Walk off the Earth

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Walk off the Earth
Walk off the Earth performing in Toronto at the Canadian National Exhibition 2013
Walk off the Earth performing in Toronto at the Canadian National Exhibition 2013
Background information
OriginBurlington, Ontario, Canada
GenresIndie pop, indie rock, alternative rock, reggae rock, ska, folk
Years active2006– present
LabelsColumbia,[1] SlapDash
Associated actsGianni and Sarah, Pink Belly, The Creepshow
Websitewalkofftheearth.com
MembersGianni Nicassio
Joel Cassady
Sarah Blackwood
David Speirs
Adam Michael
Past membersPeter Kirkwood
Mike Taylor †
Ryan Marshall

Walk off the Earth is a Canadian indie pop band from Burlington, Ontario. The group is known for its music videos of covers and originals. The band is well known for covering pop-genre music on YouTube, making use of instruments such as the ukulele and the theremin, as well as looping samples. The band's recorded music and videos are produced by member and multi-instrumentalist Gianni "Luminati" Nicassio.

History[]

Walk off the Earth was formed in 2006 in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. The band began releasing music independently and created a variety of cover versions of songs including The Gregory Brothers. In early 2012, the band's live cover of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" on YouTube gathered over 175 million views in a mere four months,[2] receiving positive reviews from both Gotye and his co-singer on the song, Kimbra.[3][4] The band released an accompanying video in which all five members are shown playing on the same guitar simultaneously. The production was taken from the 26th cut of a 14-hour session. Ellen DeGeneres featured the band on her January 23, 2012, show where they played live, again on one guitar; the group was also included in YouTube Rewind 2012 "Rewind YouTube Style 2012", doing a part of its one guitar acoustic version of "Gangnam Style".

In February 2012, the band signed a recording contract with Columbia Records.[1] The members appeared in the Season 4 premiere of CTV's The Listener, performing two songs and socializing with the main characters in the bar. They also covered "Rude" by Magic!, "Hello" by Adele, "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO, "Payphone" by Maroon 5, and "Roll Up" by Wiz Khalifa.[5][6]

At this time, singer Sarah Blackwood, who had joined the band in late 2011, was also the singer and guitarist for fellow Ontario based band The Creepshow. The Creepshow had announced a tour of Europe and North America for the late summer - including dates in the United Kingdom in August. However, Walk Off The Earth soon announced a tour of their own with conflicting dates, and on July 16, Blackwood uploaded a farewell video to her YouTube page, announcing she was leaving The Creepshow.[7] Blackwood went on to join Walk Off The Earth on a permanent basis, starting with their Autumn tour and EP, R.E.V.O.. The Creepshow's next album, Life After Death, appeared to hint that the departure was acrimonious, with lyrics of the song Take It Away including the line: "You picked our pockets then you left us for broke/Now you're just somebody that I used to know".

In December 2012, Walk off the Earth released an original single titled "Gang of Rhythm". The group uploaded a cover of Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" to YouTube in January 2013, with four of the five band members and guest beatboxer KRNFX using only vocals.[8]

On March 11, 2013, Rolling Stone streamed their unreleased R.E.V.O. album in its entirety. The full-length R.E.V.O. album was released on March 19, 2013, after which they commenced in the R.E.V.O. Tour through the US and Europe. They began another US and Europe tour, Gang of Rhythm, in 2014. The most recent tour was the Sing It All Away tour through Europe and North America, which began in 2015. The band's YouTube video of Lorde's "Royals" was featured in the 2014 Grammy Awards. The band's original single "Gang of Rhythm" was chosen as the theme song for the Catalan TV show El Foraster. The group was also featured on the soundtrack of the 2015 animated film Snowtime!, performing the song "You're My Sweater". Walk off the Earth won a 2016 Juno award for Group of the Year.[9]

The band's video of "Issues" was filmed with The Next Step dancers Briar Nolet and Myles Erlick, and was featured in Dance Spirit magazine.[10] In August 2017, the band's single "Fire in My Soul" was certified gold. Walk off the Earth performed during the half-time show of the NFL playoff game, January 14, 2018, Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints.[citation needed]

