Chasing the Sky

Chasing the Sky is a pop-rock band from Grand Rapids, Michigan formed in the summer of 2009. They feature influences from contemporary punk artists like Anberlin and Amber Pacific, indie artists like Brand New and Thrice, and '90s acts like Third Eye Blind. The members of the band have been known to call their music "fun" yet "intimate".

The Empty Chair - EP (2010)

Chasing the Sky released "The Empty Chair" EP, on Oct. 1, 2010. The album was produced by Michael Crittenden and Christopher Andrus at Mackinaw Harvest Music Group studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It received mostly positive reviews, with John Sinkevics of The Grand Rapids Press saying the album was made up of "well-crafted, pop-inflected rock with terrific harmonies in edgy songs that build to dynamic, inviting crescendos." West Michigan Noise said the album suffered an "identity crisis", but was ultimately an appealing album of "ballad heavy music with varying degrees of rock".

In December 2010, the band announced via their Facebook page that they plan to release an acoustic version of "The Glass Winter", the second track found on "The Empty Chair". The new version of the song is to be distributed to subscribers of the band's e-mail newsletter and those who purchase items from the webstore.

Untitled 2011 Album (2011 - Present)

During an interview on Christopher Ewing's "The Radio Cafe", the band said they planned on recording a yet untitled full-length album for release in 2011. Since then, they have played several new songs during shows.

Appearance in Media

Chasing the Sky's radio single "Beautiful, Broken Thing" from "The Empty Chair" was used by the television series Glee in association with Chevrolet for a promotional video in support of the largely Chevy sponsored 2011 Superbowl. Additionally, the track was also used in a commercial for Western Digital, the second largest hard disk manufacturer in the world.

The band's second radio single, "Satellites", was featured in the Collective Studios film GR30K, a film which Satirizes the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, directed by Daniel Falicki.

During a television interview with West Michigan's FOX 17 news, vocalist Brenden Stark told interviewer Emily Richetts that the band markets it's music through a company called Noteworthy, run by himself and fellow Grand Rapids Musician, Christopher Andrus.

Members

CURRENT

  • Brenden Stark - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Kevin VanAntwerpen - bass guitar, backup vocals, lyrics
  • Cassidy Warner - keyboard
  • Dana Mika - drums, backup vocals

FORMER

  • Ryan Dekkinga - drums, backup vocals
  • Michael Ritz - bass, backup vocals
  • Timothy Alexander - lead guitar