Icon For Hire has released three full length albums: Scripted, Icon For Hire and YOU CAN'T KILL US.
Released in 2011, their first album Scripted shattered first-week sales becoming the highest new artist debut in Tooth & Nail Records history. The record debuted on the Billboard Top 200, at No. 4, on the iTunes Rock chart, and No. 19 on the iTunes overall albums chart.
Icon For Hire released their second full length self-titled album Icon For Hire in October 2013 on the Tooth and Nail label. Producer Mike Green (All Time Low, The Wanted, Pierce The Veil) was at the mixer to follow up their debut album, Scripted.
After spending a remarkable 18 months touring around the world, the group returned to their hometown of Decatur, IL to write their new record. Icon For Hire is set to push the boundaries of music and fashion far beyond their debut. According to the guitarist, Shawn Jump, “We wrote and dreamed about this record away from everything. We needed a safe place where we could all get to “spirit,” and maximize our different influences.” Added drummer, Adam Kronshagen, “There’s been undeniable friction in the songwriting process. We love knowing that you will definitely hear the element of conflict inside of every song we wrote.
The band's video, “Off With Her Head,” received 200k views its first week. Frontwoman and fashion designer, Ariel, worked with the team for weeks to create an avant-garde interpretation of the hit song. The group spent two days in Compton, CA (South Los Angeles) filming the video with a variety of the hottest underground artists.
Icon For Hire moved towards a new chapter of the band in 2016. Adam Kronshagen left the band to spend more time with his family coupled with a split with their record label Tooth & Nail the band decided to go it alone, or so it seemed. The band put together a plan for a kick starter project backed by their own fans. The kick starter reached its target in a matter of days. The album YOU CAN'T KILL US was released in stages throughout the year to those who have backed the kick starter project and there were physical copies on sale in December 2016 when it was completed.
On October 23, 2018, the band uploaded a video to their YouTube channel titled "Supposed To Be Acoustic Sessions Video Teaser", announcing their first video session to come soon, as well as that the Still Can't Kill Us: The Acoustic Sessions album would be released on December 7. The band released their "Supposed to Be" Acoustic Video on October 26, their "Get Well II" Acoustic Video on November 8, and "Demons" Acoustic Video on November 23. The tracks were also uploaded to Spotify as singles. A new album The Reckoning was released in September 2022.
Ariel Bloomer - Vocals,
Shawn Jump - Guitar,
Adam Kronshagen - Drums,
Josh Kincheloe - Bass.
Enemies
Icon for Hire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One step, two steps back and forth
It's a dance we do i know all the moves
Three, two, one, they're back for more
I give them names anxiety wants to play
Panic will be here soon
We've got lots of things to do
They depend on me to feed them
They follow me around (Follow me around)
I don't have the heart to end it
Guess we're kind of codepеndent
With friends like thеse who needs enemies?
Will I ever learn?
Looks like I prefer to pick
The devil that I know
And so I keep my enemies close
And I collect them all look at them all
We make quite a crew
There's depression, addiction
And we've got lots of room for you
But it's costing me killing me constantly
Parasites, come spend the night
And you can stay as long as you like
And I've tried to be nice
But they're bleeding me dry
Here's some advice
Don't feed your vices or they'll
Love you for life (Love you for life)
I make friends with all my demons
They depend on me to feed them
They follow me around (Follow me around)
I don't have the heart to end it
Guess we're kind of codependent
With friends like these who needs enemies?
Enemies who needs enemies?
Enemies who needs?
On Wednesdays, we wear hazmat suit's
And walk the city streets
Smile at everyone we meet
We're delightful when we wanna be
Soon, you'll hear us knocking on your door
We could always use one more
We came here to cheer you up
Do you wanna play with us?
(Do you wanna play with us?)
I make friends with all my demons
They depend on me to feed them
They follow me around (Follow me around)
I don't have the heart to end it
Guess we're kind of codependent
With friends like these who needs enemies?
Enemies who needs enemies?
Enemies who needs enemies?
The lyrics of Icon for Hire's song "Enemies" explore the theme of self-destructive behavior and the toxic relationships that can be formed with one's own inner demons. The song begins by describing the repetitive nature of this destructive dance, where the singer takes a step forward but then takes two steps back, trapped in a cycle of negative emotions. The singer personifies their demons as anxiety and panic, acknowledging that they have become familiar companions. The lyrics suggest that these demons have names and are always present, demanding attention and control.
