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Islander (band)

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Islander
Islander in 2014
Background information
OriginGreenville, South Carolina, U.S.
Genres
Years active2011 (2011)–present
Labels
Members
  • Mikey Carvajal
  • Chris Carvajal
  • Erik Shea
Past members
  • Ezekiel Vasquez
  • Arin Ilejay
  • J.R Bareis
  • Andrew Murphy
  • Chris Doot
  • Andrew Fleming
  • Eric Frazier
WebsiteIslander on Facebook

Islander is an American rock band from Greenville, South Carolina, founded in 2011. Their releases include numerous singles as well as two EPs, Side Effects of Youth (2012) and Pains. (2013), and four studio albums, Violence & Destruction (2014), Power Under Control (2016), It's Not Easy Being Human (2022), and Grammy Nominated (2024). The band is known for its uniquely dynamic and interactive live performances, as noted in various concert review publications.

History

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The original members of Islander hail from Greenville, South Carolina,[2][3] and have been playing together since 2006. The group broke up for a few years and later reunited under the name Islander in 2011.[4][5][6]

Islander vocalist Mikey Carvajal is a participant in the non-profit outreach organization known as The Whosoevers. Some members of the organization include Brian "Head" Welch and Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu of Korn, Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D., Lacey Sturm formerly of Flyleaf, and motivational speaker Ryan Ries.[7]

On June 17, 2016, the band released a new song, titled "Darkness", with the lineup of J.R. Bareis (Love & Death) on Guitar, Ezekiel Vasquez (ex-ForeverAtLast) on Bass, and Arin Ilejay (ex-Confide, ex-Avenged Sevenfold) on Drums.[8] The new song, and album Power Under Control, indicated a mixture on Nu-metal, emo, punk rock and alternative metal.[8] On June 20, 2016, the band released "Bad Guy" from the upcoming Power Under Control, which will be released through the band's label Victory Records on August 5, 2016.[9] On August 4, 2016, Alternative Press put out a stream for Islander's Power Under Control, the album to be released through Victory and produced by Cameron Webb, who also produced Violence & Destruction, at NRG Studios.[10]

On August 31, 2018, Eleventyseven lead singer Matt Langston interviewed Mikey Carvajal on the Eleventylife podcast and discussed the music industry, growing up in the South Carolina, and navigating band politics.[11]

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the band released a cover of the R.E.M. song It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine). The release was dedicated to lead singer Mikey Carvajal's aunt, who had recently died as a result of the virus. A portion of proceeds from the release were donated to the NYC Low-Income Artist + Freelancer Relief Fund.[12]

Music

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Victory Records signed the band in September 2013, and soon released their second EP, Pains.[2] Their first studio album, Violence & Destruction, was released the next year.[13] The music's material was generally well received by critics,[13][14] as the first single off the Violence & Destruction, entitled "Coconut Dracula", has since been a very successful active rock radio hit, as it hit number 23 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. On January 13, the band released a music video for the track "New Wave", the highly anticipated follow-up to the "Coconut Dracula" music video, which premiered exclusively on Billboard.[15]

In February 2021, the band released a new single, called The Outsider. In an interview, lead singer Mikey Carvajal described it as "a song for anyone that feels like an outcast [or] is struggling to fit in."[16] The song later appeared on the 2022 album It's Not Easy Being Human.

The band has received support from many big names within the music community. Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. said "New school band with old school soul and passion. Keep your eyes and ears open for these guys!".[17] Brian "Head" Welch of Korn and Love and Death tweeted "A new, unique, sick band with a CD full of great songs. You won't regret getting Islander."[18] Lacey Sturm of the band Flyleaf tweeted a picture of Violence & Destruction stating it was her "New Favorite Music".[19]

On June 28, 2024, the band released its independently produced fourth studio album, Grammy Nominated. The album was fan-funded through a Kickstarter campaign launched the previous summer.

