New Politics (band)

Summary

New Politics is a Danish rock band from Copenhagen, formed in 2009. It currently consists of David Boyd, Søren Hansen, and Louis Vecchio.[2][3] The band's sound has been described as a blend of "punk, pop, and electronically induced dance rock".[2] They have released five albums: New Politics in 2010, A Bad Girl in Harlem in 2013, Vikings in 2015, Lost in Translation in 2017 and An Invitation to an Alternate Reality in 2019 and are best known for their singles "Yeah Yeah Yeah" and "Harlem".

New Politics
New Politics at the Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City in 2010. From left to right: Søren Hansen, Louis Vecchio, David Boyd.
New Politics at the Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City in 2010. From left to right: Søren Hansen, Louis Vecchio, David Boyd.
Background information
OriginCopenhagen, Denmark
Genres
Years active2009–present
LabelsWarner Bros., DCD2, RCA, Big Noise Music Group
Members
Past members
  • Poul Amaliel
Websitenewpoliticsmusic.com

History edit

After writing songs together for three years for their respective solo albums (which were never produced), Boyd and Hansen realized they had a group forming. In 2009, the duo sent two of their songs ("Stress" and "Money") in to the Danish National Radio P3's Karriere Kanonen ("Career Cannon") competition. Of the 973 bands that entered, New Politics was one of 42 selected to perform—despite not yet being an official band, and not having selected the final line-up. Boyd and Hansen hired Poul Amaliel to play drums. The new trio were among the top four winners and went on to play in a major music festival in Denmark.[4][5]

In November 2009, New Politics signed with RCA. After a brief UK tour, the trio went on to do a nationwide US tour.[4] Because of the group's new record deal with RCA, they decided to move to the United States. They currently reside in a loft apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York.[2][6]

The band performed at the South by Southwest festival in March 2010.[7] On 13 July 2010, they released their first album, the self-titled New Politics. It featured ten tracks, including their hit single "Yeah Yeah Yeah". An official video was filmed in New York City for this single. The album received a mixed review from Allmusic, who thought that the band's influences were too obvious.[8] They embarked on a 30-date tour of the US to promote the album,[5] and supported Thirty Seconds to Mars on the Into the Wild Tour in September and October 2010. They made a second video for their single, "Dignity", and released it on Myspace.com on 8 October 2010. Like "Yeah Yeah Yeah," this video was also filmed in New York City. In autumn of 2010, drummer Poul Amaliel left the band to return to Denmark.

On 26 November 2012, a song titled "Harlem" was promoted as the first single from their second album, A Bad Girl in Harlem, released on 21 May 2013.[9] In late 2013, New Politics' "Harlem" broke onto U.S. alternative radio, and would briefly impact contemporary hit radio in the United States later on. Harlem peaked at number four on the U.S. Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, making it their highest ranking song on any Billboard chart.

From 18 January – 15 May 2013, The trio toured along with American alternative rock duo Twenty One Pilots during the Winter and Spring portions of their Trips for Concerts 2013 tour. The band also served as the opening act for pop-punk band Fall Out Boy during their Save Rock and Roll Spring Tour from 28 May – 26 June 2013.[10] On 21 July 2013, New Politics performed "Harlem" at Guy Code Honors at Comic-Con. The band served as the opening act for Pink during her The Truth About Love Tour at select dates until 6 November 2013.[11][12]

In early 2014, New Politics kicked off their U.S. tour with openers Magic Man & Sleeper Agent. The tour spanned the first few months of 2014 and was their first-ever headlining tour. They opened for Fall Out Boy along with The Pretty Reckless for the European leg of the Save Rock and Roll tour in 2014. They were the opening act for the 2014 tour by Paramore and Fall Out Boy, Monumentour. On 22 September 2014, the band released a new single titled "Everywhere I Go (Kings & Queens)", the first single from their forthcoming album Vikings, under their new labels, DCD2 Records (formerly Decaydance) and Warner Bros. Records.[13] The band kicked off their headlining Everywhere I Go Tour with Bad Suns and SomeKindaWonderful on 14 Oct. in Washington, D.C. touring the US and Canada.

In April 2015, the band recorded their hit "Everywhere I Go" in a made-up language, Simlish, for the popular game 'The Sims 4', bringing them more popularity to a different demographic. On 5 May 2015, the band released "West End Kids" as the second single from Vikings and announced that the album would be released on 14 August 2015.[14] In October the band joined Andrew McMahon with special guests The Griswolds, as well as fellow DCD2 artist LOLO on 'The Wilderness Politics Tour'. It began in Seattle and ended in Philadelphia in November 2015. In early 2017, the band released the single "One Of Us" and is scheduled to tour the United States with band 311 during the summer.

On 2 August 2017, New Politics announced that their fourth studio album Lost in Translation would be released on 6 October 2017 and released a new single "CIA" the day after. They posted on Facebook that the new album would focus on life after touring and growing more successful, as well as describing the task of reinventing themselves through the tight bonds that they developed as bandmates over the years.[15] In support of the new album New Politics toured twice during the spring and fall of 2018 across North America.

