New Lyric Video for “Skin Crawl (featuring Brian “Head” Welch of Korn, Dan Weyandt of Zao, Bruce Fitzhugh of Living Sacrifice)” Out Today – WATCH HERE
NEW YORK, NY –– APRIL 1, 2022 – Critically–acclaimed rock band Islander released a new album today called It’s Not Easy Being Human via Better Noise Music. The heavy rock act also dropped a new lyric video for their track “Skin Crawl (featuring Brian “Head” Welch of Korn, Dan Weyandt of Zao, Bruce Fithugh of Living Sacrifice)” today. Currently touring with Attila, He Is Legend and Crown Megatar across North America, the band is excited to share their latest body of work, and third album, as they reconnect with fans on stage this spring. Earning over 16 MILLION streams worldwide, this next album leans into their unique ability to offer meditative art amidst the chaos in the world, striking a vulnerable tone as they call for empathy amongst their ever–growing global fanbase and invite their musical peers to join them in sending out this message. It’s Not Easy Being Human is now available for streaming and download across all digital platforms HERE. Watch their latest lyric video for “Skin Crawl (featuring Brian “Head” Welch of Korn, Dan Weyandt of Zao, Bruce Fithugh of Living Sacrifice)” HERE.
Lead singer Mikey Carvajal shared his thoughts on the band’s new album: “It’s not easy being human. It’s something everyone can relate to. We know that this life isn’t easy, and as frequently as we’ve all heard the saying, “people are dealing with their own struggles that we may never know about,” we want to actually apply that knowledge into choosing to be good to one another. It’s as simple as the title says…It’s Not Easy Being Human, so we hope it encourages everyone to show each other a little grace in this crazy life. We included a ton of our friends on the record from Korn, Underoath, Zao, P.O.D., I Prevail, Bad Brains, Living Sacrifice, Lacey Sturm, Fire From The Gods, and Hyro The Hero. I’ve always been interested in seeing my favorite artists work together and we wanted to do that on this record, by leaning on one another, supporting one another, and just having a musical party. We even had the wrestling icon Sting star in a video for one of the tracks. A lot of rap albums have guests all over them, so we were like “why not just do that with our friends?”
Some of the band’s collaborators on the album added their excitement over Islander and the project, with the following statements:
“A unique, sick band with great songs.” – Brian “Head” Welch of KORN
“‘Skin Crawl’ is a powerhouse track and I am grateful to Islander for having me be a part of it!” – Dan Weyandt of ZAO
“Creativity [on this album] gets an A+” – HR of BAD BRAINS
“New school band with old school passion. Keep your eyes and ears open for these guys!” – Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D.
“When Mikey hit me up about guesting on this song I said yes with no hesitation. Then, he told me who else would be on it, and I was even more stoked. I have known Dan from Zao for over 20 years and have loved his vocals from the first time I heard him in the studio. I am honored to be on this track with Islander, Dan and Head.” – Bruce Fitzhugh of Living Sacrifice
Partnering with To Write Love on Her Arms, Islander previously released “What Do You Gotta Lose?” last spring, dropping a stunning visual for the track produced by 12 Inch Media with artwork by John Wellman that pointed viewers to resources for anyone dealing with anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts. The song mixed deeply personal songwriting with their loud, infectious sound to create an anthem about moving forward in the face of mental health challenges. The band also released “The Outsider” last year, a tribute to why the band originally gravitated towards rock music and an embrace of anyone feeling like an outcast within the community of listeners the group has formed. To catch Islander on the Ragefest tour through April 17, visit https://www.bandsintown.com/it/a/1988954-islander.
It’s Not Easy Being Human Tracklisting
We Scream (feat. Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath) (2:41)
Evil (2:49)
It’s Not Easy Being Human (feat. Lacey Sturm) (2:54)
Lookin’ For Love (3:14)
Lights, Camera, Action (feat. Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D.) (2:58)
Skin Crawl (feat. Brian “Head” Welch of Korn, Dan Weyandt of Zao, Bruce Fitzhugh of Living Sacrifice) (4:11)
Black Scorpion (2:57)
Skateboard Flowers (feat. HR of Bad Brains) (2:39)
What Do You Gotta Lose? (3:42)
Mayday (3:43)
Crazy Crazy World (3:32)
Y’all (feat. Hyro The Hero) (2:30)
My Friends (feat. Eric Vanlerberghe of I Prevail) (2:31)
Tear It Down (2:47)
Freedom (feat. AJ Channer of Fire From The Gods) (3:22)
No Sleep (3:15)
The Outsider (2:53)
Ragefest Tour Dates
04/01 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
04/02 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Concert Hall
04/03 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center
04/05 – Tucson, AZ – 191 Toole
04/07 – Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
04/08 – Fresno, CA – Strummers
04/09 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
04/10 – Santa Cruz, CA – Catalyst
04/11 – Reno, NV – Virginia Street Brewhouse
04/13 – Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell
04/14 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater
04/15 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
04/16 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
04/17 – Springfield, MO – Outland Ballroom
Stories Behind the Music of It’s Not Easy Being Human:
***As told by Islander lead singer Mikey Carvajal
“We Scream”is a song about not compromising your integrity. Whether it be your art, or just what you know to be right. It’s that simple.
“Evil”addresses the things I believe are good being masked as evil, and vice versa. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, just because you call a rattlesnake a lamb doesn’t make it less deadly.
“It’s Not Easy Being Human”is about showing grace to one another, because we know life isn’t easy and we don’t know what people are going through.
“Lookin’ For Love”is about a love/hate relationship. I wrote it as a metaphor about my relationship with music sometimes. At times, the things that we love can be what hurts us the most. I always want to remember to have fun in my relationship with music and not let the business side ever get the best of me.
