December 20, 2024
TikTok sensation Alex Warren has officially entered the Billboard Hot 100 with his new single, Burning Down, marking a significant milestone in his transition from social media star to music artist...
Read more
December 20, 2024
Ed Sheeran: a name synonymous with heartfelt lyrics, soul-stirring melodies, and a remarkable journey of turning personal stories into global anthems. From humble beginnings in Halifax, West...
Read more
December 20, 2024
The highly anticipated Wicked movie adaptation has not only reignited excitement for the beloved Broadway musical but has also become a cultural sensation, making waves in the music and film...
Read more
December 20, 2024
Bruno Mars is no stranger to collaborating with some of the biggest names in the music industry, and his recent projects with Lady Gaga and Rosé have cemented his role as a genre-blending hitmaker...
Read more
December 20, 2024
In an era where pop music often celebrates perfection, Conan Gray has emerged as a beacon of authenticity. With his introspective lyrics, haunting melodies, and relatable vulnerability, Conan has...
Read more
December 20, 2024
In every team, there’s always that one person who becomes the heart and soul of the group. For many, that person is Boss Man Dlo. Whether you’ve heard his name shouted across courts, mentioned in...
Read more
December 8, 2024
Kesha is back, and she’s making a powerful statement with her latest single, Delusional. The track, released today, marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for the pop icon, blending her...
Read more
December 8, 2024
In the ever-evolving world of pop music, Nessa Barrett has emerged as a powerful force who isn’t afraid to express the rawest parts of herself. From her early days as a social media personality to...
Read more
December 8, 2024
Lola Young has quickly become one of the most exciting new voices in the UK music scene. With her soulful voice, poetic lyrics, and unapologetic presence, she is reshaping the boundaries of soul...
Read more
December 8, 2024
Born in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, in 1981, Alicia Keys emerged as a powerful force in the music industry just two decades later. Her debut album, *Songs in A Minor*, released in 2001 on RCA Records...
Read more
December 8, 2024
In the ever-evolving world of music, only a select few artists possess the vision and talent to transcend genres and redefine industry standards. Among these trailblazers stands The Weeknd, whose...
Read more
Photo credit: Unclear Magazine
Before the invention of TikTok, many music artists gained popularity through YouTube. However, similar to the TikTok stars of today, people in the music industry saw ‘YouTube bands’ as lesser because of how they became popular. Against the Current is one such band.
Who is Against the Current? Against the Current (ATC) is an American pop-rock band that formed in 2011. The current members include Chrissy Costanza on vocals, Will Ferri on drums, and Dan Gow on guitar. Since their formation, they’ve released two full-length albums and many singles. They’ve also had the chance to collaborate with Riot Games for three different League of Legends championships.
For the first few years after its formation, ATC focused on its YouTube presence. Their videos included both their original music as well as covers of famous songs. These covers were often collaborations between other YouTube musicians, like Alex Goot.
All of this proved successful. In fact, they became so popular that by 2015 they signed to the record label Fueled By Ramen. Other artists Fueled by Ramen have worked with include Paramore and Twenty One Pilots. After signing, ATC released their second EP “Gravity,” and, subsequently, went on a tour through Europe, North America, and Asia.
.png)
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
ATC’s success didn’t come without problems, of course. People in the traditional industry often looked down on them. Not because of the music they made, but because of where they made it. ATC, like many YouTube bands, was not considered a “real band” because of its online presence.
These criticisms didn’t stop once they had a record label, nor when they went on their four-month tour.
Others didn’t like that ATC was playing sold-out shows, even if the places were small venues. “They thought we needed to pay our dues, to play to 30 people a night,” says Costanza during an interview. She then points out that they have played those kinds of shows before, but that didn’t matter to other bands.
ATC thought they would catch a break when they were invited to the Warped Tour traveling punk festival in 2016. That wasn’t the case. During the festival, ATC ran into multiple bands that said this tour was a chance for ATC to play for real and ‘earn their cred.’
In the band’s interview, Costanza admits that it was frustrating to have the band’s achievements dismissed and looked down on over and over again. All because people didn’t like “how [they] did things.”
And this trend continues with TikTok stars today. Costanza believes that the content industry gets so much criticism because people “hate what they don’t understand.”
Despite the criticism, ATC is still thriving today, both online and offline.
What can we learn from ATC’s past?
Well, just because someone’s journey is different from the norm, that doesn’t mean their method is any less valid. Maybe, you can even learn something from them to help your own journey.
If you’d like to listen to Against the Current, check out their latest music video at the link below!
