The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die is an American
indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
band formed in
Willimantic, Connecticut
Willimantic is a city located in the town of Windham, Connecticut, Windham in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. It is a former Census-designated place and Borough (Connecticut), borough, and is currently organized as one of two Local gov ...
,
in 2009. Following the release of several EPs and
splits
A split (commonly referred to as splits or the splits) is a physical position in which the legs are in line with each other and extended in opposite directions. Splits are commonly performed in various athletic activities, including dance, figu ...
featuring original lead singer Thomas Diaz, they released their debut
LP ''
Whenever, If Ever
''Whenever, If Ever'' is the debut studio album by American indie rock band The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, released on June 18, 2013, on Topshelf Records
Topshelf Records is an American independent record labe ...
'' in 2013 to generally positive reviews.
Undergoing a series of roster changes, they proceeded to release a 2014 collaboration with
spoken word
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
artist Christopher Zizzamia titled ''Between Bodies'', as well as several full-length records, including ''
Harmlessness
''Harmlessness'' is the second studio album by American indie rock band The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die. It was announced on August 4, 2015, and was released on September 25. The title of the album is a play on the n ...
'' in 2015, ''
Always Foreign
''Always Foreign'' is the third studio album by american emo band the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die
The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die is an American indie rock band formed in Willimant ...
'' in 2017, and their 2021
double album
A double album (or double record) is an audio album that spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically either records or compact disc. A double album is usually, though not always, released as such because the recording i ...
''
Illusory Walls
''Illusory Walls'' is the fourth studio album by American emo band the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, released October 8, 2021, by Epitaph Records. The name of the album, as well as the lead single "Invading the World ...
''.
The band's style has been variously associated with
emo
Emo is a rock music genre characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. It emerged as a style of and hardcore punk from the Washington D.C. hardcore punk scene, where it was known as emotional hardcore or emocore and pioneered b ...
,
indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
,
post-rock
Post-rock is a form of experimental rock characterized by a focus on exploring textures and timbre over traditional rock song structures, chords, or riffs. Post-rock artists are often instrumental, typically combining rock instrumentation with ...
,
post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. It was initially inspired by post-punk and noise rock. Like post-punk, the term has been ...
,
and
space rock
Space rock is a music genre characterized by loose and lengthy song structures centered on instrumental textures that typically produce a hypnotic, otherworldly sound. It may feature distorted and reverberation-laden guitars, minimal drummin ...
.
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
described it as "atmospheric emo/indie".
Their influences include
Battles
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
,
Caspian Caspian can refer to:
*The Caspian Sea
*The Caspian Depression, surrounding the northern part of the Caspian Sea
*The Caspians, the ancient people living near the Caspian Sea
*Caspian languages, collection of languages and dialects of Caspian peopl ...
,
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor (sometimes abbreviated to GY!BE or Godspeed) is a Canadian post-rock band which originated in Montreal, Quebec in 1994. The group releases recordings through Constellation, an independent record label also located i ...
, and
Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock band from Texas. The quartet originally played under the name Breaker Morant, then changed to the current name in 1999. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elabor ...
.
History
Early history and initial releases (2009–2012)
The band was formed in 2009 in Willimantic, Connecticut by Tyler Bussey, Nicole Shanholtzer, Thomas Diaz, and Josh Cyr, who remains the sole founding member. In the next two years, they released one demo, ''Demo 2010'' (2010), two extended plays, ''Formlessness'' (2010), and ''Josh is Dead'' (2011), a split with Deer Leap, ''Are Here To Help You'' (2011), and one single, "Gig Life" (2012). Although going through several lineup changes within these years after their initial formation, in 2012 they settled upon a core revolving around Nicole Shanholtzer, Josh Cyr, Steven Buttery, Chris Teti, David Bello, and Katie Dvorak, some of whom would play on their debut album, ''
Whenever, If Ever
''Whenever, If Ever'' is the debut studio album by American indie rock band The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, released on June 18, 2013, on Topshelf Records
Topshelf Records is an American independent record labe ...
'', and subsequent follow ups.
Debut album and further EPs (2013–2014)
On June 18, 2013, through Topshelf Records, the band released their debut full-length LP, ''
Whenever, If Ever
''Whenever, If Ever'' is the debut studio album by American indie rock band The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, released on June 18, 2013, on Topshelf Records
Topshelf Records is an American independent record labe ...
'', featuring Thomas Diaz's final contributions before departing the band due to medical issues. Upon release, it received generally positive reviews, and was considered a landmark album in the then infant
emo revival
The emo revival (also known as the post-emo revival, the Midwestern emo revival, and fourth wave emo) was an underground emo movement which came about in the late 2000s to early 2010s. Groups of the emo revival largely abandon the style of the mai ...
movement.
The album charted at No. 3 on the
Billboard Vinyl charts, due to strong word-of-mouth as the band had virtually no press leading up to the release.
In 2014, the band released two more extended plays, ''Between Bodies'', and ''The Distance'', as well as their first live album, recorded with
Audiotree
Audiotree is an American music record label located in Chicago, founded in 2011. The company records and publishes live music sessions. It also promotes artists and organizes live events, and invites artists from around the world to enter a profe ...
, ''Audiotree Live January 3, 2014''.
''Harmlessness'' (2015)
In August 2015, the band released ''January 10, 2014'', a single from their upcoming record, as well as an accompanying music video. One month later, in September, the band would release their sophomore record, ''
Harmlessness
''Harmlessness'' is the second studio album by American indie rock band The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die. It was announced on August 4, 2015, and was released on September 25. The title of the album is a play on the n ...