“Lights, Camera, Action” is a song about how I’ve seen the entertainment industry chew up and spit out my friends left and right. It’s about remembering that we are people before we are entertainers. It’s so important to stay down to earth.
“Skin Crawl”is a song about how trippy it is just to be alive. If you really think hard about life and death, I mean REALLY think about it, it’ll hurt your brain and make your skin crawl.
“Black Scorpion”is a story told from my point of view, as I watch people buy into the “rock star” dream and wear a mask that they never take off. The mask eventually becomes their face and they can’t even remember that it’s a mask anymore. It’s also a metaphor for an early 90s wrestling moment, where “Black Scorpion” played mind games with Sting for months, finally getting him in the ring and revealing himself as Ric Flair.
“Skateboard Flowers”is a song about living life to the fullest and leaving a legacy on this earth while thinking about what life after this earth holds for us as well. How dope would it be if skateboards grew out of the ground like flowers?
“What Do You Gotta Lose?”is a song about hoping for a better tomorrow. I’ve personally dealt with suicidal thoughts in my life and I’ve met a lot of fans that have as well. If suicide could save our lives, we’d all have done that by now. It doesn’t. It only ends the possibility of it getting better. This song is a plea to anyone that hears it to hold on. Joy comes in the morning.
“Mayday”talks about how turning on the news can bring down your energy. It’s a song about how I’m stoked for the end of things because I’m more stoked for a new beginning. I believe there is hope within the sadness though.
“Crazy Crazy World”is a song that everyone can relate to in one way or another. I wrote the lyrics when I was struggling with depression a few years back, but it really is an anthem for how a lot of people are feeling during the pandemic. It’s not a heavy song musically, but I feel like the last several years have been heavy enough for everyone. We wanted to contrast that heaviness with something beautiful and relatable. Also, how sick is it that Sting (WWE Hall of Famer) stars in the music video?
“Y’all” is a fun song talking about growing up in the subculture of punk rock, hardcore, hip hop, and more in the south, while staying real and true to your roots.
“My Friends”is a song about how I would lay my life down for my friends. It’s a song about serving people instead of wondering what you can get out of them.
“Tear It Down”is a song about uncovering the truth of a corporate conspiracy and not backing down to expose the truth. Think of it like Batman trying to bring down the crooked cops of Gotham City.
“Freedom”I believe sometimes the things we call freedom enslave us. It’s easy to get caught up in our own vices or addictions. It’s important to constantly examine ourselves by asking, “is this something I have control over or are my own desires controlling me.” Someone once said “freedom isn’t the freedom to do what we want – it’s the freedom to do what is right.”
“No Sleep” is a song about being aware. The word “woke” by definition is “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).” If that is the definition, I’m all for it. But the word “woke” has become a term that allows for people to restrict their activism for only those that agree with them politically. So, when the word woke is used in this song, it’s the literal idea of even being aware of what the word woke has become. So in this way, it’s redeeming the word.
“The Outsider”is a song for anyone that feels like an outcast. Anyone that is struggling to fit in, know that you’re loved, you’re beautiful, and you’re always welcome at Islander’s table. Don’t ever forget that.
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ABOUT ISLANDER
Islander understands that complacency is the deadly enemy of progress. The South Carolina band — Mikey Carvajal, Chris Carvajal, and Erik Shea — refuses to grow stagnant with time by challenging themselves to evolve continually. No two singles are alike, yet the group finds a way to make the combination of their vast influences work together in a manner unlike anyone else. You cannot call what Islander does rock or rap or even nu–metal. They make music that moves people, plain and simple, and that’s all they want to do.
“We’re a very intimate band in that I want to be there and hear people’s stories,” says Mikey Carvajal. I’m not in this to be a rockstar. If that were ever the case, and it were about money or fame, I just wouldn’t do it. I’m only here because I genuinely love people, and I want to see them do good in their lives. I want us to continue to spread love, hopefully on a higher level than before.”
Now a decade into a career built with that mission in mind, Islander continues to grow a global fanbase. The band writes from a place of love and empathy channeled into raucous music that can incite mosh pits and comfort those who feel alone. It’s a delicate balance between chaos and focused effort that only Islander can perfect, and it’s because of that combination that the group remains one of the most versatile names in entertainment today.
“If you speak about real things, they will remain relevant,” says Carvajal. “We all have skin and bones and blood. We’re all human beings trying to make it in this world. The most important thing is being there for people, and our music allows us to do that.”
Islander heads into the new year with high hopes and a bevy of material. Four years of writing and recording has given the band their most diverse and collaborative music to date. From the rallying cries of “Freedom” to the meditative flow of “Crazy Crazy World” and beyond, Islander is creating a space for listeners to process the madness of today and find hope for a better tomorrow.
BETTER NOISE MUSIC is the premiere independent music label under BETTER NOISE ENTERTAINMENT, a content creation and marketing company that produces music, books, films, documentaries, TV shows, theatrical productions, and tours. Better Noise Music (formerly Eleven Seven Music), founded in 2006 by music industry veteran and independent pioneer Allen Kovac, focuses on artist development and has grown into a music industry independent powerhouse, with a roster including Five Finger Death Punch, Asking Alexandria, Bad Wolves, Dirty Heads, Nothing More, The HU, AWOLNATION, All Good Things, From Ashes To New, Cory Marks, and Fire From The Gods. Partnering with FUGA, AMPED and Membran, the company operates a global marketing and distribution platform with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Paris, Toronto and Sydney.
In 2021, Better Noise Music dominated Billboard’s Year End charts in the rock space, landing at #1 on the Mainstream Rock Imprint, Hard Rock Songs Imprint, Hard Rock Songs Label charts and ranked as one of the top Mainstream Rock Label for the year.
