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\u201cIt\u2019s been a crazy year\u201d<\/i> declares As It Is<\/b> guitarist Ben Biss when asked to sum up his band\u2019s year. And he\u2019s not lying, as the Brighton-based pop punks have had a busy 2015. With a non-stop touring schedule and UK Top 40 Album under their belt, it was a substantial year for the quintet.<\/p>\n
Debut album \u2018Never Happy, Ever After\u2019<\/i> was released last April to positive reviews and an even bigger response from their growing fan base, landing at number 39 in the UK Album Chart. A number that seemingly is of significance to the band as Ben explained \u201cWe got number 39 which is weird as that is a number that randomly crops up a lot for us. We\u2019ve never really spoken about it before. It appeared on the door on the back cover of our first EP that no one knows exist, and then on our first promo shots it\u2019s on a wall in the background. Our 39th show was with our permanent bassist [Alistair Testo].\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Nevertheless, for a band that only formed four years ago and has been touring for half of that time, breaking into a chart full of commercially-friendly artists and firmly established bands is an achievement for the young five-piece. \u201cThe Top 40 is so dominated these days by commercial music and to see bands that can break into it from our scene is great\u201d<\/i> declares Biss. However, it\u2019s success achieved through guts and graft, rather than something that happened overnight: \u201cWe\u2019ve done the grind\u201d<\/i> states Ben, \u201cit has been a slow burn but we\u2019re more appreciative of that.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
There\u2019s no doubt As It Is<\/b> are the latest success story from the UK underground, pushing through the ceiling alongside fellow pop punks Neck Deep, who achieved a Top 10 album last summer, and the ever-evolving metallers Bring Me The Horizon, who narrowly missed out on a Number 1 spot weeks later. <\/p>\n
The changes to listening habits, driven by online traffic and social media sharing, means music fans are no longer being spoon-fed what to listen to reflect this surge in underground popularity. Yet traditional sources, such as BBC Radio One\u2019s Rock Show with Daniel P Carter, are still as important as ever, says Ben: \u201cHe\u2019s [Daniel P Carter] just so in the know and so supportive of everything. He\u2019s been massively supportive of us. I remember one week it played whatever was number 1 and then he [Daniel P Carter] opened the show with us. So anyone who\u2019s in the car tuning into the Chart Show would hear the next thing played. I think that is an amazing slot.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Following on the success of ‘Never Happy, Ever After\u2019<\/i>, As It Is<\/b> did what any band should do \u2013 tour, tour and tour again. With festival slots throughout the UK, a two-month stint on the Vans Warped Tour along with additional UK, US, European, Japanese and Australian runs, it is safe to say Biss and company clocked up some miles in 2015. Having played over 180, Biss has seen a transformation in the bands live shows; \u201cAt the start of the year we didn\u2019t think we were a good live band. If we\u2019re not better now, then we were at the start of the year, we should probably take a look at ourselves. It\u2019s just been constant. You just get better and the shows get better.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
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With such an extensive run of shows, they\u2019ve been lucky enough to play alongside bands they consider as influences. When asked about recent US tour mates Mayday Parade, Biss said: \u201cThey were one of my favourite bands growing up so watching them every night and getting to talk to them in a natural setting, learning from them.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
For any successful band, especially a young one, it can be far too easy to be swept away by the non-stop lifestyle yet Biss and company have kept their feet on the ground, being grateful for everything they\u2019ve achieved so far and benefitting from every moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the tours we\u2019ve done this year and the bands we\u2019ve played with, we have learnt so much from. Those are the things that are most beneficial; learning from other bands you have looked up to.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019re really appreciative of the years we\u2019ve had and not taking it for granted.\u201d<\/h1>\n
While they\u2019ve been lucky enough to play with bands they grew up listening to, they\u2019ve also seen some depart for one reason or another. In various music circles bands can be \u201cin\u201d one day and \u201cout\u201d the next. It\u2019s a concept that Ben and his band mates are aware of; \u201cWe come from a scene that has a history, perhaps, of being quite fickle. Bands come and go quite fast. For us, we\u2019ve had a great year but if it all ends tomorrow, we\u2019re really appreciative of the years we\u2019ve had and not taking it for granted. It could all end just like that.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
