Origin of name
Anthony Green, the former vocalist, had initially suggested the name "Saosin" for the band. Saosin means "small heart" in Chinese (小心 xiao xin). The word comes from a 15th century proverb about fathers telling their sons who are being married off for money not to get emotionally involved with their wives because they could die at any time. Green explained the meaning behind this as being a reference to the fact that nothing is eternal, and that it is a mistake to become overly attached to any one thing, because that thing will eventually be lost.[4] Whilst Green's interpretation of the word 小心 xiao xin is obscure, 小心 xiao xin is generally used in Chinese as a means to express caution. Green had previously used "Saosin" as a track name in his high school band, Audience of One's CD, I Remember When This All Meant Something.[5][6]
History
Formation and Translating The Name (2003–2004)
The original lineup for Saosin, consisting of Burchell, Shekoski, Kennedy and former vocalist Anthony Green, was formed in the summer of 2003.[7] On June 17, the band released their first commercial production, the EP Translating the Name.[8] It was an immediate success and was immensely popular on online forums and music sites. Saosin first became popular through promotion and exposure through the Internet. They became known for their distinct musical styles long before their first studio-length album was released, and were popularized on social networking and music sites such as MySpace.[9]
Studio drummer Pat McGrath and bassist Zach Kennedy left the band early on. Kennedy left for personal reasons, and he wanted to pursue a career in art.[4] He was later replaced by Chris Sorenson. McGrath, who had formerly played briefly with American thrash metal band Slayer, was never properly with the band; according to Burchell, he was hired only for the recording for the EP, as Alex Rodriguez had promised his band at the time Open Hand he would finish recording with them, then joined Saosin after the release of Translating the Name.[10] Shortly after the EP's release, Saosin went on a U.S. tour with bands Boys Night Out and Anatomy of a Ghost.
In February 2004, the band's vocalist Anthony Green left Saosin and later formed the band Circa Survive. Green was very homesick and said he was missing his family. Green was also disenchanted with Saosin, evidenced by the use of cryptic imagery in the lyrics of the Translating the Name EP to convey his displeasure with the direction of Saosin[citation needed]. The other band members did, however, finish their Warped Tour obligation with Story of the Year's Philip Sneed taking the mic. A public, nationwide audition then took place.
New singer and Saosin EP (2004–2006)
After the audition process and several guest vocalists on demos, the then 19-year-old Cove Reber, previously the vocalist of the unsigned local bands Mormon in the Middle and Stamp Out Detroit, was announced as their new permanent lead singer. Reber had sent in his demo tape, which was an acoustic demo with "Mookie's Last Christmas". The demo has since leaked onto the internet. It is widely speculated to have included a few songs from Translating the Name. When Beau Burchell first heard the demo, he thought it was Anthony playing a trick on them, for Reber's vocal stylings were very similar to those of Green's when the demo was originally recorded.
Reber's addition to the band was difficult, for the more experienced Green was the center piece of the band in the eyes of Saosin's fans. Many fans consider the time with Green to be something entirely different from what the band is today. There are still distinct fans of both eras (Green Era/Reber Era) debating on which is a better fit for the band as a whole.
Saosin played the Taste of Chaos tour the following winter. Saosin was signed to Capitol Records in March and toured the United States with the Warped Tour for the second time. That summer, they released the Saosin EP. At first it was intended to be a free sampler, but Capitol Records would not allow this and released it as an EP. It contained demo versions of songs later recorded on their first full length album. A video to their new single "Bury Your Head" was filmed during the tour. The band continued touring for the rest of 2005, opening for Avenged Sevenfold and Coheed and Cambria.
