Happy Monday, readers!
Meet our Music Monday artist this week, X Ambassadors.
CelebSecrets4U caught up with band member Sam Harris to talk about all things music! In our interview, the “Renegades” singer talks about how the band is taking the alternative-rock world by storm, their new album VHS, and the message behind their hit single “Renegades.” Sam even revealed a secret fetish of band member Noah — make sure to read the Q&A below!
For more information on X Ambassadors, visit their official website at www.xambassadors.com. The band’s full-length debut album VHS is available now.
CS4U: You’ve been around for a couple of years now, but your music has really started to take off recently. What did it take to get you to where you are today?
“We’ve been playing music together since we were little kids, and we’ve never stopped. It’s taken a lot of patience and endurance– this is not an easy road we’ve decided to travel down, and there’s a lot of stopping and starting over again that happens.”
CS4U: Your music video for Renegades is so powerful. What was the message you were trying to send to your fans or anyone that happens to watch it?
“We wanted to do something very personal for the video. Casey has been blind since birth, which has affected our experience together as a band in so many different ways. As his younger brother, I look up to him a lot for everything he’s accomplished despite his disability, and we wanted to spotlight other disabled people who have been able to defy the odds and do incredible things.”
CS4U: You were nominated for a Teen Choice Award this year for best rock song. How did that feel?
“Pretty wild. That’s the first award we’ve ever been nominated for! Didn’t get a chance to actually be there though… :(”
CS4U: You’re currently on tour. How’s it going? What has been your favorite memory so far?
“Luckily, pretty much every show we’ve done has been great. It’s been a lot of fun to play the new stuff from VHS for people who’ve never heard it live before.”
CS4U: You released your album, VHS, this summer. What has the feedback been like? What can people who haven’t listened to your music yet expect from it?
“People seem to really love it. We’re lucky in that we’ve had multiple EP releases and have been touring for a while, so our fans have watched us grow and develop our sound. We feel like this album is us at our absolute best and most daring. We tried to make something that incorporated all of our sonic influences, with songwriting that was direct and very personal. Our fans seem to respond to the messages a lot.”
CS4U: Your song “Renegades” is in Madden: The Movie! How did that even happen? What did you think of the movie? Do you play the game?
“Noah and Adam are avid Madden fans. They were so stoked to find out it was in the trailer. We have another song, Superpower, that is actually in the game itself. We’ve had a good relationship with EA for a while now, and that’s always been the game we’ve been trying to get attached to with them. Casey and I don’t ever really play video games, but this one looks pretty sweet.”
CS4U: Since we are CelebSecrets4U, can you tell us some secrets about yourselves or each other that your fans might not know?
“Noah has an earlobe fetish! He loves touching everyone’s earlobes in the band. It’s pretty creepy. But we still love him. :)”