Touring

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The group toured with the Mayhem Festival 2014 tour including label acts Emmure, Ill Niño and Wretched in the summer of 2014, followed by tours with Otherwise, Nonpoint and Pop Evil in the fall.[20] Islander began a U.S. tour with Papa Roach, Seether and Kyng in early January 2015, extending until early February. In 2019, they provided direct support for Blessthefall and Escape The Fate on their joint ten-year anniversary tour. Other acts they have toured with include P.O.D., Red, I Prevail, and Korn. They have also headlined several of their own tours, receiving support from acts such as The Funeral Portrait and Palaye Royale. They have played at numerous Rock Festivals such as Carolina Rebellion, Rock on the Range, Shiprocked, and Welcome to Rockville, with artists such as Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus,[21] and Linkin Park.[22][23][24][25][26]

Style

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Their music is similar to Deftones, Glassjaw, Korn, Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit, Mudvayne, P.O.D., and Rage Against the Machine because musically it is alternative metal and rap metal, all the while, having a nu metal sound featuring the subsets alternative rock, hard rock, punk rock, and post-hardcore.[6][8][13][14][27][28][29][30][31][32] Chino Moreno, Daryl Palumbo, Jonathan Davis, Fred Durst, Chad Gray, Sonny Sandoval, Zack de la Rocha are cited as vocal similarities to Carvajal.[6][13][14][27][29][30][32]

Band members

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Timeline

Discography

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EPs

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Studio albums

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Year Title Peak Chart Positions Label
US Hard[34] US Heat.[35] US Indie.[36]
2014 Violence & Destruction — 40 — Victory Records
2016 Power Under Control 18 9 38
2022 It's Not Easy Being Human — — — Better Noise Music
2024 Grammy Nominated — — — Independent

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Main.
[37]
"Coconut Dracula" 2014 23 Violence & Destruction
"New Wave" 2015 22
"Cold Speak" 25
"Bad Guy" 2016 28 Power Under Control
"Summer" 2017 × Non-album single
"I Want Sushi" 2018 ×
"My Friends" × It's Not Easy Being Human
"Freedom" 2020 ×
"Crazy Crazy World" ×
"The Outsider" 2021 ×
"What Do You Gotta Lose?" ×
"Skin Crawl (feat. Bruce Fitzhugh of Living Sacrifice, Daniel Weydant of Zao, and Brian "Head" Welch of Korn)" 2022 ×
"Serpents & Daggers" 2023 × Grammy Nominated
"Witch" ×
"Kayfabe" ×
"Ritual Of Death" 2024 ×
"What A Time To Be Alive" ×

Music videos

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Title Year Director(s)
"New Colors" 2013 Mikey Carvajal
"Coconut Dracula" 2014 Eric Ritcher
"New Wave" 2015
"Bad Guy" 2016 Dustin Smith
"Darkness"
"Better Day" 2017 Nathan Mowery
"Casket"
"Summer"
"I Want Sushi" 2018
"My Friends"
"Crazy Crazy World" 2020
"The Outsider" 2021
"What Do You Gotta Lose?"
"Skateboard Flowers" 2022 Islander
"Evil" Mikey Carvajal, Chris Carvajal
"It’s Not Easy Being Human" Mikey Carvajal
"We Scream"
"Serpents & Daggers" 2023
"Witch" Islander
"Ritual of Death" 2024 Mikey Carvajal
"What a Time To Be Alive" Islander
"Die Dreaming (Morir Soñando)" Luke Asper

