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SUPERCHIC[K]

Artist: Superchic[k] Genre: Garage Rock / Pop-Punk Label: InPop

What started as a vision for a one-girl revolution has multiplied into an army of nonconformists who believe in themselves and their ability to affect change. So defines the impact of Superchic[k], a Chicago-based band whose albums inspire, empower, and entertain with a call to rise above society's unhealthy trappings. Their previous albums—Karaoke Superstar, Last One Picked, and the remix disc Regeneration—ignited the radio with such hits as "Hero," "Get Up," "Barlow Girls," "So Bright (Stand Up)," "Na Na," "Me Against the World," and "One Girl Revolution." While listeners ate up the songs like pop candy, the press likewise embraced the band with features in Bop, Seventeen, Marie Claire, and ReMix magazines. Ready for another round, the band's new album Beauty From Pain breathes fresh life into their relentless search for the next young revolutionary.

Superchic[k]—featuring vocalists Tricia and Melissa Brock, bassist/vocalist Matt Dally, lead guitarist Dave Ghazarian, drummer Brandon Estelle, and deejay/producer Max Hsu—raises the bar musically and lyrically with Beauty From Pain. While still packed with punky-pop anthems, the new album finds innovative ways to add more diversity, stylistic blends, and emotional range. As Matt explains, "We tried to get punk rock riffs under hip-hop beats with pop-punk and R&B melodies intertwined. When people listen to it, they think it's a cross between Black Eyed Peas and Blink 182."

Equally exciting, Beauty From Pain reshapes the way the band communicates its positive message. While Karaoke Superstar addressed self-esteem issues and Last One Picked delved into real stories inspired by fans, Beauty From Pain is the first Superchic[k] album to take an in-depth look at the artists' own personal lives in real time. Over a recent six-month period, each member faced the breakup of a serious relationship. Some marked the end of long-term relationships, others were stuck in break-up/make-up cycles, but eventually the band reached its first point in which everyone was single at the same time.

"Relationships are something that everyone goes through, and for us, God brought us all to a place of singleness," explains Melissa. "The title Beauty From Pain sums up those relationships. We all go through these hard-hard times, but in reality, there is a beauty in that pain because it makes us stronger people and prompts us to lean on God in a way that we never have before. When a relationship is over, as much as it hurts and as hard as it can be, God is the One who is still there, and He fulfills us."

"There's a lyric in Beauty From Pain that says, 'Though I don't understand why this happened, I know that I will when I look back someday,'" adds Max. "When you are in that dark place, hope can be an elusive thing to find. Some days you just have to grind out the pity party. For us, we've found redemption from these times. Beauty From Pain represents the hope that has emerged. We've come out wiser, stronger and smarter."

Adds Tricia, "The songs won't bring you down. But if you are down, this album lets you know that you're not alone."

On previous albums, Superchic[k] addressed issues they had already lived through. Beauty From Pain actively chronicles the band's struggles, as they wrote the songs to process through their experiences.

Allowing their real-life hardships to inspire the songs, Melissa notes, "It makes the music more powerful. We are singing from the heart. We can relate to those times when life gets lonely. As much as it hurts, God is the one who picks up the pieces and helps us go on because He's the one who makes us whole."

In the end, the band spent nearly a year and a half composing the album and six months recording it. And with such a personal album, the band was reluctant to release Beauty From Pain until they felt it was completely ready. While the band continued to tour during this time, Max stayed behind to work on the album, and the other members would fly home between shows for marathon recording sessions.

"I feel like we've finally hit our stride musically," says Max. "On this album, the entire band contributed and we really poured ourselves into the process. We want to make cool music, but more importantly, we want to change kids' lives," adds Matt. "If any of us lives this life without making a difference, we are just wasting the gifts and talents that God gave us," he says.