ECHOSMITHBY ALINA HAQ

Facts

Echosmith is an American indie pop band formed in September 2009 from Toluka Lake, Los Angeles.

The band is composed of four siblings: Graham, Sydney, Noah and Jamie Sierota.

Echosmith signed to Warner Bros records in May 2012.

They are best known for their hit song Cool Kids which reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Their first single, Tonight We’re Making History, was released June 5th 2012, and was featured in an NBC promo for the 2012 summer Olympics.

Echosmith unveiled their new single and official music video Come Together in early June 2013.

The band’s debut album, Talking Dreams, was released on October 8th 2013.

Members

ABOUT Named one of MTV's 2014 Artists to Watch, she is the lead singer of the alt-pop band Echosmith along with her three brothers Jamie, Noah, and Graham. Their single "Cool Kids" became available on iTunes.

BEFORE FAME She started playing in a band with her brothers when she was just 5 years old.

TRIVIA With Echosmith, she signed with Warner Bros Records in 2012 and released her first album in 2013.

FAMILY LIFE She was born in Los Angeles, California.

ASSOCIATED WITH She performed with Echosmith during the Teen Nick Top 10: New Year's Eve Countdown, hosted by Nick Cannon.

ABOUT Lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the pop band Echosmith who signed with Warner Bros. Records in 2012 and released their debut single, "Tonight We're Making History," a month later.

BEFORE FAME He and the other three members of the band, who are all siblings of his by the names of Sydney, Graham, and Noah, officially became Echosmith in February of 2009.

TRIVIA With Echosmith, he performed on the band's debut album Talking Dreams and on the EPs Summer Sampler and Acoustic Dreams.

FAMILY LIFE He was raised in Chino, California with his two brothers and one sister in a musical household.

ASSOCIATED WITH He played the guitar for a cover version of the Ellie Goulding smash single "Lights."

ABOUT Member of the all-sibling indie rock/pop band Echosmith whose song "Cool Kids" peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. They released their debut album called Talking Dreams in 2013.

BEFORE FAME He came together with his siblings Noah, Sydney, and Jamie to form Echosmith in February of 2009.

TRIVIA He performed on Echosmith's first single, "Tonight We're Making History," which was a featured song in a promo for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

FAMILY LIFE He was raised in Chino, California.

ASSOCIATED WITH He is the youngest member of the band with Sydney Sierota being the second youngest.

ABOUT Backing vocalist and bassist for the Warner Bros. Records signed pop band Echosmith who released their debut album Talking Dreams on October 8, 2013.

BEFORE FAME He came together with his siblings Graham, Sydney, and Jamie to form Echosmith in February of 2009.

TRIVIA He performed on Echosmith's first single, "Tonight We're Making History," which was a featured song in a promo for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

FAMILY LIFE He was raised with his siblings in Chino, California.

ASSOCIATED WITH He played the bass in a cover of Adele's "Set Fire To The Rain."

The Band

Sydney Sierota – Lead Vocals (born April 21, 1997)

Jamie Sierota – Guitar (born April 9, 1993)

The Band

Graham Sierota - Drums (born February 5, 1999)

Noah Sierota - Bass Guitar (born January 1, 1996)

Cool Kids

"Cool Kids" is a song from their 2013 debut studio album Talking Dreams. The song was originally released on October 8, 2013 as the iTunes Store Single of the Week and officially impacted United States radio the following year. The song has become a sleeper hit, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and receiving airplay on US modern rock, hot adult contemporary, and contemporary hit radio stations.

The song debuted at number 87 on the Billboard on the chart date of July 26, 2014, and has peaked at number 19. The song has also charted at numbers 28 and 19 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 and Adult Top 40 respectively. As of September 10, 2014 "Cool Kids" has sold over 500,000 copies and went gold. The song has received over 8 million views on YouTube.

Echosmith performed the song on December 31, 2013 during the Teen Nick Top 10: New Year's Eve Countdown, hosted by Nick Cannon. The band performed "Cool Kids" live on VH1's Morning Buzz on April 29, 2014. Shortly following their VH1 performance, the band performed live on the famous talk show Conan on June 5, 2014.

Chart

Background and Release

The song tells the story of a boy and girl who just want to be noticed. "This cry to be like the cool kids… it's something that everyone kind of goes through whether you want to act like it or not," Jamie explained to Radio.com. "There's always somebody out there that you kind of wish, 'If only I could do this, or do that.' I think that's why it connects with people so well."

The song was originally recorded for their debut EP Summer Sampler which was released 31 May 2013. The song was then officially released as a single of their debut album Talking Dreams. The song would make an appear as an acoustic version on their second EP Acoustic Dreams which was announced after their "Cool Kids" music video received one million views. "Cool Kids" was written by Echosmith, Jeffery David, and Jesiah Dzwonek.

Music Video

The official music video was released on June 21, 2013 on their official

YouTube channel. The video was filmed in Los Angeles, CA and was

directed by Gus Black. After receiving one million views on their video,

Echosmith released an acoustic version of the song.

The original (uploaded by fan): http://youtu.be/lfHNWXeD_GQ

They deleted the official video which had millions of views already and

created a new music video with a different version to the song. In my

personal opinion I prefer the original.

The new Cool Kids music video: http://youtu.be/SSCzDykng4g

Critical reception on Cool Kids

Patrick Griffin of Sound and Motion Magazine gave a positive review, saying "It’s a breezy effervescent song about this teens, a boy and a girl respectively who are feeling quite insecure and just long to fit into the “cool” crowd. The track is very infectious the synth melody and light strummed guitars just fill out the nice atmosphere of the track well. Sydney Sierota‘s wispy vocals gives the track a kind of whimsical feel as the track sparks feelings of a more innocent time when fitting in was something that actually mattered. Sure the lyrics aren’t too thought provoking but this track is just very catchy and that’s cause enough to give this track a listen especially if you’re into indie pop."

Daniel Bromfield of E Daily Emerald gave a negative review saying, "The album’s biggest lyrical tragedy would have to be “Cool Kids,” which might have been the album’s best song if not for its cringe-worthy chorus of “I wish that I could be like the cool kids/Because all the cool kids seem to fit in.” In addition to giving Snoop Lion’s “Take care of mother earth because she be the planet” a run for its money for the year’s most redundant couplet, it’s a terribly ironic line. Echosmith has already fit in. But the cool kids are the ones that came before them, and Echosmith merely follow in their wake, trying to look and talk and think exactly like them. They only fit in because it’s what everyone else in their social current does".

Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal noted Sydney’s lead vocals are lilting and reminiscent of Taylor Swift and Ellie Goulding, while her brother, Jamie, delivers on guitar and brother, Noah, rocks the bass, both accompanying her on back vocals. Papadatos noted Graham’s drum playing is addicting, which enhances the song sonically. The critic also mentioned Echosmithdeserves praise for their catchy melodies and distinct sound. Cool Kids has become a summer anthem for the group, giving the song a 4.5 out of 5 stars.