Title: “To Write Love On Her Arms”By: Riot! In The Boulevard
From: Boycott Love [Deluxe Edition] (TBC, 2015)
Release Date: May 17, 2015
Length: 6:29
Format: CD Single, Digital Download, 7” Single, Weekly Airplay
Recorded: Half-Moon Studios - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - April/May 2015
Genre: Pop-Punk, Alternative Rock
Label: Studio60 Records
Written: April 2015
Writer(s): Amy Meyer, Adam Benjamin, Jason Greenberg
Producer(s): Riot! In The Boulevard, Avil Hartman
“To Write Love On Her Arms” is a charity song written and recorded by American rock band ‘Riot! In The Boulevard’ and released in partnership with the American charity organisation ‘To Write Love On Her Arms’ which aims to help people struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury and thoughts of suicide, themes which have crept into Riot! In The Boulevards music in the past. This latest single marks the second release since they unexpectedly made their return to the music industry in April and follows hot on the heels of previous single “This Is A Hostile Takeover” which debuted at number one on the singles chart. This latest single will also appear on their upcoming fifth studio album ‘Boycott Love’ as an additional track on the deluxe edition of the record.
The music was written by all three members of the band, Amy Meyer, Adam Benjamin and Jason Greenberg which continues the speculation that the band are aiming to write their next record in a more collaborative way than their previous releases. The latest track like their previous single was produced by the threesome as well as regular collaborator, producer Avil Hartman whom also worked on their previous studio album “Wild Young Things” (2013) and their “Live From Field Trip Festival” (2013) release.
True to Riot! In The Boulevard form, the release of this brand new single comes rather unexpectedly with no prior warning or countdown or even build-up period, with the band again relying on the dedicative support of their fanbase rather than actively promoting themselves in the more conventional ways. It’s been reported that this song is the beginning of a bigger collaboration between the band and the aforementioned charity that the song’s titled after, with ‘Riot! In The Boulevard’ being asked to become ambassadors for the charity. In a recent Culture Uncut article it was noted that all proceeds made from the single will be given to the charity as well as the charity being rumoured to be involved in their next major touring plans, with rumours suggesting that the band will not only be promoting the charity as often as time allows them to but also that they will be giving a large portion of money earned from touring to the charity while the other half goes as is tradition, to their record label.
Reasons for the collaboration are linked to the nature of Riot! In The Boulevards fanbase as well as some song subjects which relate to the charities own functions, with an official statement from the charity reading; “We’re extremely delighted to be working alongside the members of Riot! In The Boulevard over the coming months in order to extend awareness to our goals and aims in tackling the addiction, depression, self-harm and suicide of many people old and young around the world. We feel that Riot! In The Boulevard are an act that have an extremely powerful voice in the music industry and are seen as an influential and inspirational figure to many teens and young adults throughout the United States and worldwide and we believe that together we can spread an even wider message to anybody and everybody that are struggling to find their way in a challenging world.”
“To Write Love On Her Arms” is the second single to be released from their upcoming fifth studio album “Boycott Love” (2015). The track which was written in late April and recorded between April and May at Half-Moon Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada will be released on May 17, 2015 and will be released as a CD Single, Digital Download, Weekly Airplay and 7” Single. The track will be distributed by Studio60 Records and all proceeds of the single will go to the charity organisation that the single is named after, ‘To Write Love On Her Arms’.
SONG DESCRIPTION;It becomes instantly clear that Riot! In The Boulevards latest release is a a quintessential Riot! track, drenched in all the familiar elements of the bands pop-punk roots with rapid-fire drum beats and a rhythmic bass delivery only just matched by a raucous and instantly recognizable lead guitar riff. The opening to the song begins with a solid bass-line intro and is quickly accompanied by repetitive drum beats, quickly followed by an opening lead guitar riff that reminds you of American Idiot-era Green Day. Within the first 15 seconds of the track you can feel that it’s going to be a traditionally powerful Riot! track and we are proven right as soon as Amy delivers the emotive opening lines to the song which instantly offers a feeling of positivity, “Hope is real, help is real, your story is important/Yeah, hope is real, help is real, your story is important” which are taken from one of the charity organisations mantra’s.
But the band begin to deliver their own version of that message with their very own penned manifesto as Amy sings passionately, “Even when it feels like nobodies listening, know that we will always have a voice/When you feel like there’s no other option/Know that you still have a choice/That things can be better/Faith is real/You’re not alone in this/Sadness is something we all feel.” and those words strike to as you can’t help but believe that Amy is singing from experience, singing from the heart.
The pace of the music picks up with a traditionally catchy Riot! pre-chorus as Amy bellows out with the backing of her cohorts, Adam Benjamin and Jason Greenberg, “Wake up because you’re alive/We are on your side, we are on your side/Wake up because you’re alive/We are on your side, we are on your side.” and you can’t help but imagine audiences of teenagers singing those lyrics passionately back to the band, letting them know that they want to fight through their struggle which is one of the reasons why this band seems like a perfect fit to deliver a song of this nature, a band that have recently gone through a tricky situation and seemingly came through it, just as strong as they have ever been. Not to mention personal circumstance like losing a parent or going through depression at young ages, it works because of the audience that the charity is generally seen to be helping and it feels like Riot! are the face of strength and positivity despite struggle and conflict and sadness.