References

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  1. ^ "Islander". www.facebook.com.
  2. ^ a b Davis, Angelia (September 30, 2013). "Greenville-based Islander band signs contract with Victory Records". The Greenville News. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "Islander". Victory Records. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  4. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Rockstar Mayhem Festival Preview: Islander". About.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  5. ^ Bromley, Brianna (November 13, 2013). "New Christian Rock Band, "Islander", Album and Tour Dates: 2014 New Album Release with Victory Records". Breathecast. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c Bromley, Brianna (November 15, 2013). "Islander Live Interview: 2013 Album, "Close Your Eyes" Tour, and 2014 Album Release Date". Breathecast. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  7. ^ Erickson, Anne (July 19, 2014). "Mayhem Festival Discovery: Islander, 'Coconut Dracula'". Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c Wiederhorn, Jon (June 17, 2016). "How Members of Korn, Bad Brains, A7X Helped Islander Find New Power". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  9. ^ Childers, Chad (June 20, 2016). "Islander, "Bad Guy" – Exclusive Video Premiere". Loudwire. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  10. ^ Kraus, Brian (August 4, 2016). "Stream the New Islander album Power Under Control – exclusive". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  11. ^ "Episode #68 – Medication, Sushi & Guilty Consciences w/ Mikey Carvajal of Islander". libsyn.com. August 31, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  12. ^ "Islander Share R.E.M. Cover In Support Of Lost Family Member Due to COVID-19 / the NOISE". Islander Share R.E.M. Cover In Support Of Lost Family Member Due to COVID-19 / the NOISE. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d Weaver, Michael (July 8, 2014). "Islander, "Violence & Destruction" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c Schreurs, Jason (July 9, 2014). "Islander – Violence & Destruction". altpress.com. Alternative Press. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  15. ^ "Islander Premieres Video For 'New Wave' on Victory Records: Exclusive Premiere – Billboard". Billboard.
  16. ^ "Islander releases new song and video 'The Outsider'". Music-News.com. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  17. ^ "Victory Records Welcomes ISLANDER – Victory Press Center". www.victorypresscenter.com.
  18. ^ Welch, Brian (August 12, 2014). "U want a new, unique, sick band with a CD full of great songs? - not 1 bad song! You won't regret getting ISLANDER @victoryrecords".
  19. ^ Sturm, Lacey (October 31, 2014). "New favorite Music pic.twitter.com/71RRJvlSnj".
  20. ^ "Islander Tour Dates". October 21, 2014.
  21. ^ "Kraken Music Festival". www.eventyas.com. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  22. ^ "Islander's Concert & Tour History | Concert Archives". www.concertarchives.org. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  23. ^ Kaufman, Spencer (November 4, 2014). "Papa Roach + Seether Announce Co-Headlining 2015 U.S. Tour". Loudwire.
  24. ^ Crane, Matt (December 8, 2014). "Slipknot, Motionless In White, Of Mice & Men, more announced for Welcome To Rockville". Alternative Press.
  25. ^ "Carolina Rebellion Lineup Announced".
  26. ^ "Rock on the Range Announces Headliners and Ticket Pre-Sale".
  27. ^ a b Houston, Rob (June 3, 2014). "Islander – Violence and Destruction". hmmagazine.com. HM Magazine. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  28. ^ Bowar, Chad (July 8, 2014). "New Heavy Metal Album Reviews: Week of July 8, 2014". about.com. About.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  29. ^ a b Sciarretto, Amy (2014). "Islander: Violence & Destruction". Outburn (75). Octavia Laird and Rodney Kusano: 61. ISSN 1542-1309. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  30. ^ a b Dodderidge, Tim (July 10, 2014). "REVIEW: Islander – 'Violence & Destruction'". substreammagazine.com. Substream Magazine. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  31. ^ Twelvetribes230, ReAnimator, ReAnimator. "Islander reviews, music, news". sputnikmusic.com. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved July 25, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ a b Frost, Paula (July 2014). "Islander: Violence and Destruction". Big Cheese (169). Big Cheese Publishing Ltd.: 89. ISSN 1365-358X. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  33. ^ Islander. "Violence And Destruction". ascap.com. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2014. Work ID No. 886553664 and ISWC No. T9138734982
  34. ^ "Chart History Hard Rock Albums". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  35. ^ "Chart History Heatseekers Albums". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  36. ^ "Chart History Independent Albums". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  37. ^ "Islander – Chart History: Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
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