As It Is: A Journey of Growth and Healing
Since their formation in 2012, AS IT IS have gone through a lot of changes, both musically and in their lineup. Guitarist and founding member Ben Langford-Biss left the band in 2019, and while the members always remained friends, it was clear he needed some time away. Now, the band have returned with their original lineup, releasing a self-titled record that encompasses everything that makes them unique.
Catching up with Ben, he explains how it just felt like the right time. “We all just missed each other, we just wanted to do anything together. We all hung out just as friends before we even got in a room to make music, but the moment we did, it was obvious that we were probably going to start writing a record again.” This time around though, things had to be different, and there were a lot of conversations about how they would be able to dive back in while creating a really positive environment for every member of the band.
The first shows AS IT IS played after their return were for the 10-year anniversary of their first album, Never Happy Ever After, which felt simultaneously like a celebration and coming home, for the band and fans alike. While they never truly disappeared, reconnecting with the songs that they began with was special in so many ways, and almost reminded the band who they really were. “I was like, ‘oh, maybe this means more to some people than even we realised’.” While spending some time away was undoubtedly beneficial, Ben always felt like he was being pulled back in. “I did music in between, and even touring with other bands, but if anything, that made me miss AS IT IS even more. I’d never really cared about a project or a band as much as I would AS IT IS.” He describes them as ‘lifers, and its never felt so true than on this latest album. This time around, the stress is off, and they aren’t nearly as nervous as they usually would be on the lead up to a release, with everyone in a much healthier place. They hope people like the songs, of course, but they are incredibly proud of themselves, so anything else that comes is simply a bonus.
By now, it’s clear the band were finding the mounting pressure of numbers and constant touring overwhelming. This record is like a blank slate, and Ben laughs as he says, “no one asked us to make a record”. What he means is, there were no contractual obligations or strict time frames, so the writing process was a completely different experience. Usually, AS IT IS would take a few weeks to record in the US, isolating themselves almost completely and giving all their energy until they were exhausted, followed by extensive touring, sometimes for years without a real break. A change wasn’t only desperately needed, but also necessary for the survival of the band. This time around, as the songs started to come, the members headed into the studio on home turf with zero pressure, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and were able to record in their own time, over a fairly long period. They allowed themselves freedom to try everything once and worked to build and maintain a relationship where they could settle disagreements in the easiest way possible. “We called it the care factor, who actually cares about it more? It’s like picking your battles. It’s not worth any fall out from silly things; we’ve never really had anything contentious in terms of songwriting. Ultimately the reason we came back was because we were friends first and enjoyed making music together.”
AS IT IS have gone through an evolution, and the music reflects this perfectly. Ben describes the run of Never Happy Ever After, The Great Depression and As It Is as a trilogy, and even the names represent what the members are going through. “Its this ebb and flow of emotional states, and now we’re just accepting of where we are, where everything is and feeling a bit better about everything. Maybe not the world, but ourselves at least.” The album does still sound dark, not everything is different, but the band found themselves actively striving for a more positive outlook, writing off songs that didn’t have even a glimmer of hope. It’s described as a journey of growth and healing, and definitely feels more mature. “We’ve seen our fans grow as well, into actual adults, and a lot of them in much better places than the first time we met them, constantly inspiring each other. That’s always a really nice thing about this community.”
While fans of the band are fairly used to the music making them cry at this point, Ben delivers a warning regarding some of the songs. “Some of them are devastating, but not necessarily like a crushing way. Patty [Walters] says something all the time, which is that the only thing that makes him cry at the moment is when people are really kind, when someone does something inherently good. There’s a couple of songs towards the end that invoke that spirit.” While the band of course have their own understanding of what the songs mean, they are ready for them to take on a life of their own when the fans hear them.
As It Is is out now via FLG. View this interview, alongside dozens of other killer bands, in glorious print magazine fashion in DS132 here.
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