Anberlin's 'Pray Tell' Début

After hearing the song about twenty times in a row, I can share that Brazil's undeniable love for Anberlin must have some influence on the creation of this unnatural Anberlin song. Being a fan since the SaGoh 24/7 days, joy consumes my ears, brain and soul hearing "Pray Tell."

A little Caribbean and a little Carnival influence clearly makes this song an unique and classic jam for the boys in Anberlin. From Blueprints for the Black Market, Never Take Friendships Personal, Cities, Lost Songs, New Surrender, and most recently, Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place - Anberlin's growth is incredibly rewarding as a fan and fellow musician, especially since these are sounds we have been exploring and embracing for many years ourselves.

I honestly cannot wait until Stephen Christian begins cutting Spanish or Portuguese versions of their songs. It would be a perfect addition to their repertoire.

Hopefully, I will not get in trouble for this, but the world has to hear this amazing song in its entirety.

Enjoy Anberlin's free downloadable release from their upcoming album Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place (September 7) "Pray Tell."

Pray Tell by 48StatesAway

Make sure to pick up a copy of Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place online or at your favorite music store this September 7, 2010.

Music is the railroad that keeps mankind getting into the places they need to be.

Alex Santiago

48StatesAway

@48StatesAway

'We Owe This To Ourselves' by Anberlin

So like a good, long-time fan of the band, I got to see the Twitter/TwitVid only release of “We Owe This To Ourselves.”

It is a fantastically written song and it more than brings the rock. But unlike most of Stephen’s lyrics, I am having a really hard time understanding what this song is about.

My first thought is the obvious, Anberlin, as a band, are content with major success and are telling their fans to stop calling them sellouts because they signed to a major.

But then again, I have not heard, nor read, a single negative piece of news or comments around the Web. People really like this band and their old fans, like ourselves (48 States Away), still adore them, if not more.

Not because they are signed with a major and have singles all over the radio, but because now they have more space and time to grow as musicians and bring incredible material to the masses, like “We Owe This To Ourselves.”

So, why am I writing this?

I would really like to create a conversation about what in the world this song means because I read this album was going to be “darker” and this song sounds like an epic festive song.

Either way, here is the video released by the band, which may I add is a fantastic production from one of their live shows in Tennessee, I believe. Something I had not seen them do in the past.

If the song means what I think it means, then more power to Anberlin. And yes, yes you do.

I just feel like there is something bigger hiding in there, and I cannot decipher the bigger meaning. Perhaps, if for whatever reason someone in the band or close to the band reads this, they can share with all of us what the songs means to Stephen and the band as a whole.

Peace, my friends.

Alex

@48StatesAway

'Say Hello' Demo. Alex's First Demo, Which Later Led To 48StatesAway

Say Hello 2006 by 48StatesAway

Early this morning, I gave myself a sweet surprise. I am assuming my son found this CD because I had not seen in years, but to my delight, it was a CD with many of my old demos and original Integral X Bar beats.

"Say Hello" was the first song I ever recorded, not wrote, but recorded. It was meant to be a lullaby for a friend at Florida Southern College who was having a really hard time during her senior year. After the boys (Clint and Raf) heard it, and a few others you will hear later in the summer, 48 States Away was born.

Why is this so special to me?

The original CD actually was destroyed. I found it a few years ago, but it was broken in half. (I still have it because of its meaning.) So, finding a working CD with the song in it made me very, very happy earlier this morning.

If you have heard the Integra X Bar version before, you will notice the original song has slightly different lyrics and structure. We changed it for the album version since we did not, and do not have, a lead guitarist. Plus, it was an electronica album, so it made no sense.

Either way, it makes me very happy to hear this simple and different version of one of my favorite songs I have ever written. Hopefully, everyone reading this will enjoy it as much as I do.

Share your love, say hello to yourself and say hello to the world. Everyone who smiles at the world will quickly realize the difference it will bring to their lives and to others.

Love,

Alex S.

@48StatesAway

Ten Demo. One Mic, One Alex.

Ten by 48StatesAway

A couple of months ago, while my son was taking his nap, I threw an old 57 in the middle of my living room and began recording demos.

For the past month, people have been really enjoying this song, so I figured I would share it with those reading this blog or following us around the Internet.

If this blog catches on, I will be sharing other demos all summer since we will be taking a long hiatus because of my summer internship in San Francisco.

Until then, spread the love. Hug a random person, kiss a friend and make love to your significant other...

Peace and balance,


Alexis
48StatesAway

Paramore's Hayle Williams (@yelyahwilliams) Topless

The power of Twitter has once more brought some serious shame and attention to the celebrity world and public.

Just a few hours ago, @ActionPhoebe, from @BackstageSirens, posted a topless photo of Hayle Williams, lead singer of the rock band Paramore, with "Paint" airbrush all over.

(http://tweetphoto.com/24288117)

This was used by the rock marketing vixen, but I was not aware this was happening at the time the photo hit the Net--TwitPic to be exact.

In her Twitter page, Hayley stated, "well... my night just changed drastically. got hacked."

As a mass communications person, I find this incredible because of the speed of the news spreading. But as a hard working music/band person, I honestly feel bad for her and the band because I know the TMZs of the world and Net are going to eat this up. And, this could potentially ruin her career since her image has been so attractive and important within their fan base.

It kind of sucks this talented singer was hacked and exposed by a maniac who probably had nothing else to do tonight. Not cool. Not cool at all.

If for whatever reason, anyone involved with her and/or her team reads this, I want to share--like many others have on Twitter--that we fully support her. Her actions were private and her sexuality is nothing but her own. Whomever hacked her computer and accounts had no rights, just like a rapist has no right of attacking a person because of the way they looked.

That photo was hers and hers only and that move was not fair at all.

Full love. Full support.

48StatesAway

@48StatesAway

Toyota: Rock the Space 2

So, I have not posted too many blogs here because we are not playing out too much. But, we are playing and writing more than ever! Oxymoronic, huh?

Anyway, we were just added to this cool online competition on My Space, and I wanted to ask those of you who stumbled here to show us some love and vote. This could really help us get out music out, so we can make enough money to get US out.

The cassette tape is totally custom made and the music is full of love and energy.

Here it is:

Thank you for supporting us for almost five years!!!

Alex