The Academy Is... Biography
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“We want to move people… to impact in them the same way we’ve been affected through music.”
The Academy Is…almost never was. Frontman William Beckett and guitarist Mike Carden grew up as rivals, in separate bands on the Chicago local music scene. William eventually left his band, wanting to take music more seriously and looking for someone who shared his passion. Mike’s band broke up also and the two gradually found themselves talking more and more; engulfed in amazing conversations about music. After realizing they were very much alike, they decided to try their hand at writing songs together and The Academy Is…was born.
William and Mike share a love of the classics - Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, U2. These elements, along with eclectic alternative influences like Weezer and Death Cab For Cutie provide the foundation for Almost Here, the debut release from The Academy Is… Produced by James Paul Wisner (Dashboard Confessional, Further Seems Forever, Underoath), Almost Here is a love letter to music itself; a smart, honest record about growing up, having dreams and making them come true.
On Almost Here, The Academy Is…shoots from the hip and aims for the heart. “It’s an extreme, magnified reflection of who we are as individuals.” William explains, “Lyrically, I try to capture experiences we all have, and genuinely try to portray the ways we respond to them.” From the first notes of the naturally perfect opening track, “Attention” to the raw, explosive “Checkmarks” the album bursts with infectious energy. Each song is a perfect pop picture that is both self-portrait and mirror.
Since William and Mike first came together in 2002, The Academy Is…have paved their way with lightening speed. After adding Adam Siska on bass and a second guitarist and drummer, the full band headed into the studio and recorded an EP for Chicago label LLR Records. Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy heard it and was so impressed that he convinced his label, Fueled By Ramen, to fly out and see them. Fueled By Ramen immediately signed the young band and put them to work recording their full-length debut.
Mike and William holed up in a remote apartment in a suburb of Chicago, writing, collaborating and discovering who they were as musicians. They wrote the record essentially about the record; about being isolated, broke and exhausted but utterly exhilarated at the same time. “I’ll sing you something you won’t forget” William challenges on “Season,” a song about having one chance to make it and really wanting to move people with music. These themes run throughout the ten tracks on Almost Here, as does the desire to break down stereotypes and be heard as themselves. “Almost Here is a great snapshot of where our lives are right now,” William says, “We really wanted to speak to people and tell our story the right way.”
After six months Mike and William headed to Florida to record the appropriately titled Almost Here. “We aren’t quite ‘here’ yet,” William explains, “We are too young to be content and to have everything figured out. It’s all about pushing each other and each other’s boundaries. There is always more to accomplish.”
In 2004 the band underwent a lineup change, finally securing Tom Conrad as second guitar/backing vocalist and Andy Mrotek on drums. They hit the road hard, touring with Fall Out Boy, Something Corporate, Midtown, Matchbook Romance, Motion City Soundtrack and Armor For Sleep. They perfected their live shows, with William coming into his own as a confident and charismatic frontman.
After Almost Here was recorded Mr. Tom Conrad was replaced by the amazing and talented Michael Guy Chislett. From there on out, "Chizzy" has been guitarist and backing vocals in The Academy Is... Recording in the successful and well-loved albums called From The Carpet, Santi, and Fast Times At Barrington High.
The Academy Is… are:
William Beckett – vocals
Mike Carden – guitar
Adam Siska – bass
Michael "Chizzy" Guy Chislett – guitar/ backing vocals
Andy “The Butcher” Bishop Mrotek - drums
Thanks to meli2689@aol.com for submitting the biography.
Please click here to submit the latest The Academy Is... biography
AMAZINGGGG | Reviewer: 123santi | 11/28/09
all i have to say is TAI r the best band in the world and i love them and their music they are so young but so tallented and every single one of there songs seems to blow me away and i have never been dissapointed in any of there songs
peace out and santi carla
Bio needs updating.. | Reviewer: Mel | 8/19/09
Just sayin. This bio is so OLD. Correct in every way but that after Almost Here was recorded Mr. Tom Conrad was replaced by the amazing and talented Michael Guy Chislett. From there on out, "Chizzy" has been guitarist and backing vocals in The Academy Is... Recording in the successful and well-loved albums called From The Carpet, Santi, and Fast Times At Barrington High.
Obviously | Reviewer: william_beckett_lover94 | 9/24/07
Oh my gosh i know i shouldn't be wasting my time on here but i need to write about how much i LOVE them ..... well all i have to say is THE ACADEMY IS... ROX MY WORLD
THEYRE NOT EMO | Reviewer: tiyr nin | 9/18/07
okay "sparky" one fall out boy nor any other FBR band is freakin emo
do you even know what that means?
obviously not!gosh
TAI + any FBR bands = ahmazing
The Academy Is... | Reviewer: Katie | 9/10/07
The Academy Is... is an amazing band
pretty much every song is wonderful and for me it's pretty much impossible to pick a favorite
however I do think almost here is a better album then santi, but that's just me.
The lyrics are amazing and William Beckett's voice is beautiful.
Basically The Academy Is... amazing.
they're the BEST!!! | Reviewer: Katie | 9/3/07
I love them, their lyrics/vocals/music come together so perfectly.(and they are truely AMAZING live)
AWSOME | Reviewer: gaby | 7/10/07
This is one of the greatest bands EVER!!! I cant think of one word that describes this band! All of thier songs r so good! This band is going to be one of the bands that this generation will always remember. I hope that this band goes places. They stick out out of many bands that i listen to. I hope many people love them as much as I do!
TAI <3 | Reviewer: Academy Girl | 6/25/07
The Academy Is is my favorite band. Williams voice is so good, and every lyric is worth listening too. Whoever doesn't know who The Academy Is, yet ... check them out ASAP.
The Academy Is... Is the best | Reviewer: ilovewiliam | 6/19/07
I have followed these guys since the beginning and not once have I gotten bored with them...both their cd's kick serious a#% and I can't wait to see wat they're gonna come up with next...Keep on cuz u guys are one of the best right now....damn Pete Wentz really knows how to pick'em!!
how old? | Reviewer: Katie | 5/31/07
how old is everyone in the band?
i was trying to look iit up but none of the websites had it
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