including Lollapalooza, SXSW Music Festival, Firefly Music Festival, Reading Festival, Leeds Festival, Bunbury Music Festival, Freakfest, Grammys on the Hill (an awards ceremony honoring artists and legislators who have improved the environment for music creators), BottleRock Napa Valley, Keloorah, Pukkelpop, and Polartec Big Air at Fenway.

Band members

Current
* Zac Barnett – lead vocals, guitar (2006–present)
* Dave Rublin – bass, backing vocals, keyboards (2006–present)
* Matt Sanchez – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2006–present)

Former
* James Adam Shelley – lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, banjo, mandolin (2006–2021)

Discography

Studio albums
* '' Oh, What a Life'' (2014)
* ''What We Live For'' (2016)
* ''Seasons'' (2019)

See also

* List of alternative rock artists
* List of Berklee College of Music alumni
* List of Mercury Records artists

References

External links

*

December 2014 American Authors interview on Guitar.com

{{Authority control

2006 establishments in Massachusetts
Alternative rock groups from Massachusetts
Alternative rock groups from New York (state)
Indie rock musical groups from Massachusetts
Indie rock musical groups from New York (state)
Berklee College of Music alumni
Mercury Records artists
Musical groups established in 2006
Musical groups from Boston
Musical groups from Brooklyn
Musical quartets
American musical trios