American Authors is an American rock band based in New York City currently signed to Island Records. It currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Zac Barnett, lead guitarist and banjoist James Adam Shelley, bassist Dave Rublin, and drummer Matt Sanchez. They are best known for their hit singles "Believer" and "Best Day of My Life" from their debut albumOh, What a Life, as well as their top 20 hit, "Go Big or Go Home", from their second album, What We Live For.
History
2006–11: Early years
The members of American Authors met each other while attending Berklee College of Music in 2006. The quartet spent their first years in Boston recording and performing music under the name the Blue Pages and recorded Surrounded by Wolves, Bear Fight, Night Hawke, Anthropology and Rich With Love. In May 2010 the band opened up for Cash Cash on the Robots in High-Tops tour. In 2010, the band relocated to Brooklyn. On December 1, 2010, the Blue Pages independently released their single "Run Back Home" on iTunes.
2012–14: Name change, ''American Authors''
In 2012, the group changed their name to American Authors. In January 2013, the band was signed to Mercury Records. Their debut single, "Believer," garnered attention through alternative rock radio. American Authors released their self-titled debut EP on August 27, 2013. In 2013, American Authors won Overall Grand Prize in the 18th Annual USA Songwriting Competition with their song "Believer". The group was number nine on Billboard's chart of Top New Artists for 2014. In July 2015, the band was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and was featured on NBC's Today show hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb and broadcast nationally where they performed live their single "Best Day of My Life".
2015–present: ''What We Live For'' and ''Seasons''
From 2015 to 2016 they worked on their second album What We Live For. The band released their single "I Wanna Go Out" on August 3, 2017. The song is included as the fourth track of their third studio album, Seasons. They also released their Christmas song, "Coming Home to You," on November 19, 2017. In 2018, the band appeared in the Bar Rescue episode "Not Clear for Takeoff" when they did recon for The Airliner, and also performed at the bar's grand re-opening. The band released their single "Deep Water" on May 17, 2018, precluding their third studio album. In December, they announced the title of the third album Seasons, released on February 1, 2019. The third single from Seasons, "Say Amen", was released on November 16, 2018. The fourth single, "Neighborhood", was released on December 7, 2018. The fifth single, "Stay Around", was released on January 11, 2019. The eighth single from Seasons, "Bring It On Home", was featured in an official trailer for the American documentary film, The Biggest Little Farm on January 29, 2019. On January 17, 2020, the band released a new single titled "Microphone". On February 28, they released a song with Seeb titled "Best I Can".
In other media
Their song "Hit It" is featured on EA Sports game, FIFA 14. Their song "Best Day of My Life" was used in an MLB Fan Cave commercial and is the title music of Sky Sports News' My Special Day feature. It has also been featured in a television spot for the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, in an episode of the television show The Vampire Diaries and in 2013 Boston Red Sox World Series championships. The song was ranked number one on Billboard's chart of Adult Pop Songs for 2014. Their song "Home" was featured in a movie trailer for the movie This Is Where I Leave You and in a video honoring troops and their families. Their second single, "Best Day of My Life", was featured in, among other things, a Lowe's television advertisement in the United States, a Hyundai television advertisement in the United Kingdom, an advertisement in South Africa for Castle Lager, a Telecom New Zealand advertisement, a trailer for the film Delivery Man, Pro Evolution Soccer 2015, the Konami video game, the opening sequence for ESPN's 2013 World Series of Poker coverage, a trailer for the film Earth to Echo, a trailer for the film How to Train Your Dragon 2, the film Humpback Whales, and a trailer for the film St. Vincent. The song is also featured in the video game "Guitar Hero Live". The song was also used in an advert for Centerparcs in the UK. The song won the newly established Sync Music Award at the SESAC Pop Awards 2015. Their song "Go Big or Go Home" was featured in NBA videos showing highlights from the 2015 playoffs. They were featured in the show bar rescue as recon spies.