As the guitar and drum combination build up to a moment of anticipation, they quickly crash down and revert back to a slightly slower breakdown which leads to the songs moment of reflection and emotion as the music softens for the seconds verse and leads way for Amy to allow her voice to dominate with the following, “When our hearts are heavy and light at the same time/We laugh and scream and sing and cry/Show every range of your emotions, wear that heart upon your sleeve tonight/Because nobody deserves to go through pain and sadness alone/Raise your voice, let it be known.” and the music begins to build up once again, the bass and drums combining to add a dramatic build effect as Amy fires out the following lyrics, “Maybe somebody will take the time to listen/Sometimes that’s just all that you need/If we help each other on this mission/Maybe someday we’ll succeed.”
And the music comes crashing down from the crescendo once more and once again is fast-paced and full of energy as that catchy pre-chorus arrives once more, but this time it’s emphasised by the songs chorus, as Amy delivers the lines, “To write love on her arms/We are not alone/Please don’t silence the truth/Someday we will find our path back home.” which repeats.
The music continues in a similarly fast-paced progression and the pre-chours/chorus combination dominates until fade.
PERSONAL MESSAGE;Quote:“As a band, we have been blessed enough to have been given so many opportunities since we managed to find a path for ourselves in the music industry and we feel like we’ve done many great things in a short space of time. But the greatest thing about this little band from Las Vegas is and will forever be the passion of our fans. It was their support that pushed us through the doors of the music industry to begin with and it was the fans that kicked open all the doors in front of us along the way. We may be a band that doesn’t follow tradition, we avoid social media and encourage our own fans to follow suit if possible, we let who we are define us, not the opinions of others on the internet. We understand the strength of the internet community and we have nothing but praise to those who who make their fans feel part of their world whether it be through Twitter or Instagram or whatever. But there’s another side of social media, a one which is angry and dark and unwelcoming and that side of it, unfortunately plays a part against what ‘To Write Love On Her Arms’ are trying to rectify.
Despite our lack of social media presence, we are a band based around something more than just a fanbase. We encourage our fans to share their stories with us and with anybody willing to listen, because we all have stories to tell. So to be given the opportunity to become ambassadors for a charity organisation that fights against depression, addiction, self-harm and suicide is an incredibly important thing to us, because we have heard stories which range from devastatingly tragic to beautifully optimistic and everything in between and we feel obliged to help in any which way that we can. We have always encouraged our own fans to find their voice and to let out their emotions and tell their stories and not suffer in silence or sadness because we understand that once that darkness takes you under, it’s difficult to find a way back out of it, each of us have been there before and hopefully we can show in some way, that there is a way to make it through and we are looking forward to helping in every way possible, even if it’s just as simple as shining a light on a very dark issue.”
- Riot! In The Boulevard
LYRICS;“Hope is real, help is real, your story is important
Yeah, hope is real, help is real, your story is important
Even when it feels like nobodies listening, know that we will always have a voice
When you feel like there’s no other option
Know that you still have a choice
That things can be better
Faith is real
You’re not alone in this
Sadness is something we all feel
Wake up because you’re alive
We are on your side, we are on your side
Wake up because you’re alive
We are on your side, we are on your side
When our hearts are heavy and light at the same time
We laugh and scream and sing and cry
Show every range of your emotions, wear that heart upon your sleeve tonight
Because nobody deserves to go through pain and sadness alone
Raise your voice, let it be known
And maybe somebody will take the time to listen
Sometimes that’s just all that you need
If we help each other on this mission
Maybe someday we’ll succeed
Wake up because you’re alive
We are on your side, we are on your side
Wake up because you’re alive
We are on your side, we are on your side
To write love on her arms
We are not alone
Please don’t silence the truth
Someday we will find our path back home
To write love on her arms
We are not alone
Please don’t silence the truth
Someday we will find our path back home
Wake up because you’re alive
We are on your side, we are on your side
Wake up because you’re alive
We are on your side, we are on your side
Break the silence, scream if you need to
Make sure that your voice is heard
Never suffer in the silence
Make use of every second, every single word
Because no matter how loud the voices in your head are sounding
They’ll never be louder that the beat of your heart pounding
Break the silence
Scream if you need to
Make sure your voice is heard
Make use of every second
Every single little word
Wake up because you’re alive
We are on your side, we are on your side
Wake up because you’re alive
We are on your side, we are on your side
To write love on her arms
We are not alone
Please don’t silence the truth
Someday we will find our path back home
To write love on her arms
We are not alone
Please don’t silence the truth
Someday we will find our path back home
Wake up because you’re alive
We are on your side, we are on your side
Wake up because you’re alive
We are on your side, we are on your side”
SOUND ALIKE;THE BLACKOUT - YOU’RE NOT ALONE
PERSONNEL;Amy Meyer - lead vocals, lyrics, composition, production
Adam Benjamin - lead guitar, backing vocals, lyrics, composition, production
Jason Greenberg - bass guitar, lyrics, composition, production
Billie Langdon - drums, percussion
Avil Hartman - production, mixing, engineering
