Transatlantic pop-rock quartet As It Is returns with the announcement of their self-titled fifth studio album, scheduled for arrival on July 17 via FLG. This record marks the first body of work featuring the original quartet in eight years, reuniting Patty Walters, Ben Langford-Biss, Ali Testo, and Patrick Foley. To celebrate this milestone, the band shared their new single “Ruin My Life,” which features a guest appearance from Murray Macleod of The Xcerts. The track serves as a reckless love song dedicated to the history of the band and the unbreakable friendship that sustained them through their career.
The recording process for ‘As It Is’ took place over three sessions with producer Kel Pinchin at the Ranch Production House in Southampton. This environment allowed the band to prioritize spontaneous creativity and layered arrangements over rigid tracking schedules. Musically, the songs draw inspiration from the big rock sounds of The Starting Line and Counting Crows while maintaining a unique identity. This record captures a band rejuvenated and fully in control of their creative output. The chemistry between these four musicians results in an incredibly powerful and cohesive collection of songs.
The lyrical content of the album provides an honest look at the highs and lows of the last 14 years. Tracks like “Do You Remember?” and “What If It All Works Out” explore themes of nostalgia and healing with a transparent perspective. Frontman Patty Walters found a renewed sense of identity outside of the industry before returning to the studio with a clear vision for this new era. This record functions as a testament to the overarching brotherhood shared by the members. They wrote these songs on their own terms, focusing on the joy of connection and the fulfillment found in making music together again.
Every song on the self-titled release holds a specific sentiment that reflects who the band members are today. The addition of “Ruin My Life” to their catalog highlights a new level of honesty in their storytelling. By spacing out the writing process while away from a heavy touring schedule, the group allowed these compositions to blossom naturally. The final result stands as a doubling down on the core values that initially formed the group. This album represents a choice to create art for the sake of art, resulting in their most confident and proud work to date.