Formation and Early Years (2000 – 2001)
Emery formed in 2001 in Rock Hill, South Carolina but moved to Seattle, Washington in search of a better musical environment. The band was named after a first grader that Toby Morrell met while working as an intern for a teacher in college. The four members in the band at the time, Toby Morrell (vocals/guitar), Devin Shelton (drums), Matt Carter (guitar/keyboards), and Joel "Chopper" Green (bass) actually left Rock Hill, South Carolina for Seattle on September 11, the day of the terrorist attacks; they found out about the attacks when they stopped at a local diner in South Carolina. Most of the members are from the bands Sachul, Joe 747, Simply Waynes and Oogie Brown. After a little while Seth Studley, who was one of the original members of the band, broke out of a serious relationship and followed them to Seattle and resumed his post as drummer. Since Seth took over drums, Devin went ahead and took the position of guitarist.
The Weak's End (2002 – 2004)
After making Emerald City their new home in Seattle, Washington, Emery signed a record deal with Tooth & Nail Records, also of Seattle, in 2002. Wasting no time, Emery paired up with producer/engineer Ed Rose and worked on their debut album, The Weak's End. It was produced at the Black Lodge Studio in Eudora, Kansas. The record was released in January 2004 by Tooth & Nail Records. Emery toured extensively to promote their new release.
The Question (2005 – 2006)
While touring, Seth Studley decided to leave the band in order to get married and Emery had to look for a new drummer. While touring with Haste the Day, Dave Powell was brought out to audition. Powell was officially put in the band on November 2005. Powell originally played in the Indianapolis-based metalcore/hardcore band The Bowels of Judas.
Soon after touring, Emery went back into the studio to record their next record with production done by Aaron Sprinkle this time around. The band took five weeks in recording sessions. The Question was released on August 2, 2005. "Studying Politics" was released as the album's first single with a video emerging on June 29, 2005. On November 21, 2006, Emery re-released The Question, adding a DVD, five acoustic versions of previously recorded songs and two new demo tracks, which were produced by Matt Carter. The DVD included a documentary film of Emery, live songs and bonus footage.
After the re-release, Joel "Chopper" Green decided to leave the band. On September 19, 2006, Emery posted a blog on their website explaining the departure. Devin and Toby since then switched bass parts in concerts and in the studio.
I'm Only A Man (2007 – 2008)
While touring with Underoath in Australia, Emery announced that they were releasing a new album. The album, I'm Only A Man, leaked onto the internet before its official release on October 2, 2007. The album was produced by Ryan Boesch and Matt Carter and recorded at Dark Horse Studio in Tennessee. It received mixed reviews. Emery released a deluxe edition of the album as well, which featured four acoustic songs that were recorded while on the Take Action Tour with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and DVD with a live footage and a documentary. The iTunes version of the deluxe edition also added a bonus track called "Whoa! Man".
While Broken Hearts Prevail and ...In Shallow Seas We Sail (2008 – 2010)
Emery announced in an interview on TVU that they finished a new 8-track EP entitled While Broken Hearts Prevail, which was released on October 28, 2008. They began premiering some of the new material while on tour opening for The Almost, including a song entitled "Edge Of The World".
In an interview with Toby Morrell, Emery announced that would be releasing a new album called ...In Shallow Seas We Sail. Up until the announcement of Emery resigning to Tooth & Nail Records, it was unsure if the band would seek a new label, since their contract had expired. They re-signed with Tooth & Nail and soon gave out information on their new release.
On April 7, 2009, Emery released a new song entitled "Cutthroat Collapse" on their Myspace, Purevolume, and iTunes. On May 29, 2009, Emery put ...In Shallow Seas We Sail in its entirety up on their Myspace. On June 2, 2009, ...In Shallow Seas We Sail was officially released.
During their headlining U.S. tour, Emery had selected dates filmed for a DVD in the works. The release date is unknown at this time. Emery set out on tour supporting Underoath on their fall/winter headlining tour for the rest of the year. In the summer of 2010 they went on the "Scream it Like You Mean it" tour with Silverstein, Ivoryline, Dance Gavin Dance, We Came as Romans, Sky Eats Airplane, and I Set My Friends On Fire.
We Do What We Want (2011- 2012)
On January 26, 2011 it was announced that the band's fifth album We Do What We Want is set to be released on March 29, 2011. The band also released a clip of a song titled "Scissors". Another song titled "The Curse of Perfect Days" has been released to Christian rock radio stations.
On January 31, 2011, vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and bassist Devin Shelton announced he was taking an "indefinite hiatus" from Emery.
On February 1, 2011 a song titled "The Cheval Glass" was released on the band's Facebook, Youtube and Myspace page. On February 17, 2011, the band announced that We Do What We Want would be released through both Tooth & Nail and their hardcore/metal subdivision Solid State Records reflecting the heavier sound of the album.
In 2012, Toby Morrell and Matt Carter formed a side project duo, simply called Matt & Toby, with a more acoustic/electronic type sound. The duo released a self-titled album in November of that year via Tooth & Nail.
Bad Christian Music (2013 - present)
In 2013 Emery did not resign with Tooth & Nail records, subsequently leaving the label. Later that year, they founded Bad Christian Music, a blog & podcast website, as well as an indie record label.
