Miss Fortune (band)

Miss Fortune is an American post-hardcore band from Denver, Colorado and McAllen, Texas, formed in 2012 by lead vocalist Mikey Sawyer and guitarist Josh Kikta Thelander. The band currently consists of Sawyer, Thelander, and bass guitarist Ian Marchionda.

The band's original line-up consisted of members from previously unsigned post-hardcore bands including vocalist Eddie Cano, formerly of Scarlett O'Hara, drummer Jace Thomas, formerly of Make Me Famous, bass guitarist Baker Smith, formerly of Famous Last Words. They signed to Sumerian Records and released their debut full-length studio album, A Spark to Believe, in 2014 to critical acclaim. In support of the release, the band toured nationally in the United States with other post-hardcore bands such as I See Stars, Like Moths to Flames, Ghost Town, and Razihel. In early 2015, the band departed from Sumerian, becoming an independent act. After numerous line-up changes, the band recruited former The Word Alive drummer Luke Holland to record drums for their second studio album, which is set to be released in 2017. They released the single "Die for You" on November 25, 2016.

History

2012–13: Formation

Miss Fortune formed between founding members, former Close Your Eyes vocalist Mikey Sawyer and former Scarlett O'Hara screaming vocalist Eddie Cano, in February 2012. The duo recruited Jace Thomas and Ian Marchionda, formerly of Dear Chandelier, to pursue drums and bass guitar, respectively. The band later approached Joshua Kikta Thelander and Harley Graves to each pursue lead and rythme guitar. The group released their debut single, "The Double Threat of Danger", featuring Issues clean vocalist Tyler Carter, in May 2012. Screaming vocalist Eddie Cano departed from the band in late 2012 and formed the rock band Chase the Lights with former Scarlett O'Hala member Rene Lopez.^[1]

On October 8, 2013, it was announced that drummer Jace Thomas had departed from the band.^[2]

On December 17, 2013, the band announced its signing to Sumerian Records, releasing the single "Interstate 44".^[3]

2014–15: A Spark to Believe, Mike Sawyer's arrest, and departure from Sumerian Records

On March 4, 2014, the band released their single and music video, "Chasing Dreams".^[4] The band wrote and recorded their debut studio full-length album, A Spark to Believe, throughout early 2014 with producer Kris Crummett in Portland, Oregon.^[5] The album was released to stream on YouTube on May 16 and was physically released on May 19, 2014, to critical acclaim.^[6]

Miss Fortune toured as a supporting act on the Red, White, and Black tour with headliner I See Stars, Like Moths to Flames, Ghost Town, and former Hopes Die Last member Razihel in the United States from April 22 to May 17, 2014.^[7]

The band released their cover of "No Light, No Light", by Florence and the Machine, as part of the tribute album Florence + the Sphinx, on April 10, 2014.^[8]

Miss Fortune announced the headlining Pick Your Poison tour with supporting acts Outline in Color and Animal in Me on May 7, 2014, which took place from June 8 to June 18, 2014.^[9] On September 10, the group was announced to support The Word Alive on their Get it Real U.S. tour with The Color Morale, Our Last Night and The Dead Rabbits, however dropped off the tour due to vocalist Mikey Sawyer's arrest.^[10]

It was revealed on October 29, 2014, that lead vocalist Mikey Sawyer had been arrested on charges of domestic assault and battery.^[11] Due to his arrest, CEO of Sumerian Records, Ash Avildsen, announced that he had disclused MissFortune's recording acontract, forcing them to drop off the label.^[12]

In early 2015, members of Miss Fortune, Josh Kikta and Mikey Sawyer, helped form the metalcore side-project Northern Lights.^[13] The group released its first single "Ashamed" on March 3, 2015.^[14]

2016–present: New album

Miss Fortune reformed and recruited former The Word Alive drummer Luke Holland to record drums on the band's self-titled sophomore studio album. The album's lead single, "Die for You", was released on November 25, 2016, and was produced by Cameron Mizell.^[15][16]

Sound and name

Miss Fortune has been labeled as post-hardcore,^[17] alternative rock, and pop. The band's name derives from a lyric taken from the song "Take That Shit Back to Baxter", from their debut album A Spark to Believe.

Band members

Current line-up

• Mikey Sawyer - lead vocals (2012–present)
• Josh Kikta Thelander - guitar (2012–present)
• Ian Marchionda - bass guitar (2013–present)

Session members

• Luke Holland - drums, percussion (2016)

Former members

• Eddie Cano - unclean vocals (2012)
• Baker Smith - bass guitar (2012–2013)
• Jace Thomas - drums, percussion (2012–2013)
• Harley Graves - guitar (2012–2014)

Discography

Studio albums

• A Spark to Believe (Sumerian, 2014)
• Miss Fortune (2017)

Singles

• "The Double Threat of Danger" featuring Tyler Carter (2012)
• "Die for You" (2016)

References