On December 30, 2018, it was announced that band member Mike "Beard Guy" Taylor had died from natural causes.[11][12] He was 51 years old.[13] Walk Off the Earth subsequently cancelled their scheduled performance at the Niagara Falls New Year's Eve Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television special, a performance that was to open their 2019 world tour.[14] On January 7, 2019 the group announced a free memorial and tribute concert for Taylor. Presented by the city of Burlington and the Sound of Music Festival, family, friends and fans came together to celebrate Taylor's life and legacy on January 13 at Civic Square in Downtown Burlington. Special guests such as Scott Helman, members of Barenaked Ladies and more performed at the event, which was live-streamed by CBC Music.[15] On January 16, 2019, the band announced it would be continuing on its 2019 tour. In a video posted to their social media pages, the four members thanked their family, friends, and fans, stating that their tour would be devoted to honoring Taylor's memory. At the same time Marshall has written the theme song to the animated comedy series Corn & Peg for Chris Hamilton, Nelvana and Corus Entertainment.[citation needed] Walk off the Earth sang "O Canada" at game 4 of the 2019 NBA Finals in Oakland, where the Toronto Raptors played the Golden State Warriors.[16]

In December 2019, Ryan Marshall announced that he was going to be leaving the band on Twitter and Instagram.[17][18]

In April 2020, Deadline announced that the band wrote and performed the theme song, "The Journey Starts Today", for the English dub of "Pokémon Journeys: The Series".[19] In November 2020, they collaborated with Canadian country singer Brett Kissel on "A Few Good Stories".[20]

Members[]

Current members

  • Gianni "Luminati" Nicassio – vocals, bass, guitar, ukulele, drums, percussion, banjo, mandolin, cello, glockenspiel, kalimba, harmonica, keyboards, double bass (2006–present)
  • Joel Cassady – drums, percussion, vocals, ukulele, keyboards, guitar, bass, kalimba, sampler (2011–present)
  • Sarah Blackwood – vocals, ukulele, guitar, percussion, glockenspiel, keyboards, bass, harmonica, mandolin (2011–present)
  • Adam Michael – guitar, keyboards, bass (touring musician 2016–2020, full band member 2020–present)
  • David "Tokyo" Speirs – percussion, trumpet, flute, drums, bass (touring musician 2016–2020, full band member 2020–present)

Touring musicians

  • Lee Williamson – guitar, banjo, bass, mandolin, ukulele
  • Zach Gerber – drums, guitar, bass, vocals, percussion

Past members

  • Pete Kirkwood – drums, vocals, percussion (2006–2010)
  • Mike "Beard Guy" Taylor † – piano, organ, keyboards, trumpet, euphonium, kazoo, accordion, melodica, didgeridoo, glockenspiel, percussion, vocals, (2010–2018; died 2018)
  • Ryan Marshall – vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica, trumpet, ukulele, percussion, keyboards (2006–2019)

Timeline

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award ceremony Award Result
2013 Juno Awards Breakthrough Group of the Year Nominated
Video of the Year — Little Boxes Nominated
CASBY Awards Molson Canadian Favourite New Artist Won
YouTube Music Awards Response of the Year Nominated
2014 Juno Awards Group of the Year Nominated
Pop Album of the Year — R.E.V.O. Nominated
Juno Fan Choice Award Nominated
Canadian Radio Music Awards Best New Group or Solo Artist: Mainstream AC Nominated
Best New Group or Solo Artist: Hot AC Won
Best New Group or Solo Artist: CHR Won
SOCAN Song of the Year — Red Hands Won
Fans' Choice Won
2016 Juno Awards Juno Fan Choice Award Nominated
Pop Album of the Year — Sing It All Away Nominated
Group of the Year Won
2018 Streamy Awards Cover Songs — Girls Like You Won
2020 Juno Awards Group of the Year Nominated
Pop Album of the Year — HERE WE GO! Nominated

