As It Is Feels So Alive with Brand-New LIVE EP featuring ESPERA
Words by Angelina Singer
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, As It Is came back as a band stronger than ever. After an eight-year hiatus from making music together, lineup changes, and mental health challenges, now the band is singing about some big feelings and an even bigger sound with four new live-recorded songs you’ll definitely resonate with.
I noticed that thematically, these songs have shifted from calling out more external, societal issues, to the internal struggles of existing as a human being on this planet. This dynamic choice really mimics what the members have been through, and I really appreciated the way that they’ve kept the same rock ‘n’ roll grit they’ve been known for, but just with some added diary-entry-worthy lyrics.
Photo by Ashley Be a
The softer presence of backing vocals from ESPERA also adds a lot to these songs. They’re a band I’d only just heard of from this live EP, but Lynsey Ward (Lyns), Mathilda Riley (Mattie), and Paige Lucy Phillips are no stranger to filling the space behind some of your favorite alternative bands — like Bring Me the Horizon and Sleep Token, just to name a couple. This is where the grit meets the gentleness, a soft hug for anyone who’s been looking for comfort in an ever-harsher world.
Starting out strong with “I’m So Alive”, the fuzzed-out guitars and punk vibe comes through, but it’s immediately amped up by the richly populated vocal layers. Frontman Patty Walters is a seasoned performer at this point in his career, but he’s somehow managed to sing every word as if it’s brand-new. “If I don’t wake up, well, just leave me in a dream” is just one taste of the intriguing lyrics that are both idealistic and real, with loads of oppositional forces pulling the listener back-and-forth (“I feel so happy, I could cry” being another example of this dichotomy). It’s a glittering example of fragility mixed with strength, a bright and exuberant illustration of the human condition and the way life is rarely just one thing at a time. Bright piano notes bring the magic, while a surprising horn section amps this up, bringing the bridge section of the song tantalizingly close to something adjacent to the jazz genre.
Next, the band treats us to the hindsight is 50/50 motif, with “Do You Remember”, filled with both happy and difficult memories. “’Cause if you’re better dead than boring / it makes for better kinds of stories” really elongates the experience of feeling an odd sense of nostalgia, even while walking through difficult memories. This song is so empowering, and really reminds listeners to find something good in every day, while surrounding yourself with the people who have been with you every step of the way. Plus, that lead guitar riff has already been stuck in my head for weeks, so I might have to teach myself how to play it just to scratch the creative itch that I always get when music hits just right, making me wish I wrote it. Unpolished surround-sound vocals make this live recording so real for listeners, like they’re in the studio with this band in real-time.
“Live, Laugh, Love Los Angeles” is a tongue-in-cheek reflection on what it’s like to chase your dreams and then be frustrated when everything falls flat. There’s definitely a political look at how the idea of the American Dream is largely a pipe dream for a lot of people, musing that some people can’t even afford the ambulance they need to save them. There’s the slick horn section again, now with a longer solo, which really works to elevate the overall sound of this band, showing that they’re more multi-faceted than they’ve ever dared to show off before. “Sometimes you don’t wake up from the American Dream” really sums up the idea that all of those things can feel like just a well-meant illusion. A half-time feel on the drums really got me bobbing my head, just like I was back at Warped Tour despite the somewhat-bleaker lyrics.
Rounding out this stellar live album is a song I have yet to learn more about from the band (but I’m super excited because I get to ask them about it very soon). “Marilyn” is a song about an older woman who had clearly impacted Patty in a very positive way when he was younger. I’m not totally sure who she is yet, but the song mentions she’s a local woman he met at the “local charity shop” he would work at on weekends. “Marilyn just sitting here and thinkin’ bout / the cool things you said / to leave you feelin’ a little better” reminds me about all the older people in my life that have impacted me and have since passed on. After all, I even named my puppy Perry after my uncle who taught me so much about life, so this song really makes me think about him and reflect on the lessons of those who lived a whole life before us.
While I refuse to pick a favorite off of this EP, I think “Marilyn” resonated with me the most, and I’m so impressed by the way As It Is always gives credit where credit is due, in such a humble and kind way. I really love the multifaceted approach to not only their songwriting, but also the way they’re so honest about what they believe and share it bravely. I’m so grateful this EP exists and you should also check out their brand-new self-titled album that’s available now. And don’t forget to watch their live studio session here to get a feeling for the great vibes around their collaboration with ESPERA!