In 2014, the band released two books, Bad Christian, Great Savior, and The M Word.
On May 19th, 2015 Emery released their sixth full length album, their first album via Bad Christian Music, You Were Never Alone. The album peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on Top Christian Albums, No. 6 on Independent Albums, No. 8 on Alternative Music[ No. 10 on Top Rock Albums and No. 31 on Top Album Sales.
Bands such as Abandon Kansas and The Classic Crime have also joined the artist roster of Bad Christian Music.
Members
Toby Morrell: lead vocals, guitar
Matt Carter: guitar, aggressive vocals
Josh Head: keyboard, vocals, aggressive vocals
Dave Powell: drums
Former Members
Devin Shelton: guitar, lead vocals (on indefinite hiatus now)
Seth Studley: drums
Joel Green: bass
Joey Svendsen: bass
As Your Voice Fades
Emery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What am I suppose to do?
You died and I'm here
Thinking that I hear your voice,
But it's somebody else
It's always somebody else
Why did you die?
Don't leave me please
I'll never sleep without
The dreams of you alive here with me
The brightness left your eyes
As I held your face
Don't tell me it's the right time
And your last words will sustain me
Until my end...until I see you again
White words (your life) evade me (but a moment)
I'll wait to (I'll cling to) remember you (forever)
And what you had (your words) meant to me (on my blood)
Could never be forgotten
The chains (why) of death (don't take)
Are falling (away), but my heart still bleeds
It longs for (why) the day (did you die)
When we will be as one
The lyrics to Emery's song As Your Voice Fades are a heartfelt and poignant reflection of the singer's feelings of loss and grief. The opening lines express the confusion and helplessness felt after the death of a loved one: "Somebody please tell me / What am I supposed to do?" The singer is struggling to come to terms with the fact that their loved one is gone and will never return. The sense of longing is emphasized in the lines "You died and I'm here / Thinking that I hear your voice, / But it's somebody else / It's always somebody else." This highlights the singer's desperate desire to hold on to the memory of their loved one, even if it is just an echo or a resemblance.
The singer pleads to know why their loved one died and begs for them not to leave. They are desperately searching for peace and closure in their grief, praying for "God tonight bring me peace." Despite their grief, the singer finds solace in the memories of their loved one and the dreams of them still alive. They recall the moment when their loved one passed away and the brightness left their eyes, and they cling to the last words their loved one spoke, knowing they will sustain them until they are reunited again in death. The final lines express the singer's longing for the day they will be reunited with their loved one, and the hope that the "chains of death" will fall away and they will be together once more.
Overall, As Your Voice Fades is a moving tribute to the pain of losing a loved one and the struggle to find closure and peace in the aftermath. The lyrics capture the complex emotions of grief and the ways in which we try to hold on to the memories of those we have lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody please tell me
I am in a state of confusion and uncertainty, and I need someone to help me make sense of what has happened.
What am I suppose to do?
I am lost and don't know how to move forward in life without you.
You died and I'm here
Your death has left me alone and struggling to cope with life without you.
Thinking that I hear your voice,
I often hear your voice in my head, which brings me comfort but also deepens my pain.
But it's somebody else
Although I yearn to hear your voice, I know that I can never truly hear it again.
Why did you die?
I am consumed by thoughts of why you had to die, and I can't seem to find any answers.
Don't leave me please
I am scared of being alone without you and losing the memories we shared.
I beg you God tonight bring me peace
I am praying to God for peace and comfort to ease my pain and help me move forward.
I'll never sleep without
I am haunted by your memory and can't imagine ever living without you by my side.
The dreams of you alive here with me
I find solace in dreams where you are still alive, and it hurts to wake up to reality.
The brightness left your eyes
I saw the light in your eyes fade away as your life slipped away, and it broke my heart.
As I held your face
I held your face in my hands as you took your last breath, and it's a memory that I can never forget.
Don't tell me it's the right time
I can't accept that your death happened at the right time or for a greater purpose, as it feels senseless to me.
And your last words will sustain me
I derive comfort from the words you said to me before you died, as they are the last connection I have with you.
Until my end...until I see you again
I know that I will carry your memory and love with me until the end of my life, and I hope to reunite with you someday.
White words (your life) evade me (but a moment)
Although your life was rich and full of meaning, I struggle to remember everything about it in the present moment.
I'll wait to (I'll cling to) remember you (forever)
I will cherish your memory forever, and I will do all that I can to hold onto it and keep it alive.
And what you had (your words) meant to me (on my blood)
Your words were everything to me, and they are etched into my soul and being.
Could never be forgotten
I could never forget the impact you had on my life and the love you gave me.
The chains (why) of death (don't take)
I am resisting the grip of death and its power over me, as I am not ready to let go of you yet.
Are falling (away), but my heart still bleeds
Although I am beginning to heal from the initial pain of your death, my heart still aches for you.
It longs for (why) the day (did you die)
I am tormented by the question of why you had to die, and I long for a resolution that will give me peace.
When we will be as one
I hold onto the hope that one day we will be reunited and together again, and nothing will ever separate us again.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
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