For the duration of Los Angeles-based Lifehouse's ten-year career they've been delicately balancing two identities: radio-ready song craftsmen and raucous live rock and roll band. On their forthcoming fifth studio album, Smoke & Mirrors, the band finally unites these two personalities. "We toured for over a year before we started making this record," says singer and guitarist Jason Wade. "With the new album we really wanted to capture what we were doing on the road but halfway through recording, it was apparent we hadn't focused enough on the equally important radio side. It finally dawned on us to just do both."
Still in their twenties, the guys in Lifehouse have an impressive resume. Founding members Jason Wade and drummer Ricky Woolstenhulme Jr. met in Los Angeles and formed the band in the late 90s. Lifehouse released its smash debut No Name Face in 2000, which launched them to global stardom. Their breakout single "Hanging by a Moment" was the single most played radio track of 2001. Over the next few years - joined first by a replacement, bassist Bryce Soderberg and more recently by new member, guitarist Ben Carey - Lifehouse built upon that initial success. Combined album sales are over 5 million and Lifehouse singles have sold over 3 million copies online including number one hits "Hanging By a Moment" and "You and Me." Later Lifehouse singles "First Time," "Whatever It Takes," and "Broken" have also achieved major chart and sales success. From very early on, Lifehouse fans demonstrated a resilient loyalty to the band, so much so that several of the band's hits still maintain chart positions on iTunes, years after their initial release. The band also has a formidable online presence - their video streams are at 70 million and counting.