X Ambassadors

X Ambassadors (also stylized XA) is an American rock trio from Ithaca, New York. The current official lineup includes lead vocalist, bassist & guitarist Sam Harris, keyboardist Casey Harris, and drummer Adam Levin. Their most notable songs include "Jungle", "Renegades", and "Unsteady". The band's debut full-length album, VHS, was released on June 30, 2015. Their sophomore album Orion was released on June 14, 2019.

X Ambassadors
Sam Harris Of X Ambassadors performing Live At The Fonda Theater In November 2015
Background information
Also known as
  • Ambassadors
  • XA
OriginIthaca, New York, United States
Genres
Years active2009–2016 (as a band)
2016-present (as a Trio)
Labels
Associated acts
Websitexambassadors.com
Members
  • Sam Harris
  • Casey Harris
  • Adam Levin
Past members
  • Noah Feldshuh

History

2009–12: Ambassadors and Litost

X Ambassadors began as a band titled Ambassadors, touring with artists such as LIGHTS. During this time, they self-released their debut EP, Ambassadors EP, creating a music video for its lead single, "Tropisms", shot and directed by Rodrigo Zedillo. Shortly after, the band self-released its debut LP, Litost, which included the song "Litost", which would later be used on the soundtrack for The Host. The band signed a music publishing deal in 2012 with SONGS Music Publishing.[1] The band started a Kickstarter account to shoot a video for the lead single, "Unconsolable", which would be re-recorded later.[2] The group was noticed by Imagine Dragons while frontman Dan Reynolds was sick in the hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. Reynolds heard an acoustic version of "Litost" on 96X WROX-FM and asked Interscope to sign the band as soon as possible.[3][4]

2013–14: Love Songs Drug Songs and The Reason

X Ambassadors released their debut major label EP, Love Songs Drug Songs in 2013. The EP included the track "Stranger" co-written by Dan Reynolds.[5] In promotion of the EP they toured supporting Imagine Dragons, Jimmy Eat World and The Mowglis. In 2014, the band released a second major label EP, The Reason. Two of the tracks from the EP, "Unsteady" and "Jungle" later appeared on their full-length album VHS released after a year. In promotion of the new EP, X Ambassadors supported Panic! at the Disco and Imagine Dragons on their respective tours. They also featured in The Knocks' single "Comfortable" from their second EP with the same name.

2015–16: VHS And Line Up Change, Transollating To Rock Trio

In March 2015, they released the single "Renegades". That song later appeared in their debut LP. The album was released June 30, 2015 via digital download, vinyl record and CD. The album features 20 tracks, including 7 interludes and 3 previously released songs for a total of 10 new songs. The album features collaborations with Jamie N Commons and Imagine Dragons. A special edition titled VHS 2.0 was released on June 10, 2016, with five additional tracks and the interludes removed.

X Ambassadors appeared as a collaboration on their earlier title "Comfortable" with The Knocks', which was originally released back in 2013, as part of the duo's debut album, entitled 55, which was released in March 2016. However, later on in the year, X Ambassadors lead singer Sam Harris was reunited with the duo in their new collaboration, entitled "Heat", which was released in October 2016.

On June 20, 2016, the band announced that Feldshuh would be taking an indefinite hiatus from the band to deal with personal issues.[6]

2017: Single releases

X Ambassadors released four stand-alone singles in 2017: "Hoping" in March, "Torches" in April, "The Devil You Know" in June, and "Ahead of Myself" in July.[7] They also performed at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. The band was featured in a song by Eminem titled "Bad Husband", off his album Revival. They also performed in a song titled "Home" on the soundtrack for the Netflix film Bright. The song includes pop singer Bebe Rexha and rapper Machine Gun Kelly.

2018–present: Joyful (cancelled album), Orion and Belong

X Ambassadors released their next single, "Joyful", on January 26, 2018, originally intended to be the title track of their second album.[8] Later that day they announced their second full-length album, Joyful, through their Instagram accounts, and pre-orders became available through their website.[9] The album was slated for an April 2018 release. On February 2, 2018, the band released another single off the album titled "Don't Stay".[10]

On January 25, 2019, X Ambassadors released their next single titled "Boom".

