STRIVE…a band that fuses soaring,
meaningful bands like U2 and Switchfoot with the sweeping piano-pop
of Billy Joel and Bruce Hornsby
They’ve toured internationally, earned fans on several continents
and been compared to megastars like Coldplay and Josh Groban.
It’s a highly impressive start for piano-rock band STRIVE considering
that it all happened before signing a record deal. The Chicago-based
band is proving that you don’t need a major record label—STRIVE
recently released the album FIRE with the independent GoDigital
Records—to take the first steps toward global acclaim.
“We have an international heart,” says singer/pianist Derick Thompson.
“We’re getting radio spins [for the single “Smallest Things”]
in 55 countries, and want to reach the whole world with our music.
For us, it’s not a win to be successful only in the U.S. We’d
like to see ourselves successful in places like Brazil and New
Zealand and Uganda.” STRIVE’s international vision can be traced
back to Thompson’s childhood. Born in Iowa, he moved with his
parents to Russia in 1992, just a year after the USSR was disbanded.
The five years he spent there influenced him greatly, and STRIVE
has since toured extensively in Russia as well as in Brazil, which
is where Thompson met his wife.
Thompson’s relationship with his wife inspired much of FIRE. “Love
is probably the most inspirational thing on this album—and there
are a lot of different types of love,” he says. “When we’re loved—by
God or by people around us—we have a responsibility for our actions.
The majority of the songs on FIRE are a response to the loves
in my life.” Songs such as “Away from Here,” “Silent Like a Secret”
and “Good” align with FIRE’s theme of love. The album’s title
track keeps with the recording’s theme, but it’s certainly the
most controversial song that Thompson has written to date. “It’s
a celebration of the love, pleasure and intimacy a man and wife
were created to share,” he says of the song. “Our culture paints
great sex as happening with strangers, boyfriends and girlfriends.
I believe culture needs the opposite message, which says great
sex takes place in the context of a committed marriage. It’s not
a soap box, just honesty.”
The song “On Our Way” returns to the band’s international vision,
as it was inspired by a Zimbabwean friend and speaks to “the importance
of people coming along side Africa as a brothers and sisters,
not as rich saviors.” One way that STRIVE lived out this desire
to “come along side” people is when they performed a concert for
1,500 orphans in the outskirts of Moscow. The show was a part
of STRIVE’s participation in a 21-day tour throughout Russia for
AIDS awareness. “The looks on those kids’ faces are what STRIVE
is all about,” Thompson says.
STRIVE’s roots can be traced back to Thompson’s own childhood
when he began playing piano and later writing songs at age 11.
From there, he played in a number of bands in both the States
and Russia. It wasn’t until he moved to Chicago to attend Wheaton
College that he formed STRIVE, a band that fuses Thompsons’s love
of soaring, meaningful bands like U2 and Switchfoot with the sweeping
piano-pop of Billy Joel and Bruce Hornsby. “I’ve always been drawn
to bands with strong melodies and lyrics,” Thompson says. “Those
two elements are most important to me.”
The band’s inspirational message and anthemic music has hit a
chord with music fans, and STRIVE’s audience continues to grow.
Recently, the band has been voted one of the favorites in several
music categories on OurStage.com, as well as a favorite at MyCCM.com,
and they’ve had songs licensed for shows on MTV, E! and others.
As the band’s buzz grows, so does the interest within the media
and music industry. Billboard, The New York Times, PASTE magazine
and numerous others have all expressed interest in the rising
band. Both MSN and AOL have responded to STRIVE’s growing fan
base by featuring the band on its sites and hosting online listening
parties for FIRE during the week of its release. Yahoo!, AOL and
XM Radio similarly jumped on board and are now all spinning the
album’s first single, “Smallest Things.”
As excitement continues to grow for FIRE, the band is building
momentum that will take them as far as they choose to “strive.”
Media Coverage
Reviews from all around
the world of STRIVE's new album "FIRE" -LINK
Over 615 TV, Radio & Other Media Outlets in
61 countries pick up "Smallest Things" and "FIRE" Sept '08
All Music Guide gives STRIVE :: FIRE a review and their exclusive
"AMG Album Pick". link
STRIVE has top 7 "Inspirational Realtones" on popular
ringtone serivce "theMob"" Oct '08
Link
Real World/ Road Rules Challenge: The Island features "Leave
With Me" from STRIVE's new album "FIRE" Oct '08
STRIVE featured by Apple.com in QuickTime Guide
Sept '08- Link
STRIVE Featured by MSN.com's Listening Booth
Sept '08 - Link
"FIRE was written to inspire
listeners to live lives which are selfless, seeking to make their
communities a better place. I've found that when I'm full of hope
and excited about life it spills out onto everyone around me.
Same is true when I'm lost in my own self pity, trying to make
sense of the difficulty which is life. A choice had to be made
whether to write a disc focused on the negatives or positives
we all face. FIRE burns brightest when it's surrounded by darkness.
I hope this album burns bright. " - Derick
Thompson
Artist: STRIVE
Album: FIRE
Street Date: August 26, 2008
UPC: 844185008839
Writer: Derick Thompson (ASCAP)
Produced by: Brian Whitman & Derick Thompson
Engineered by: Brian Whitman
Publisher: Buddy Buddy Music Publishing (ASCAP)
Label: GoDigital Records
Physical Distribution: CLG Distribution
