Are You Alright? is the debut EP by English indie rock band Lovejoy, released independently on 9 May 2021. It contains four tracks and runs only 12 minutes and 7 seconds. Due to this, it was not able to chart by itself. However, three out of the EP's four tracks charted on the UK Singles Chart, and the band debuted at number 10 on Billboards Emerging Artists chart on 20 May 2021. The name of the band's label, Anvil Cat Records, is a nod to the cover art of the EP. Over a year after its release, it was released on vinyl as a compilation album with Lovejoy's second EP Pebble Brain.
Background William Gold (stage name Wilbur Soot), an English YouTuber, streamer, and musician, had a previously established audience from his participation in SootHouse, a comedy channel, and the Dream SMP, a roleplaying Minecraft server. Additionally, he had already released several singles, an EP, Maybe I Was Boring, and an album, Your City Gave Me Asthma, prior to the release of Are You Alright? Thus, Lovejoy had gained a sizable following from Gold's fanbase even before the release of Are You Alright?
In early 2021, Gold formed the band Lovejoy with Joe Goldsmith, who had previously been in a folk group with him. They were joined by Ash Kabosu and Mark Boardman, and began immediately recording their first EP.
Recording The EP was recorded in two days in March 2021 at Brighton Electric. Gold told music magazine Dork that the band "didn’t get enough done" during the recording sessions due to how much it would have cost the band to keep returning to the studio to complete the recordings, and hence was forced to use his draft vocals on the EP. As a result of this, some of the lyrics of the songs on the EP are incorrect, leading to confusion among fans when they are played at concerts.
Track listing The description of the EP's official YouTube video credits William Gold, Joe Goldsmith, Ash Kabosu and Mark Boardman as writers. However, on streaming platforms, Gold and Goldsmith are solely credited as writers for all tracks.
Personnel Lovejoy William Gold – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, writing Joe Goldsmith – lead guitar, writing Ash Kabosu – bass, writing Mark Boardman – drums, writing
Production Cameron Nesbitt – producer Shaw Rayment – mastering Elsie Cairns – cover art
From Studio 4
An acoustic version of Are You Alright?, titled From Studio 4, was released independently through Anvil Cat Records and AWAL on 7 April 2023 by Lovejoy under the alias "Anvil Cat", though all tracks on the EP also credit "Lovejoy" as a featuring artist. It features an acoustic version of the scrapped instrumental track originally meant as an introduction for Are You Alright?, titled "Tomorrow". From Studio 4 was released on vinyl in the United States on 24 November 2023 for RSD Black Friday.
Track listing All tracks written by William Gold and Joe Goldsmith, except for "Tomorrow", which is written by Gold, Goldsmith, Ash Kabosu and Mark Boardman.
Release history + Release formats for Are You Alright? Region Date Format Label Version Various 10 May 2021 Self-released Original 14 October 2022 LP Compilation with Pebble Brain 7 April 2023 Acoustic (From Studio 4) United States 24 November 2023 12" EP
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