Three months later, on April 19, 2019, over a year after the announcement of the album Joyful, it was announced that the band had cancelled it in favor of their new work for their new upcoming second studio album Orion. "Boom" became the first single off the new album. Lead singer Sam Harris stated that Joyful was the second iteration of their second album, and that they felt like the songs on it did not represent where they were at.[11] The singles released prior to the album's cancellation will continue to be available on streaming services. That same day, the band released another new song titled "Hey Child", as the second single off their new album. A third single from the album, titled "Hold You Down", was released on May 31, 2019.[12] The album was released on June 14, 2019.[11]

On April 19, 2019, American rapper and singer Lizzo released her album "Cuz I Love You", which featured the tracks "Cuz I Love You", "Jerome", and "Heaven Help Me", all produced by X Ambassadors.[13]

On August 16, 2019, the band was featured on a song titled "In Your Arms", off of Illenium's third studio album titled Ascend.[14]

On August 23, 2019, the band released a stand-alone single titled "Optimistic". The song centers around gun violence in the United States.[15]

On February 7, 2020, the trio released a single titled "Everything Sounds Like a Love Song".[16] It was released as the lead single of the band’s upcoming EP.

On February 21, 2020, the band released a single titled "Great Unknown" for the theatrical film The Call of the Wild.[17]

On March 6, 2020, the band released a three song EP titled Belong. It is the band's first EP since The Reason in January 2014. The EP includes the songs "Everything Sounds Like a Love Song", "Happy Home", and "Belong". Lead singer Sam Harris stated that the EP is a collection of songs that the band wrote that didn't quite fit on their upcoming third studio album, but they loved the songs and wanted to put them out.[18]

Musical style and influences

In an interview with Caitlin White, X Ambassadors declared themselves distinctly rock with few characteristics commonly associated with indie bands.[3] They referenced Incubus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers as heroes.[3]

Philanthropy

In January 2017, Sam Harris participated in the official Women's March on Washington after-party.[19][20] Harris was joined by The National, Ani DiFranco, Samantha Ronson, Sleater-Kinney, and many others.

In March 2017, X Ambassadors performed a special show to benefit Planned Parenthood on International Women's Day.[21]

Following the benefit show, X Ambassadors released the song "Hoping" on March 10.[22][23] All proceeds from the song for the six months following its release were donated to the ACLU.[23]

In June 2017, X Ambassadors announced that they would donate all the proceeds from their Mississippi Coast Coliseum Show to Unity Mississippi - an LGBT charitable organization,[24] following the announcement that the State of Mississippi signed HB 1523 - the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act" into law.[25]

Band members
  • Sam Harris – lead vocals, guitar, saxophone, bass guitar, drums, percussion (2009–present)
  • Casey Harris – piano, keyboards, backing vocals (2009–present)
  • Adam Levin – drums, percussion (2009–present)

Former member
  • Noah Feldshuh – lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2009–2016; currently on hiatus)

Members information
  • Sam Harris and Casey Harris are brothers, and have been friends with Feldshuh since kindergarten in Ithaca. Sam met Levin while attending the New School in New York City in 2006.[26][27]
  • Casey Harris has been blind since birth.[28]
  • Noah Feldshuh is the nephew of actress Tovah Feldshuh.

Discography
Main article: X Ambassadors discography

Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2015Teen Choice AwardsChoice Music: Rock Song"Renegades"Nominated[29]
2016Hollywood Music in Media AwardsBest Song – Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film"Sucker for Pain"Nominated[30]
iHeartRadio Music AwardsAlternative Rock Artist of the YearX AmbassadorsNominated[31]
Alternative Rock Song of the Year"Renegades"Nominated
Billboard Music AwardsTop Rock ArtistX AmbassadorsNominated[32]
Top Rock Song"Renegades"Nominated
American Music AwardsFavorite Artist - Alternative RockX AmbassadorsNominated[33]
2017Billboard Music AwardsTop Rock ArtistX AmbassadorsNominated[34]
Top Rock Song"Sucker for Pain"Nominated
"Unsteady"Nominated
Teen Choice AwardsChoice Rock ArtistX AmbassadorsNominated[35]
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gollark: ÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆa this is hard
gollark: ++choose 1000 "lyric bad" "gollark bad"
gollark: Yep. Done.
gollark: Okay, I'll stop working on this rust project and start up my python IDE.