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales
CAN
[21] 		AUS
[22] 		AUT
[23] 		NLD
[24] 		SWI
[25] 		UK
[26] 		US
[27] 		US Alt.
[28]
Smooth Like Stone on a Beach
  • Released: December 31, 2007
  • Label: Slapdash
 — — — — — — — —
My Rock
  • Released: July 30, 2010
  • Label: Slapdash
 — — — — — — — —
Vol. 1
  • Released: November 20, 2012
  • Label: Slapdash
 — — — — — — — —
Vol. 2
  • Released: November 20, 2012
  • Label: Slapdash
 — — — — — — — —
R.E.V.O.
  • Released: March 19, 2013
  • Label: Columbia
 7 — 29 — — — 90 19
Sing It All Away
  • Released: June 16, 2015
  • Label: Columbia
 2 96 — 79 74 98 71 14
Here We Go!
  • Released: October 25, 2019[32]
  • Label: Golden Carrot
 11
[33] 		— — — — — 44
[34] 		—
Meet You There
  • Released: July 23, 2021[35]
  • Label: Golden Carrot
 — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays[]

Title EP details Peak chart positions
CAN
[21]
R.E.V.O.
  • Released: October 30, 2012
  • Label: Columbia
 —
iTunes Session
  • Released: November 22, 2013
  • Label: Columbia
 —
A Walk off the Earth Christmas EP
  • Released: December 2, 2014
  • Label: Columbia
 —
Sing It All Away
  • Released: 2015[citation needed]
  • Label: Columbia
 —
Beard Ballads, Vol. 1
  • Released: April 14, 2017
  • Label: Walk off the Earth
 —
Taekwondo (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  • Released: September 18, 2017
  • Label: Walk off the Earth / Universal
 —
Holiday Beard Ballads, Vol. 1
  • Released: November 16, 2017
  • Label: Walk off the Earth
 —
Subscribe to the Holidays
  • Released: November 9, 2018[36]
  • Label: Walk Off the Earth
 20
[37]

Singles[]

As lead artist[]

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
CAN
[38] 		AUS
[39] 		BEL
(Fl)
[40] 		FRA
[41] 		GER
[42] 		NLD
[24] 		SWE
[43] 		SWI
[25] 		UK
[26] 		US Bub.
[44]
"Somebody That I Used to Know" 2012 13 — 30 80 41 9 45 54 80 9 R.E.V.O.
"Red Hands" 9 59 — — — — — — — 14
  • MC: 2× Platinum[29]
"Gang of Rhythm" 2013 60 — — — — — — — — —
"Shake" 2014 69 — — — — — — — — —
"Rule the World" 2015 22 — — — — — — — — — Sing It All Away
"Home We'll Go (Take My Hand)" (with Steve Aoki) 62 — — — — — — — — — Neon Future II
"Hold On (The Break)" 2016 66 — — — — — — — — — Sing It All Away
"Fire in My Soul" 77 — — — — — — — — — Beard Ballads, Vol. 1
"Taekwondo" 2017 — — — — — — — — — — Taekwondo (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"Nomad" — — — — — — — — — — Non-album singles
"Fifth Avenue" 2018 — — — — — — — — — —
"Mike's Song" 2019 — — — — — — — — — — Here We Go!
"I'll Be There"[45] 94 — — — — — — — — —
"Savage Love"[46] 2020 — — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"this is love"[47] — — — — — — — — — — Meet You There
"How it is"[48] 2021 — — — — — — — — — —
"Anthem"[49] — — — — — — — — — —
"Love You Right"
(featuring Lukas Graham)[50] 		— — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

As featured artist[]

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Paradise"[51]
(Nicky Romero and Deniz Koyu featuring Walk off the Earth) 		2018 Non-album single