'', to critical acclaim. It subsequently charted at number 11 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, and at number 46 on the Independent Albums chart.
In November 2016, the band released a single "Body Without Organs", with proceeds going to the
ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1920 "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States". T ...
.
Founding member Nicole Shanholtzer left the band in 2016.
''Always Foreign'' and ''Illusory Walls'' (2017–present)
On August 1, 2017, the band announced their third album, ''
Always Foreign
''Always Foreign'' is the third studio album by american emo band the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die
The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die is an American indie rock band formed in Willimant ...
'', releasing a single "Dillon and Her Son" alongside it. David Bello said, concerning the writing and production of the record: "When we started writing we were fresh off Trump being elected, so there's an anger to the album that's different from what we've done in the past. There's a lot more resistance thinking throughout the songs – not in a way that's strictly anti-Trump, but also addressing things like white supremacy and controlling elements of the state." The album was released September 29, 2017, to positive reviews.
Founding member Tom Diaz (born Thomas M. Diaz on September 2, 1986) died unexpectedly on November 1, 2018, at the age of 32. On November 3, 2018, the band confirmed his death on their social media accounts.
On August 3, 2021, the band's next album, ''
Illusory Walls
''Illusory Walls'' is the fourth studio album by American emo band the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, released October 8, 2021, by Epitaph Records. The name of the album, as well as the lead single "Invading the World ...
'', was announced for release on October 8, 2021.
Members
Current
*Josh Cyr – bass guitar, keyboards, vocals
(2009–present)
*Steven Buttery – drums, percussion
(2011–present)
*Chris Teti – guitar, trumpet
(2011–present)
*David Bello – lead vocals
(2012–present)
*Katie Dvorak – keyboards, vocals
(2012–present)
Former
*Tyler Bussey – guitar, vocals
(2009–2010, 2015–2018)
*Nicole Shanholtzer – drums
(2009–2010), guitar, vocals
(2010–2016)
*Thomas Diaz – keyboards, guitar, vocals
(2009–2012; died 2018)
*Greg Horbal – guitar, keyboards, vocals
(2010–2015)
*Dylan Balliett – guitar, vocals
(2015–2017)
*Devin Spector – guitar
(2010–2010)
*Brian Casey – drums
(2010–2011)
*Nick Kwas – violin, vocals
(2015)
*Julia Peters – cello
(2012–2014)
*Chris Zizzamia –
spoken word
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
(2014)
Timeline
Discography
Albums
* ''
Whenever, If Ever
''Whenever, If Ever'' is the debut studio album by American indie rock band The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, released on June 18, 2013, on Topshelf Records
Topshelf Records is an American independent record labe ...
'' (2013, Topshelf)
* ''
Harmlessness
''Harmlessness'' is the second studio album by American indie rock band The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die. It was announced on August 4, 2015, and was released on September 25. The title of the album is a play on the n ...
'' (2015, Epitaph)
* ''
Always Foreign
''Always Foreign'' is the third studio album by american emo band the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die
The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die is an American indie rock band formed in Willimant ...
'' (2017, Epitaph)
* ''
Illusory Walls
''Illusory Walls'' is the fourth studio album by American emo band the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, released October 8, 2021, by Epitaph Records. The name of the album, as well as the lead single "Invading the World ...
'' (2021, Epitaph)
Extended plays
* ''Formlessness'' (2010, Topshelf)
* ''Josh Is Dead'' (2011, Topshelf)
* ''Between Bodies'' (2014, Broken World Media / Black Lake in the UK)
* ''The Distance'' (2014, Broken World Media)
* ''Death to New Years'' (2015, Topshelf)
* ''Long Live Happy Birthday'' (2016, Topshelf)
* ''Formlessness 2016'' (2016, Topshelf)
Compilations
* ''Assorted Works'' (2019)
Splits
* ''Are Here to Help You'' (Split LP with Deer Leap) (2011, Topshelf)
* ''Tigers Jaw/The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die/Code Orange Kids/Self Defense Family'' 4-Way Split 7″ (2013, Topshelf)
* ''Sundae Bloody Sundae''
(split with Kittyhawk, Rozwell Kid, Two Knights) (2014, Skeletal Lightning)
* ''Fourteen Minute Mile''
(split with Rozwell Kid) (2015, Broken World Media)
* ''Sorority Noise/The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die'' (2016, Triple Crown)
Live albums
* ''Audiotree Live January 3, 2014'' (2014, Audiotree Live)
* ''Live On KEXP'' (2016, KEXP)
Demos
* ''Demo 2010'' (2010, Broken World Media)
Singles
* "Gig Life" (2012, Broken World Media)
* "January 10th, 2014" (2015, Broken World Media)
* "Mental Health" (2015, Broken World Media)
* "Body Without Organs" (2016)
* "Invading the World of the Guilty as a Spirit of Vengeance" (2021)
* "Queen Sophie for President" (2021)
* "Trouble" (2021)
Appearances on compilation albums
* ''Mixed Signals Comp'' (2011, Run for Cover)
Music videos
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:World Is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die
Indie rock musical groups from Connecticut
Emo revival groups
Musical groups established in 2009
Topshelf Records artists
American emo musical groups
American post-hardcore musical groups
American post-rock groups
American space rock musical groups