While you get the impression As It Is<\/b> are very much living in the moment, such feelings are sharply brought into focus when Biss talks about meeting up with The Ghost Inside a day before their horrific crash: \u201cThat was weird for us,\u201d<\/i> says Ben. \u201cThe day before [that crash] a couple of us went to go and see them in Texas. We played and then went to that show. We drove off in the opposite direction and then that happened the next day. It was one of those moments that shocks you. We could of going in the opposite direction, so it makes you realise not to take anything for granted and really appreciate everyday even when a show is not good or whatever happens. It is really hard to get demoralised when there\u2019s a bad show because it is important to remember you\u2019re living the dream.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\u201cIt is really hard to get demoralised when there\u2019s a bad show because it is important to remember you\u2019re living the dream.\u201d<\/h1>\n
With the combination of chart and touring success, As It Is<\/b> are slowly becoming one of the gatekeepers to an ever-growing UK pop punk scene, something which struggled only a few years ago. Defunct bands like Save Your Breath served as an influence to the quintet yet Biss understands why a band sometimes has to call it a day; \u201cIt is always sad to see those bands go but in the same breath, I feel it\u2019s better for a band to know when the appropriate time to stop. Before the likes of Neck Deep, bands weren\u2019t breaking out of the UK. It wasn\u2019t really heard of. It was tough and now these bands are coming out of nowhere and getting signed to US labels.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the pop punk scene continues to thrive and not just in the UK. Having toured all around the world, As It Is<\/b> have come in contact with countless up-and-coming names such as Australia\u2019s With Confidence (\u201cI expect big things from them\u201d<\/i>) and Philadelphia\u2019s Greyscale (\u201cThey\u2019re just great songwriters.\u201d<\/i>) alongside UK peers Boston Manor, Milk Teeth and The Gospel Youth. Biss continues: \u201cIt\u2019s a good time for the scene. They will be some really good bands coming through (in 2016). I hoping it\u2019s not just UK bands but other places like Australia. There are some really good European bands coming out as well. Hopefully they can make it over to our shores, and America is very accepting of bands from overseas now. It\u2019s an open field.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Having now wrapped up a UK tour with Lower Than Atlantis, Biss is able to reflect on the past year and when asked about his stand out moments his two examples given put into perspective how far As It Is<\/b> have come in such little time. <\/p>\n
\u201cReading Festival was unbelievable. We walked on stage and the tent was packed. We were just blown away. I had a little cry afterwards. I\u2019m not ashamed to admit.\u201c<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThe other show, where again I had a little emotional moment, was our Tokyo show. It was a small 200 cap venue but we were literally as far away from home you could get. I think that for me is what bought it home. Those kids don\u2019t even speak your language and they\u2019re there singing along. The passion I felt at that show was an unbelievable for us.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n“We don\u2019t want to write a record about what it is like to be on the road, so we are going to really dig deep on this one.\u201d<\/h1>\n
You would think after over 180 shows in 12 months As It Is<\/b> are ready for a break. However that is not the case. \u201cWe\u2019re going to take a little bit of downtime and then start writing again\u201d<\/i> says an upbeat Biss. \u201cWe\u2019re very much a band that likes to block out a whole load of time, sit in a room together for weeks on end and write. We\u2019re going to take the same approach (as last time) and play together normally. We\u2019re pretty excited. We\u2019ve done so much touring this year, we\u2019re excited to get creative again and look to what is coming next.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
For a band of As It Is<\/b>\u2019 type and style, you can easily be misled to think they will produce ‘Never Happy, Ever After\u2019<\/i> part 2 but when asked what he had in mind for the bands writing sessions, Ben gave the impression that they are band willing to push themselves; \u201cWe\u2019re going to try some new things. We\u2019re definitely going to explore new lyrical content. I feel lyrically ‘Happy\u2019 was quite cohesive and captured a moment in mine and Patty\u2019s [Walters \u2013 lead vocalist) lives. We were new to being away from the people we loved, we weren\u2019t used to being on tour and away writing. That record captured all of that. We don\u2019t want to write a record about what it is like to be on the road, so we are going to really dig deep on this one.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
With 2015 in the history books, the next chapter for As It Is<\/b> seems to be one of promise and optimism. If one thing is for certain, they\u2019re not going to disappear anytime soon.<\/p>\n
‘Never Happy, Ever After\u2019<\/em> by As It Is<\/strong> is out now on Fearless Records<\/strong>.<\/p>\n As It Is<\/strong> links: Website<\/a>|Facebook<\/a>|Twitter<\/a>|Bandcamp<\/a><\/p>\n As It Is<\/b> will be supporting Sleeping With Sirens<\/b> on their UK tour alongside This Wild Life<\/b> and Beach Weather<\/b> soon.<\/p>\n February
\n29 O2 Academy, Bristol
\nMarch
\n01 Rock City, Nottingham
\n02 O2 Academy, Glasgow
\n04 O2 Apollo, Manchester
\n05 O2 Academy, Birmingham
\n06 Roundhouse, London<\/p>\n