Who are AJR Brothers? Pop trio to perform 'Bang!' and 'Way Less Sad' for 2021 Billboard Music Awards debut
AJR Brothers, the Indie-pop band who shot to fame with their unique blend of eclectic music will be performing at Billboard Music Awards 2021 on Sunday, May 23. Recently, the band made headlines after their single 'Bang!' released in February 2020 peaked at number 8 in Billboard Hot 100 on January 22, 2021. Previously, the band's third album 'Neotheater' debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200.
The name AJR Brothers comes from the Indie pop trio's initials Adam, Jack, and Ryan who write, produce, and experiment with genres of pop, doo-wop, electronic, and dubstep in their New York City apartment. AJR Brothers, loved by fans for their close-knit dynamic and infectious musical chemistry started its journey in 2005 from New York City's Washington Square Park and eventually found mainstream success with opening for pop queen Demi Lovato, producing hit singles like 'Weak', 'I'm Ready', 'Burn the House Down', 'Way Less Sad' and the most successful being 'Bang!'.
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Bond between the brothers, success and music
AJR Brothers, the band made by three brothers who had the same musical influence, inspired by the likes of Frankie Valli, The Beach Boys, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar and not to forget the artists of the 1960s found their calling only with a bass, a ukulele and a sampler, starting their musical journey from the living room of New York City apartment. The band's meteoric rise to fame has been an inspiring journey for the likes of many indie bands and AJR Brothers calls this success the result of having 'no facades.'
In an interview, bassist and vocalist Adam Met of AJR said, “There’s no facade anymore between us and our fans...Nobody’s telling us you have to make this kind of music, or you have to use this kind of imaging. It’s been a really interesting process trying to find our own voice, but we feel like fans are responding to that because they got to go on that journey of us figuring out who we are with us.” The band took its sweet time to find mainstream approval, almost a decade from the start and the Met Brothers were quick to acknowledge that. Adam explained, “Our very first show that we played I think there were 3 people in the room. And because we actually played that show for them they became lifelong fans...I think we grew because we paid attention to every single person who cared.”
The brothers serve as ambassadors for the It’s On Us campaign to fight sexual assault on campus. AJR performed at the final It’s On Us Summit at the White House in January and released the song “It’s On Us” for the campaign in March.
In an April 2020 interview, AJR Brothers, known for their love of performing shared how they took 2020 to also constantly create and get inspired. Ryan Met revealed, "We decided to every day constantly write and produce songs. And so it seems like now we're gearing towards making the next album." From a three-member audience to Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 charting single 'Bang!', AJR shares that the key to making their own music is adding their own unique quirk, like how they like to cling on to their childhood a bit through music.
Ryan divulged, "We wrote ‘Bang!’ about this moment where you’re trying to do all of the things that you watched your parents do, like pay taxes and eat healthy food, but you don’t yet feel like an adult.” He added, “It’s that feeling of knowing it’s inevitable, it’s coming, you’re gonna grow up at some point. So you might as well lean into it and go out with a bang.”
AJR Brothers will be next seen on the BBMAs 2021 stage, as a part of a star-studded lineup that includes BTS, the Weeknd, Pink, and more. Catch the Billboards Music Awards 2021 on May 23 at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on NBC.