April 19, 2010. Shaant Hacikyan, the founding member of Cute Is What We Aim For has come full circle. After struggling with alcohol addiction and successfully completing treatment, Shaant began writing music again and will be releasing a new album with a fresh reincarnated version of the band. He is also prepping for a headlining tour with The Friday Night Boys, The Bigger Lights and Down With Webster, which kicks off May 11th in Boston.
Shaant is back better than ever and ready to get on the road with a new line-up. Members of CIWWAF that are joining Shaant on tour are Michael Novak on Drums, former member of Every Time I Die and former members of Mandy K on guitar are Michael Brady and Kevin Scoma.
The band formed in January 2005 and in less than a year they were signed to Fueled by Ramen. The band’s 2006 debut The Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch, produced by Matt Squire, spent countless months on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. They successfully headlined Alternative Press’ Bands You Need To Know tour (and graced the cover of the magazine) and were named one of Rolling Stones’ 10 Artists To Watch—all while the group were still teenagers.
The band was upstreamed to Atlantic Records and began recording their sophomore album, Rotation, with John Feldmann. Rotation, was released in June 2008, and hit the Billboard charts at No. 21. But despite the group’s positive press and frequent touring, all was not well within the ranks.
Despite the band’s fast paced success, by April 2009, the inner workings of CIWWAF started to fall apart. During this time Shaant was struggling personally, which led to alcohol abuse. He quickly lost control of everything around him that was important and decided it was time to take control of his life again. Shaant checked himself into rehab in October 2009 and has been clean ever since. With a new outlook on life and respect for the industry, he returns triumphantly and with an open mind and heart.
“I needed this music to get me out of a depression,” Shaant explains. “You can be that far down, but you can pick yourself back up. I want to make an impact. For a while I was scared to say that. I want to do to those who listen to the music I make what they have done for me, which is keep me alive. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do that for anybody but it’s my hope, and it’s a big hope.”
Feel free to read the exclusive interview here: http://www.altpress.com/features/qa_shaant.htm
For more information, please visit:
www.myspace.com/cuteiswhatweaimfor
Upcoming Tour Dates:
May 11 2010 6:00P Middle East Boston, Massachusetts
May 12 2010 6:00P Highline Ballroom New York, New York
May 13 2010 6:00P Diesel Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
May 14 2010 6:00P First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 15 2010 6:00P School Of Rock South Hackensaw, New Jersey
May 16 2010 6:00P Recher Theater Towson, Maryland
May 18 2010 6:00P Canal Club Richmond, Virginia
May 19 2010 6:00P Tremont Music Hall Charlotte, North Carolina
May 20 2010 6:00P Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
May 21 2010 6:00P The Social Orlando, Florida
May 22 2010 6:00P Culture Room Fort Lauderdale
May 23 2010 6:00P The State Theater Saint Petersburg, Florida
May 25 2010 6:00P Meridian Red Room Houston, Texas
May 26 2010 6:00P Antones Austin, Texas
May 27 2010 6:00P The Loft Dallas, Texas
May 28 2010 6:00P Launchpad Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 29 2010 6:00P The Clubhouse Tempe, Arizona
May 30 2010 6:00P Soma San Diego, California
Jun 1 2010 6:00P Chain Reaction Anaheim, California
Jun 2 2010 6:00P Troubadour West Hollywood, California
Jun 3 2010 6:00P The Downtown Brew San Luid Obisco, California
Jun 4 2010 6:00P Slims San Francisco, California
Jun 5 2010 6:00P The Boardwalk Orangevale, California
Jun 7 2010 6:00P Hawthorne Theater Portland, Oregon
Jun 8 2010 6:00P El Corazon Seattle, Washington
Jun 10 2010 6:00P Murray Theater Salt Lake City, Utah
Jun 11 2010 6:00P Marquis Theater Denver, Colorado
Jun 12 2010 6:00P The Black Sheep Colorado Springs, Colorado
Jun 14 2010 6:00P Station 4 St Paul, Minnesota
Jun 15 2010 6:00P Reggies Rock Club Chicago, Illinois
Jun 16 2010 6:00P The Rave Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jun 17 2010 6:00P Eagle Theater Pontiac, Michigan
Jun 18 2010 6:00P The Basement Columbus, Ohio
Jun 19 2010 6:00P Grog Shop Cleveland Heights, Ohio