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Columbia signs Walk Off The Earth". Crazed Hits. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  2. ^ Cashmere, Paul (January 9, 2012). "Gotye Cover Inspires Russell Crowe To Pitch To Walk Off The Earth". Noise11. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  3. ^ "Twitter post by Gotye". Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  4. ^ Cashmere, Paul (January 8, 2012). "Kimbra Impressed With Gotye Cover By Walk off the Earth". Noise11. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  5. ^ CTV Edmonton (January 13, 2012). "Ont. band Walk Off the Earth has viral YouTube hit". CTV News. BellMedia. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  6. ^ Lester, Paul (April 25, 2013). "Walk Off the Earth (No 1,500)". The Guardian (online). United Kingdom: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  7. ^ "My farewell to The Creepshow fans :)". YouTube. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  8. ^ "Walk off the Earth's 'I Knew You Were Trouble' Cover Goes Viral". Metro Lyrics. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  9. ^ "2016 Juno Awards: The complete list of winners". Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  10. ^ "Issues – Walk off the Earth Feat. Myles and Briar (Julia Michaels Cover)", YouTube Channel, March 20, 2017, retrieved July 12, 2017
  11. ^ "Walk Off The Earth's Mike 'Beard Guy' Taylor Has Died, Band Thanks Fans For Support From 'Bottom Of Their Broken Hearts'". ET Canada, December 30, 2018.
  12. ^ "Mike Taylor, keyboardist for Burlington-based Walk Off the Earth, dies". The Hamilton Spectator. December 30, 2018. ISSN 1189-9417. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  13. ^ Rockingham, Graham (January 11, 2019). "Not only was 'Beard Guy' Mike Taylor a musician and father — he also kept on truckin'". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019.
  14. ^ "Walk Off the Earth band member Mike Taylor dead". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, December 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "Walk Off The Earth Announce Memorial & Tribute Concert for Mike 'Beard Guy' Taylor". Music News Net. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  16. ^ "Walk Off The Earth Performs 'O Canada' Ahead Of Raptors Vs. Warriors Game 4". Facebook.com. Sportsnet. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  17. ^ Marshall, Ryan (December 20, 2019). "Ryan Marshall - Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  18. ^ Marshall, Ryan (December 20, 2019). "Ryan Marshall - Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  19. ^ "'Pokémon Journeys: The Series' Heads To Netflix In The U.S." Deadline.com. April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  20. ^ Samhan, Jamie (November 6, 2020). "Kaitlyn Bristowe's Dogs Star In Brett Kissel And Walk Off The Earth's 'A Few Good Stories' Music Video". ET Canada.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b "Walk Off the Earth Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  22. ^ "ARIA Report: Issue #1322" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. June 29, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "Discographie Walk Off The Earth". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Hung Medien.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b "Discografie Walk Off The Earth". MegaCharts. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b "Discography Walk Off The Earth". Swiss Hitparade. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b "Walk off the Earth | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  27. ^ "Walk Off the Earth Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  28. ^ "Walk Off the Earth Chart History – Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Canadian certifications – Walk off the Earth". Music Canada. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  30. ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. Hits Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015.
  31. ^ "Weekly Music News Sales Report and Analysis: 24 June 2015". A Journal of Musical Things. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  32. ^ "Here We Go! by Walk Off the Earth". Apple Music. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  33. ^ "Jesus Is King On This Week's Albums Chart". FYIMusicNews. November 3, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  34. ^ @billboardcharts (November 4, 2019). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (1/4)" (Tweet). Retrieved November 5, 2019 – via Twitter.
  35. ^ "Meet You There by Walk Off the Earth". Apple Music. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  36. ^ "Subscribe to the Holidays – EP – Walk Off the Earth". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  37. ^ "Canadians Place Well On This Week's Albums Chart". FYIMusicNews. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  38. ^ "Walk Off the Earth Chart History – Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  39. ^ "ARIA Report: Issue #1210" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. May 6, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  40. ^ "Discografie Walk off the Earth". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  41. ^ "Discographie Walk Off The Earth". SNEP. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  42. ^ Peak positions on German Singles Chart:
  43. ^ "Discography Walk Off The Earth". Sverigetopplistan. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  44. ^ "Walk Off the Earth Chart History – Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  45. ^ "I'll Be There – Single by Walk Off the Earth". Apple Music. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  46. ^ "Savage Love – Single by Walk Off the Earth". Apple Music. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  47. ^ "this is love – Single by Walk Off the Earth". Apple Music. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  48. ^ "How it is – Single by Walk Off the Earth". Apple Music. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  49. ^ "Anthem – Single by Walk Off the Earth". Apple Music. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  50. ^ "Love You Right – Single by Walk Off the Earth". Apple Music. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  51. ^ Bein, Kat (September 27, 2018). "Nicky Romero, Deniz Koyu & Walk Off The Earth's 'Paradise' Pops". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.

External links[]

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