Saosin LP and Come Close (2006–2008)
After a respite from touring between February and June, the Warped Tour 2006 and numerous demos and compilation appearances, Saosin released their first full-length album Saosin on September 26, 2006. The well-known music producer Howard Benson was hired for the production of the album. Benson had worked with several major rock bands such as My Chemical Romance and Blindside. The album sold over 35,000 copies in its first week. The record saw the band writing softer songs such as "You're Not Alone".[11]
During the rest of 2006, Saosin toured on the International Taste of Chaos Tour, playing their first shows outside of America. They also toured the United States with Bleeding Through and Senses Fail. They kept on touring for the whole year of 2007, beginning with a tour with Senses Fail, Alexisonfire, The Sleeping and Drop Dead, Gorgeous. Saosin also invited the non-profit organization Invisible Children for a portion of the tour. In February they joined the Taste of Chaos 2007. Between April and June they toured in Europe, Australia, Japan and Indonesia.
When Saosin returned home they continued their headlining tour with Poison the Well, The Receiving End of Sirens, Fiore and Flight 409. In the later summer of 2007, they were part of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour. After this they headlined yet another tour in USA and Canada with Alexisonfire, Envy on the Coast, Norma Jean and The Dear and Departed. Concert footage was recorded during the tour stop on November 3, 2007 at The Theater of Living Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The concert footage was compiled for a live album and concert movie entitled Come Close.
Saosin toured from January 21 to February 8, 2008 with Armor for Sleep, Meriwether, and The Bled; from February 9 to February 16 Fear Before joined the tour. They went to Australia between February and March, after which they performed in Singapore on March 7 as the opening performance for Incubus on their Light Grenades Tour. On their way home they also visited Bali, Hawaii and Mexico. After two final shows at home in California in April, they took a six month break from touring.
The Grey EP and In Search of Solid Ground (2008–present)
Saosin returned to touring in October 2008 alongside Underoath and The Devil Wears Prada.
In early 2009, they started recording their new album with producer Butch Walker. They partnered with Hurley to broadcast the recording process live on Hurley's website.[12]
Saosin released a new EP titled The Grey EP on October 14, 2008. The EP was sold on tour and on iTunes and featured three new demos, as well as an acoustic version of "Come Close".[13] The purpose of The Grey EP was to show demos they had been recording; a similar manner in which the Saosin EP contained demos for their debut LP.
Saosin released In Search of Solid Ground on September 8, 2009. Two songs were released as a download to anyone who bought a shirt, and a digital pre-order. The songs were "On My Own" and "Is This Real". These two songs were released as singles on iTunes August 4, 2009. On August 5 a new song titled "Changing" was made available for streaming on the internet. The single was then put up for download on iTunes August 11. Another track titled "The Worst of Me" was also released as part of a free Warped Tour song package on hurley.com/warpedtour. The song "Why Can't You See?" was made available on Last.fm.
Their most recent song "Move Slow" was released on the TV show NCIS's original sountrack.
Saosin will tour Australia nationally during June 2010 in support of Story Of The Year's Australian tour. Also joining Story Of The Year and Saosin will be blessthefall.[14]
Three unreleased Saosin songs have leaked onto the internet through the Hurley Live Recording Stream they broadcasted while recording In Search of Solid Ground. They are apparently titled "The Norma Jean Song," "Back to Greatness," and the third is still known as "Untitled."
Recently, Saosin stated on Twitter that they have parted ways with Virgin records and are going back into a DIY direction.[3]
Members
Current
- Cove Reber - lead vocals (2004-present)
- Beau Burchell - guitar, keys, programming, backing vocals (2003-present)
- Justin Shekoski - guitar, backing vocals (2003-present)
- Chris Sorenson - bass, keyboards, backing vocals (2003-present)
- Alex Rodriguez - drums, percussion (2003-present)
Former
- Anthony Green - lead vocals (2003-2004)
- Zach Kennedy - bass (2003)
- Pat Mcgrath - drums, percussion (2003, Session member on Discography
Studio albums
- Saosin (2006)
- In Search of Solid Ground (2009)
External links
- Saosin In Spanish
- Saosin's official website
- Saosin's official MySpace page
- Saosin exclusive interview at The Grixer Music Mag
- Synthesis.net July, 2007 Podcast Interview with Anthony Green formerly of Saosin
- Top 10 of 2008: Saosin's Cove
Postingan
