First Album By Hawthorne Heights: The Silence In Black And White, Ohio Is For Lovers

Just as with many musicians, Hawthorne Heights true love of making music is what drove them to pursue their dream of making it big in the rock world. Originating from Dayton, Ohio, Hawthorne Heights was fist known as A Day In The Life. In the summer of 2001, after making some changes in line up, the band decided to start anew with their now widely known name, Hawthorne Heights. With three guitarists and two vocalists, one of which who sings while the other screams, Hawthorne Heights finally found their popularity rising in the screamo rock world, and their dreams of becoming rocks stars became a reality.

Word of mouth traveled quick once Hawthorne Heights began booking their own gigs and opening for popular bands like the Descendents, From Autumn to Ashes, and Coheed and Cambria. Then in 2003, a record label finally began to take notice of the band. The president of Victory Records, Tony Brummel, listened to a demo produced by the band and knew the songs filled with angst and a touch of romance would become a hit. He then invited the band to come to Chicago to perform for the Victory Records staff.

By March of 2004, Hawthorne Heights finished recording their debut album, The Silence In Black and White, for Victory Records. The band stayed true to their screamo rock image with songs containing lyrics filled with anguish accompanied by heavy guitars. The very first song on their debut album, “Life On Sunday,” comes right at listeners with their dual vocalists, singing and screaming along with their trio of guitars. After songs filled with angry yet catchy lyrics, the album wraps up with the song, “Speeding Up the Octaves,” which begins and ends with the sounds of piano and string instruments.

The first hit from The Silence in Black and White was the song, “Ohio is for Lovers.” This first single became extremely popular with the screamo/emo kids with lyrics like; “So cut my wrists and black my eyes. So I can fall asleep tonight, or die. Because you kill me. You know you do, you kill me well. You like it too, and I can tell.” The second single, “Niki FM”, was loved by fans just as much as, “Ohio is for Lovers.” Hawthorne Heights payed tribute to the classic 80’s romantic comedy, “Say Anything,” with their song, “Niki FM,” with the lyrics: “I’m outside of your window with my radio. You are the only station. You play the song I know. You are the song I know.”

With its catchy lyrics, screams of angst and heavy guitars, The Silence in Black and White became a smash hit. The band's first album broke Victory Records’ sales records within the first week of its release by selling over three thousand albums. The album also quickly earned its gold record status and is still heading towards becoming a platinum album. The Silence In Black and White is now a part of many screamo fans’ album collections.


Sources:
Hawthorne Heights Lyrics, “Niki FM.” plyrics.com. 21 June. 2007. http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/hawthorneheights/nik ifm.html
Hawthorne Heights Lyrics, “Ohio is for Lovers.” plyrics.com. 21 June. 2007. http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/hawthorneheights/ohi oisforlovers.html
“Hawthorne Heights: Not lonely anymore.” Fuse TV. 2006. 21 June. 2007. http://fuse.tv/music/artist.php?id=647
Skillings, Derek. “Hawthorne Heights-Silence In Black and White.” Decapolis. June 2004. 21 June. 2007. http://www.decapolis.com/music_/pages/HawthorneHei ghts-Silencein.shtml