The chorus reveals that the singer has formed a strange bond with their inner demons. They have befriended them and have become codependent. The demons rely on the singer to sustain their power, as they feed off the negative energy and emotions. The singer admits to being unable to end this relationship, even though it is detrimental to their well-being. The lyrics imply that it is the familiarity with these demons that keeps them close, even though they are destructive forces.
The second verse suggests that the singer continues to choose the familiar path, even though it may not be in their best interest. They prefer to keep their enemies, symbolized by their demons, close rather than seek a healthier alternative. The singer admits to collecting more enemies, such as depression and addiction, indicating a pattern of self-harm and self-sabotage. This behavior continues to take a toll on the singer, mentally and emotionally.
The bridge introduces a kind of twisted ritual that the singer and their demons engage in. They wear hazmat suits on Wednesdays, symbolic of their readiness to engage with the outside world. This ritual represents a façade they put on, pretending to be happy and cheerful, when in reality, they carry the weight of their demons within. They invite others to join their destructive path, portraying a sense of camaraderie, but ultimately perpetuating the cycle of self-destruction.
Overall, the lyrics of "Enemies" highlight the singer's struggle with their inner demons and the toxic relationship they have formed with them. Through the personification of anxiety, panic, depression, and addiction, the song suggests that these demons have become their constant companions. The singer acknowledges the harm caused by these relationships but feels trapped and unable to break free, ultimately questioning the need for external enemies when they have already become their own worst enemy.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we go again do-si do again
We are repeating the same cycle once more
One step, two steps back and forth
We keep moving in a repetitive pattern, never making progress
It's a dance we do i know all the moves
We are familiar with this destructive pattern and know how to navigate it
Three, two, one, they're back for more
The negative thoughts and emotions are returning
I give them names anxiety wants to play
I personify my anxiety, giving it a form and power over me
Panic will be here soon
Feelings of panic are approaching
We've got lots of things to do
There are many issues and struggles to deal with
I make friends with all my demons
I have formed a bond with my inner demons
They depend on me to feed them
My demons rely on me to fuel their existence
They follow me around (Follow me around)
My demons are constantly present in my life
I don't have the heart to end it
I cannot bring myself to let go of these demons
Guess we're kind of codependent
We have an unhealthy reliance on each other
With friends like these who needs enemies?
If my own demons are causing me so much harm, I don't need any external enemies
Will I ever learn?
Will I ever break free from this destructive cycle?
Looks like I prefer to pick
It seems that I consciously choose
The devil that I know
To stick with the familiar pain and struggle
And so I keep my enemies close
I intentionally stay connected to my inner demons
And I collect them all look at them all
I have accumulated various destructive forces within myself
We make quite a crew
Together, we form a powerful and destructive team
There's depression, addiction
Among my inner demons are feelings of depression and struggles with addiction
And we've got lots of room for you
There is space for more negativity and struggles in my life
But it's costing me, killing me constantly
This attachment to my inner demons is causing great harm and slowly destroying me
Parasites, come spend the night
Negative thoughts and emotions are invited to stay and thrive
And you can stay as long as you like
There is no limit to how long these destructive forces can stay within me
And I've tried to be nice
I have attempted to be kind and accommodating towards my demons
But they're bleeding me dry
They are draining me emotionally and mentally
Here's some advice
I have some wisdom to offer
Don't feed your vices or they'll
Do not give in to your negative habits or they will
Love you for life (Love you for life)
Have a lasting hold on your life and constantly cause harm
On Wednesdays, we wear hazmat suits
We dress defensively to protect ourselves
And walk the city streets
We venture out into the world
Smile at everyone we meet
We put on a facade of happiness and positivity
We're delightful when we wanna be
We can appear pleasant and enjoyable when we choose to
Soon, you'll hear us knocking on your door
We will invade your life and bring our troubles to you
We could always use one more
We are always seeking more negativity and struggles to add to our collection
We came here to cheer you up
We arrived with the intention of causing you distress
Do you wanna play with us?
Do you want to join in our destructive dance?
Enemies who needs enemies?
When we constantly battle our own inner demons, who needs external enemies?
Enemies who needs enemies?
When we are surrounded by internal struggles, who needs additional enemies?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: AMY V. A. JUMP, SHAWN M. JUMP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind