X Ambassadors

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X Ambassadors
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X Ambassadors in December 2015
Background information
Origin Ithaca, New York, United States
Genres
Years active 2009–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website xambassadors.com
Members
  • Sam Harris
  • Casey Harris
  • Noah Feldshuh
  • Adam Levin

X Ambassadors (also stylised XA) is an American alternative rock band from Ithaca, New York. The band has had hits such as "Unconsolable", "Jungle" and "Renegades". The band's debut full-length album, VHS, was released on June 30, 2015.

History

2009–12: Ambassadors EP and Litost

X Ambassadors began as a band titled simply 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". 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 would sign 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] "Unconsolable" by them was on the Love Songs Drug Songs EP. 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 "Unconsolable" on 96X WROX-FM and asked Interscope to sign the band as soon as possible.[3][4]

2013–14: Love Songs Drug Songs EP and The Reason EP

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. In promotion of the new EP, X Ambassadors will support 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 The Knocks collaboration

VHS is X Ambassadors' debut LP. The album was released June 30 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 Jamie N Commons and Imagine Dragons.

X Ambassadors are to appear as a collaboration on The Knocks' debut album, entitled "55", scheduled to be released within the early months of 2016.

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] These bands can be heard as influences on X Ambassadors's sound.

Members

X Ambassadors consists of four band members:

Sam Harris (lead vocals, guitar, saxophone), Casey Harris (keyboard), Noah Feldshuh (guitar) and Adam Levin (drums).

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.[6][7]

Casey Harris has been blind since birth.[8]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[9]
CAN
[10]
FRA
[11]
GER UK
[12]
VHS 7 2 85 56 41

Extended plays

Title Details Peak chart positions
US Heat
[9]
Ambassadors1
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Ambassadors
  • Format: Digital download
Love Songs Drug Songs 11
The Reason
  • Released: 22 April 2014
  • Label: KIDinaKORNER, Geffen Records, Interscope Records
  • Format: Digital download
7
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released.

Singles

As lead artist

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[15]
AUS
[16]
AUT
[17]
CAN
[18]
FRA
[11]
GER
[19]
IRE
[20]
ITA
[21]
NL
[22]
UK
[12]
2009 "Tropisms"[23]1 N/A
2012 "Unconsolable"[24]1
2013 "Unconsolable" (New version)[25]
2014 "Jungle"
(X Ambassadors and Jamie N Commons featuring Jay Z)[26]
87 63 55 44 62 85 18 VHS
2015 "Renegades" 17 43 25 6 10 10 65 4 32 38
  • RIAA: Platinum[28]
  • FIMI: 2× Platinum[29]
  • MC: 3× Platinum[30]
  • BEA: Gold
"Fear"
(featuring Imagine Dragons)
2016 "Unsteady" 86 74
"American Oxygen" Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

As featured artist

Year Title Album
2013 "Love of a Life"
(Keljet featuring X Ambassadors)
N/A
"Wicked Ways"
(Eminem featuring X Ambassadors)
The Marshall Mathers LP 2
2014 "Comfortable"
(The Knocks featuring X Ambassadors)
So Classic
2015 "Transmission"
(Zedd featuring Logic and X Ambassadors)
True Colors
"Cannonball"
(Skylar Grey featuring X Ambassadors)
TBA

Other appearances

  • "Unconsolable" is featured in the video game, Need for Speed: Most Wanted.
  • "Unconsolable" is featured in Season 2, Episode 17 "The Silence She Keeps" of ABC Family's The Fosters.
  • "Shining" featured in the video game Need for Speed Rivals; "Love Songs Drug Songs" was also in the video game's credits but not in the video game itself.
  • "Jungle" is featured in the reveal trailer for the video game Battlefield: Hardline. It is also featured in the Beats By Dre 2014 World Cup commercial "The Game Before The Game".[32] WWE used the song in the commercial for WWE Shop and as the official theme song to the 2014 PPV event WWE Battleground. The song was also used in the end credits for the film Hercules. A clip of the song was used during Season 1, Episode 16 "Mako Tanida" of NBC's The Blacklist. Further, the song has been used in promotional trailers for season two of Netflix's original series Orange Is the New Black , the film Horrible Bosses 2, the first official trailer for Pitch Perfect 2 and also in the season 4 premiere of Teen Wolf. It was also featured in a promo for an episode of Supernatural and Sons of Anarchy, as well as in Underground. It is played for the Detroit Lions while introducing the starting line up for the 2014 season. The song was also used in the end credits of the 2015 movies "Project Almanac" and "Hitman: Agent 47" in the ending credits.
  • "Litost" is featured in the mini-series Missing. The song is also featured in episode 4 of the 9th season of "One Tree Hill".
  • The band was featured on a track of Zedd's second studio album, True Colors, "Transmission" along with rapper Logic.
  • Previously unreleased song "The Heist" was featured during a flashback sequence on The Blacklist in Season 2, Episode 15 "The Major". Also featured in a 2014 Applebee's TV commercial.[33]
  • "Superpower" is featured in the video game, Madden NFL 16.
  • "Renegades" was featured in the 10/6/2015 Season 2 premiere of the CW series The Flash. It is also used in the Jeep Renegade Advert 2015.
  • "B.I.G." was performed on the opening night of the 2015-16 NBA season on Inside the NBA to an increasingly angry mob of Bay Area residents.
  • "Cannonball" is featured on the FIFA 16 soundtrack
  • Also opened for MUSE on part of U.S. leg of Drones Album Tour (2016).
Notes
  • Note 1: As Ambassadors.

References

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External links