STRIVE

Chicago-based STRIVE mixes the arena-friendly style of The Fray with an inspirational message akin to U2 and Switchfoot. The band’s members are genuine in their pursuit of crafting lyrics that are heartfelt and sounds that are uplifting.

“FIRE was written to inspire listeners to live lives which are selfless, seeking to make their communities a better place,” says STRIVE front man Derick Thompson, whose vocal resemblance could be described as akin to Josh Groban. “I’ve found that when I’m full of hope and excited about life, it spills out onto everyone around me. Same is true when I’m lost in my own self-pity, trying to make sense of the difficulty which is life. A choice had to be made whether to write a disc focused on the negatives or positives we all face. FIRE burns brightest when it’s surrounded by darkness. I hope this album burns bright.”

Already sparking success, the band’s first radio single, “Smallest Things,” has been downloaded around the globe by over 200 radio stations, 65 television networks and 80 other press outlets in 48 countries. Broadcast outlets wishing to download a review copy of “Smallest Things” can go to http://www.strivefans.com/st.html.

In addition to its first radio single success, four additional songs from the album, “Better Way,” “Away From Here,” “Leave With Me” and “Nothing’s Impossible,” have been licensed for MTV’s The Real World and E!: Entertainment Television’s Keeping Up With the Kardashians. STRIVE’s “Nothing’s Impossible” is also a top 10 hit on the highly ranked indie outlet Our Stage in its Pop music category (www.ourstage.com). The band further placed No. 14 on the myCCM top 100 artists of 2007, and Atomic Design Laboratory has licensed STRIVE music for the company’s Tribulation Knights Christian adventure video game (LINK).

Asked about the cross-section of interest in its music, Derick says, “We want to inspire people to find out what they are passionate about, and then use those passions to make the world a better place. If the lyrics and melodies touch you, it’s less important what musical genre it comes from.”

Touring extensively in the US, STRIVE also travels internationally with extended tours in Brazil and Russia. Derick recounts, “The most memorable gig we have ever played was to 1,500 orphan kids in a rural city on the outskirts of Moscow. The looks on those kids’ faces are what STRIVE is all about.” The show was a part of STRIVE’s participation in a 21-day tour throughout Russia for AIDS awareness.