References
  1. "SONGS Music Publishing". Songspub.com. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  2. "Help Ambassadors Make Two Music Videos! by Jacob Albert — Kickstarter". Kickstarter.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  3. "Introducing: X Ambassadors, Brooklyn's Least "Indie" Rock Band | Pigeons & Planes". Pigeonsandplanes.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  4. "X Ambassadors Interview - 92 WICB". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  5. Matt Collar (2013-05-07). "Love Songs Drug Songs - X Ambassadors | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  6. "X Ambassadors' Noah Feldshuh on Indefinite Hiatus from Band". KROQ. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  7. iHeartRadio (26 July 2017). "X Ambassadors Nervous About Second Album! - Exclusive Interview". YouTube. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  8. "X Ambassadors Explain Inspiration for 'Ahead of Myself' Video, Label Trump 'An Idiot' Over DACA". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  9. Desk, BWW News. "X Ambassadors Release Powerful New Single + Video 'Joyful'". Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  10. "Don't Stay - Single by X Ambassadors on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  11. "X Ambassadors' Sam Harris Talks 'Hey Child' Single, 'Game of Thrones' Music & Rock's Urgent Need for Diversity". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  12. X AMBASSADORS (@XAmbassadors) (May 30, 2019). "Tomorrow #HoldYouDown". Twitter.
  13. Hampp, Andrew. "Songs for Screens: X Ambassadors' Sam Nelson Harris Talks 'Game of Thrones,' Playing Paul Stanley of Kiss". Variety. Variety. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  14. X AMBASSADORS (@XAmbassadors) (August 16, 2019). ".@ILLENIUMMUSIC "ASCEND" out NOW go listen, thank you for having us on "In Your Arms"". Twitter.
  15. X AMBASSADORS (@XAmbassadors) (August 23, 2019). "We need to keep these conversations going. About gun violence prevention. The 24-hour news cycle is unrelenting, but it's important we stay vigilant and don't forget these injustices. Go to http://everytown.org/act to learn more. OPTIMISTIC Out Now: https://smarturl.it/OPTIMISTIC". Twitter. External link in |title= (help)
  16. X AMBASSADORS (@XAmbassadors) (February 7, 2020). "EVERYTHING SOUNDS LIKE A LOVE SONG OUT NOW". Twitter.
  17. X AMBASSADORS (@XAmbassadors) (February 17, 2020). "GREAT UNKNOWN. THIS FRIDAY. #CalloftheWild". Twitter.
  18. Bocci, Maria. "X Ambassadors on belonging, brotherhood and musicianship". The Line of Best Fit. The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  19. "The National, Sleater-Kinney, Tig Notaro Join Planned Parenthood Benefit". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  20. Polus, Sarah; Polus, Sarah (2017-01-22). "An abundance of performers and pussyhats at Women's March after-party". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  21. "X Ambassadors' Sam Harris on Supporting Planned Parenthood With Benefit Show: 'It's Such a Vital Organization'". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  22. Hoping - Single by X Ambassadors on Apple Music, 2017-03-10, retrieved 2017-09-06
  23. "X Ambassadors Debut New Song 'Hoping,' Benefitting the ACLU: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  24. Frometa, R. J. (2016-06-30). "X Ambassadors Donate Proceeds From Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfish Festival Show to Unity Mississippi". Vents Magazine. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  25. "X Ambassadors Donate Proceeds From Local Gig To LGBT Organization Unity Mississippi". All Access. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  26. Weston, Liana (August 2013). "Meet X Ambassadors, the Brooklyn Indie Rockers Who Are About to Be Everywhere". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  27. Treves, Robert (10 May 2013). "X Ambassadors Love Songs Drug Songs Review". Indiecurrent. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  28. Min, Lilian (7 April 2014). "X Ambassadors: Sam Harris On Headlining Tours And Living The Major Label Dream". Neon Tommy. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  29. Staff, Variety (17 August 2015). "Teen Choice Awards 2015 Winners: Full List". Variety. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  30. Glasgow, Scott. "2016 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations Announced | Film Music Reporter". filmmusicreporter.com. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  31. "iHeartRadio Music Awards 2016: See the Full Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  32. "Billboard Music Awards 2016: Complete Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  33. "AMAs 2016: See the Full List of Winners". Billboard. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  34. "Drake, The Chainsmokers Lead Nominees for the 2017 Billboard Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  35. Ceron, Ella. "The Pretty Little Liars Were ALL Nominated for the Same EXACT Award". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
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