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

The Terrible Secret
Emery Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pave these streets with open arms
It's always you we're waiting on
The skin, the taste, the drug, the need
I'm asking, telling you, don't leave
Erase the lines that we have drawn
It's always you we're waiting on
And waiting on and waiting on
And on and on and on and on

These are our words, we built these vows
But all the letters of the alphabet could never spell it out
These hopes and dreams that we tap through
To cling to something that is bigger than the veil that tips at you

Wait wait wait, I don't want to see
Wait wait wait, I am not the person anyone would want to be

The perfect shoes with matching clothes
It is the lie we're always told
And nothing masks the shallow touch
By saying words that cost so much
While you're an addict to the need
To find yourself a way to breathe
The sex, the purge, the pain, the book
To reflex feelings that we took

These are our words, we built these vows
But all the letters of the alphabet could never spell it out
These hopes and dreams that we tap through
To cling to something that is bigger than the veil that tips at you

Perfection, it's perfection
But never quiet enough, and never could disguise
The truths to make it stain the wanting in your eyes
The morning that you've spent, but you're still an accident

We are more than words that fill our mouths
Drink with us then tell us the answers that we need

These are our words, we built these vows
But all the letters of the alphabet could never spell it out
These hopes and dreams that we tap through
To cling to something that is bigger than the veil that tips at you

Wait wait wait, I don't want to see
Wait wait wait, I am not the person anyone would want to be

Waiting here til you leave

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Emery's song The Terrible Secret deal with the search for something more meaningful in life, beyond the mundane and shallow aspects of our society. The opening lyrics set the stage - the singer yearns for a deeper connection with someone, to erase the lines that draw us apart and unite in a profound way. However, addiction to different things, whether it be to drugs, sex, or simply the need to chase after something bigger, prevents us from achieving this connection. We try to cling to our hopes and dreams, building our own vows, but in the end, they are just words and cannot fully express what we truly want.

The chorus emphasizes this point, with the repeated phrase "These are our words, we built these vows, but all the letters of the alphabet could never spell it out." This realization of the inadequacy of language highlights our need to truly connect with each other, and the frustration we feel when we cannot achieve this. The second verse continues this theme, with the notion that what we believe to be perfection is never enough to hide our true desires, and we are left feeling like accidents in the end.

The song presents a bleak outlook on the search for connection and meaning, with the repeated lines "wait wait wait, I don't want to see, I am not the person anyone would want to be" underscoring the futility of it all. However, the final line of the song offers a spark of hope, with the invitation to drink with each other and find the answers we seek.

Line by Line Meaning

Pave these streets with open arms
We welcome you with open arms

It's always you we're waiting on
You are our priority

The skin, the taste, the drug, the need
Obsessed with physical pleasures

I'm asking, telling you, don't leave
Please don't abandon us

Erase the lines that we have drawn
Let's ignore our differences

And on and on and on and on
This issue won't go away

These are our words, we built these vows
We made promises to each other

But all the letters of the alphabet could never spell it out
Words can't capture the depth of our feelings

To cling to something that is bigger than the veil that tips at you
We find hope in something larger than our current struggles

Wait wait wait, I don't want to see
I can't bear to witness this

Wait wait wait, I am not the person anyone would want to be
I feel like a failure