Emery is an American four-piece alternative rock band from Rock Hill, South… Read Full Bio ↴Emery is an American four-piece alternative rock band from Rock Hill, South Carolina, currently working under their own indie label, Bad Christian Music. Emery moved to Seattle, Washington in order to reach a more music centered scene. The band resists being labeled a "Christian band". Before signing with Tooth & Nail, Emery recorded 2 EP's, The Columbus EEP Thee and The Weak's End demo that they used to attract attention from labels. With Tooth & Nail, they have recorded 4 studio albums, and 2 EPs. The Weak's End, their debut album, was released in 2004, followed by The Question in 2005 and I'm Only A Man in 2007. The latter fulfilled Emery's contract with Tooth & Nail. However, the band re-signed with the label and released In Shallow Seas We Sail on June 2, 2009. The band's most recent album, We Do What We Want, was released on March 29, 2011.

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

Shift
Emery Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You said wait for me by the phone booth
Where we used to meet before school
You had something that you wanted to say
About moving planets and coming round again
How did we waste such time and energy

This will ruin everything

Just like my dream
I caught your hand
waiting on arms of the part i cant stand
But I still wave to you
Aw but i still wave to you

I cant find my heart
(saved for you)
I cant find my heart
(saved for you)
I cant find my heart
(saved for you)
I cant find my heart

The same steps
I waited to hear the right words
The words that i'd say to
But it was something you wanted to say about moving planets and coming round again
How can we waste such time and energy

This will ruin everything
This will ruin everything...

This will ruin everything...

Saved for you.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Shift" by Emery tell a story of lost love and missed chances. The song opens up with an invitation - "You said wait for me by the phone booth, where we used to meet before school." This line instantly sets the tone of nostalgia and longing. The singer reminisces about the times they spent waiting by the phone booth with their lover. However, the past is not all sunshine and rainbows. The lyrics describe "wasting time and energy" which suggests a relationship that wasn't perfect.

As the song progresses, the singer mentions catching their lover's hand and waiting on something they can't stand. This can be interpreted as the singer holding onto their lover even though they know the relationship isn't right.

The line "But I still wave to you" is interesting because it could be seen as the singer waving goodbye to their lover, yet at the same time, it could be interpreted as a friendly gesture, suggesting that even though the relationship may be over, there is still some affection there.

The repetition of the line "I can't find my heart (saved for you)" emphasizes the singer's attachment to their lover, despite the fact that they are no longer together. The fact that the heart is "saved for you" is a poignant reminder that even though the singer may be moving on, they will always hold a special place in their heart for their former lover.

Line by Line Meaning

You said wait for me by the phone booth
You had asked me to wait for you by the phone booth

Where we used to meet before school
That was the place where we had met before school

You had something that you wanted to say
You had something important to tell me

About moving planets and coming round again
It was about the cyclical nature of life

How did we waste such time and energy
We've been wasting a lot of our time and energy

This will ruin everything
This situation will result in complete disaster

Just like my dream
This situation is like a dream, but not in a good way

I caught your hand
I held onto your hand

waiting on arms of the part i cant stand
I was waiting in the area that I dislike

But I still wave to you
Even though I was feeling negative, I still waved to you

I cant find my heart
I'm having trouble finding my emotions