In April 2019, New Politics had their tenth anniversary as a band. As teased on social media, the song "Comeback Kid" was released on 16 April 2019.

The band announced on 18 October 2019, that their fifth studio album, An Invitation to an Alternate Reality, will be released on 1 November 2019.[16]

Band members edit

Current members

  • David Boyd – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming (2009–present)
  • Søren Hansen – bass guitar, guitar, vocals, keyboards, programming (2009–present)
  • Louis Vecchio – drums, percussion, programming, backing vocals (2010–present)

Former members

  • Poul Amaliel – drums, percussion, bass guitar, backing vocals (2009–2010)

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

Year Album Label Chart peaks
US[17] US Heat[18] US Rock[19]
2010 New Politics
  • Release date: 13 July 2010
RCA Records 9
2013 A Bad Girl in Harlem
  • Release date: 21 May 2013
129 1 34
2015 Vikings
  • Release date: 14 August 2015
DCD2 Records/Warner Bros. Records[20] 129
2017 Lost In Translation
  • Release date: 6 October 2017
DCD2 Records/Warner Bros. Records
2019 An Invitation to an Alternate Reality
  • Release date: 1 November 2019[16]
Big Noise Music Group

Extended plays edit

  • Escape to Paradise (2020)

Singles edit

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Bub.

[21]
US Alt.
[22]
US Rock
[23]
US Adult
[24]
US Pop
[25]
"Yeah Yeah Yeah" 2010 16 45 New Politics
"Dignity" 29
"Harlem" 2013 10 4 21 39 34 A Bad Girl in Harlem
"Tonight You're Perfect" 16 23 19
"Everywhere I Go (Kings & Queens)" 2014 19 28 Vikings[26]
"West End Kids" 2015 25
"Girl Crush" 31
"One of Us" 2017 10 40 Lost in Translation
"CIA" 30
"Comeback Kid" 2019 39 Non-album single
"Ozone" An Invitation to an Alternate Reality
"Unstoppable" 2020 40
"Therapy" 30
"Holy Grail" Escape to Paradise
"Money Makes the World Go Round" (with Jaxson Gamble) 2023 Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References edit

  1. ^ "New Politics - New Politics | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ a b c Monger, James Christopher "New Politics Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 8 September 2010
  3. ^ Ryan, Chris (2011) "New Politics Get A New Drummer", MTV Buzzworthy Blog, 21 January 2011, retrieved 23 January 2011
  4. ^ a b "Getting to Know: New Politics". Blast: Boston's Online Magazine. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  5. ^ a b Glenesk, Matthew (2010) "New Politics' buzz just keeps building", ESPN, 14 July 2010, retrieved 8 September 2010
  6. ^ "New Politics Biography". The Official New Politics Site. Archived from the original on 20 June 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  7. ^ Jackson, Jill (2010) "New Politics Interview: SXSW 2010", Spinner, 23 February 2010, retrieved 8 September 2010
  8. ^ Sendra, Tim "New Politics Review", Allmusic, retrieved 8 September 2010
  9. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (20 May 2013). "Album Premiere: New Politics, 'A Bad Girl In Harlem'". MTV Buzzworthy. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  10. ^ Whitt, Cassie (3 May 2013). "NK, New Politics opening on Fall Out Boy's 'Save Rock And Roll' tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  11. ^ "New Politics - Thinking about changing our band name - what to do ..." The Official New Politics Site. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  12. ^ "P!nk". Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  13. ^ Montgomery, James (12 June 2014). "Pete Wentz Relaunches Decaydance Records". Rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  14. ^ Payne, Chris (29 July 2015). "New Politics Battle Fall Out Boy & Brendon Urie in 'Mortal Kombat'-Style 'West End Kids' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  15. ^ "New Politics". Facebook.com.
  16. ^ a b Staff (18 October 2019). "New Politics Announce New Album "An Invitation to an Alternate Reality", Share New Single "Ozone"". Aesthetic Magazine. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  17. ^ "New Politics Album & Song Chart History". Billboard 200 for New Politics.
  18. ^ "New Politics Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Heatseekers for New Politics.
  19. ^ "New Politics Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Top Rock Albums for New Politics.
  20. ^ Kuchik, Natalie (15 October 2014). "New Politics announce a new album 'Vikings'". AXS. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  21. ^ "New Politics: Harlem – Chart Performance: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  22. ^ "New Politics Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  23. ^ "New Politics Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Hot Rock Songs for New Politics.
  24. ^ "New Politics Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Adult Pop Songs for New Politics.
  25. ^ "New Politics Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Pop Songs for New Politics.
  26. ^ "The Alt In Our Stars Podcast: New Politics Preview New Album 'Vikings'". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2015.

External links edit

  • Official website