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
Genres
Years active2006–present
Labels
MembersGianni Nicassio
Joel Cassady
Sarah Blackwood
David “Tokyo” Speirs
Past membersPeter Kirkwood
Mike Taylor
Ryan Marshall
Websitewalkofftheearth.com

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[edit]

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..

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]

On June 9, 2021 Walk Off the Earth released "Love You Right" as the lead single from their upcoming sixth studio album. "Love You Right" would mark their first collaboration with Grammy nominated Danish group Lukas Graham.[21] The single received over a million streams in less than a week. The accompanying music video was directed by Chris Di Staulo.[22]

The band released their sixth studio album, "Meet You There", across all digital music platforms on July 22, 2021.[22]

On August 9, 2021, Walk Off the Earth partnered with Amazon Music for a performance from atop Toronto’s CN Tower to be live-streamed on Amazon’s Twitch channel. The live stream event was the first performance of the bands newly released sixth studio album.[23]

On September 24, 2021 the band released their first original 7-track children’s album, Romeo Eats Vol. 1 via Golden Carrot Records/The Orchard. The album arrived alongside the group's children’s companion web series, "Romeo Eats," a food discovery show hosted by Walk Off the Earth lead singer Gianni Luminati and his 3-year-old son Romeo. Each "Romeo Eats" episode shows Romeo trying new foods, and includes an original song produced by Walk Off the Earth that features the explored food in question.[24] The songs were subsequently released on album as Walk Off the Earth & Romeo Eats, Vol. 1; the album's Juno Award nomination for Children's Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022 made Romeo the youngest Juno nominee in the entire history of the awards.[25]

On March 18, 2022 Walk off the Earth recruited D Smoke, who had appeared in Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow, for their anthem, “Bet On Me”.[26]

In the summer of 2022, Walk off the Earth returned on July 8 with the release of their latest single, “Back in Bed".[27]

Members[edit]

Current members[edit]

Walk off the Earth in 2023; left to right, Sarah Blackwood, David Speirs, Gianni Nicassio, and Joel Cassady
  • 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, mandolin (2011–present)
  • David "Tokyo" Speirs – percussion, trumpet, flute, drums, bass (touring musician 2016–2020, full band member 2020–present)
  • Adam Michael – guitar, keyboards, bass (touring musician 2016–2020, full band member 2020–present)

Touring musicians[edit]

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

Past members[edit]

  • 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; his death)
  • Ryan Marshall – vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica, trumpet, ukulele, percussion, keyboards (2006–2019)

Timeline[edit]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales
CAN
[28]
AUS
[29]
AUT
[30]
NLD
[31]
SWI
[32]
UK
[33]
US
[34]
US Alt.
[35]
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[39]
  • Label: Golden Carrot
11
[40]
44
[41]
Meet You There
  • Released: July 23, 2021[42]
  • Label: Golden Carrot
Romeo Eats Vol. 1
  • Released: September 24, 2021
  • Label: Golden Carrot/The Orchard
Romeo Eats Vol. 2
  • Released: February 25, 2022
  • Label: Golden Carrot/The Orchard
Stand by You
  • Released: August 18, 2023
  • Label: Golden Carrot/The Orchard
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays[edit]

Title EP details Peak chart positions
CAN
[28]
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
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[43]
  • Label: Walk Off the Earth
20
[44]
A Christmas Album
  • Released: November 9, 2023
  • Label: Walk off the Earth

Singles[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
CAN
[45]
AUS
[46]
BEL
(Fl)

[47]
FRA
[48]
GER
[49]
NLD
[31]
SWE
[50]
SWI
[32]
UK
[33]
US Bub.
[51]
"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[36]
"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"[52] 94
"Savage Love"[53] 2020 Non-album single
"This Is Love"[54] Meet You There
"How It Is"[55] 2021
"Anthem"[56]
"Love You Right"
(featuring Lukas Graham)[57]
"Hold on to Your Love"
(featuring Phillip Phillips)[58]
Stand by You
"Bet on Me"
(featuring D Smoke)[59]
2022
"Back in Bed"
"Happy Stuff"
"Tomorrow Can Wait"
(with Tenille Townes)
"My Stupid Heart"[60] 2023 92
"Whatever"
"Long Way Home"
(with Lindsey Stirling)
"Caught Me at My Lowest
(Casey Lowry and Walk off the Earth)
Non-album singles
"Y.M.C.A."
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

As featured artist[edit]

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Paradise"[61]
(Nicky Romero and Deniz Koyu featuring Walk off the Earth)
2018 Non-album singles
"High Hopes"
(Gabriela Bee featuring Walk off the Earth)
2019

Awards and nominations[edit]

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 YearSing 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
2022 Juno Awards Juno Award for Children's Album of the Year — Romeo Eats Vol. 1 Nominated
2023 Juno Awards Juno Award for Children's Album of the Year — Romeo Eats Vol. 2 Won

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Columbia signs Walk Off The Earth". Crazed Hits. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  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.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ "2016 Juno Awards: The complete list of winners". Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. 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.
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  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. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. 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. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020.
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  25. ^ Jackson Weaver, "Charlotte Cardin, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber lead 2022 Juno Award nominees". CBC News, March 1, 2022.
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  56. ^ "Anthem – Single by Walk Off the Earth". Apple Music. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
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  58. ^ "Hold on to Your Love – Single by Walk Off the Earth & Phillip Phillips". Apple Music. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  59. ^ "Bet on Me – Single by Walk Off the Earth & D Smoke". Apple Music. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  60. ^ "My Stupid Heart – Single by Walk Off the Earth". Apple Music. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
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External links[edit]