Wake the Light

T-Jay Tipps, the lead vocalist of Tennessee's WAKE THE LIGHT, is no stranger to scrutiny. Coming into your own under a spotlight was not easy, but it made him the man he is today. He and bandmates Steve Augustyn, Eli Phipps, Matt Sharon and Ryan Hughes might all be in their mid 20's, but each of them has a story to tell.

WAKE THE LIGHT's members took different paths to get to this point: T-Jay turned his hardship into a success story, working his way out of poverty and into doing what he loves; Matt Sharon (drums) was a United States Marine who proudly served his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom; Ryan Hughes (bass) is a phenomenal, well-rounded musician who, much like T-Jay, has persevered through tough times in pursuit of his goal; Eli Phipps came in on guitar after hearing of an opening in the band through a mutual friend. After losing their lead guitarist just days before hitting the road, the band convinced Steve Augustyn to fly out from his home in Los Angeles and complete the tour with the band. Sensing a real connection with the other members of WAKE THE LIGHT, Steve uprooted his life, left his family and friends, and moved from L.A. to Tennessee in order to join the band full-time.

In the earlier days, the band struggled to find their way. "We spent so much time trying to be what everyone else expected us to be," says Tipps. "When we were first getting started, we followed the lead of a lot of the other local bands. We tried to bend ourselves to fit into a certain mold. Deep down, we've always been a more melodic band, but it wasn't until we just finally got tired of spinning our wheels that we really started to pull things together and write the material we have now."

WAKE THE LIGHT's debut album was produced by Grammy-nominated and Dove award-winning Travis Wyrick (10 Years, P.O.D.) and recorded at Lakeside Studios in Knoxville, TN. It is a refreshing experience packed with good, solid Rock & Roll that shines due to its candor and potent punch. Backed by precise musicianship, emotionally-charged vocals, and deft songwriting, "Wake the Light is setting up to be the next big rock radio format band with strong songwriting abilities and mass appeal," says producer Wyrick. WAKE THE LIGHT is here to stay.

"What I'm most proud of about this record," adds bassist Hughes, "is that it feels timeless. The music isn't dictated by trends, and I truly feel like this record has something for everyone."

The track "What Are You Waiting For?" is a somber power-rocker that reveals the scars of addiction and its impact on the relationships we foster. "Give Into You" will loom in your mind long after the song has ended. "Can't Live Without You" is a ballad with a monstrous sing-along chorus and huge crossover potential, but the song is not without a conscience, focusing on losing a significant other and that which accompanies it. Tracks like "Broken Wings", "Story", and "Misplaced Hero" show the band's edgier side, which is evident at WAKE THE LIGHT's larger-than-life live shows. "Our live show is where we have always thrived. We feed off the crowd's emotion, and we put our all into playing every time we step on stage. I always tell people if you like the record, just wait till you see us live... and then I wink," says Augustyn. The young band has shared the stage with acts such as Saliva, 12 Stones, Hurt, Course of Nature and countless more. They were Artist of the Week and a finalist for Artist of the Year on mtvU's Best Music on Campus competition. T-Jay was a hand-picked finalist for the lead vocal spot in FUEL and was a Top 100 finalist in CBS' RockStar: INXS show. Their track "Story" was chosen for Adidas' "Impossible is Nothing" marketing campaign.

"When looking at artists to work with, and associate our brand with, we looked for people with a true love of music, and who use it to express and motivate themselves. It was also important to find artists that share core ideals with Adidas," says Mary Renouf-Hanson, Interactive Communications Manager at Adidas America. "We wanted artists our consumers could relate to and would use those tracks to motivate them in life. We felt WAKE THE LIGHT brought a unique sound that the Adidas consumer could relate to."

"Story" wound up being one of the most popular tracks with users. "It was a perfect fit for us since we're all strong believers in the 'you get what you give' philosophy," says T-Jay. "It was really inspiring to read some of the stories that people submitted to the site."

If you get what you give, WAKE THE LIGHT is due some success from their hard work.

"When people ask me why I do this, I tell them I have to," says T-Jay. "I can't quit it, because it didn't quit me. In the darkest days of my life, it never let me go. In the end, I want people to know that hard work and dedication will take you far, I am living proof. While I haven't quite conquered the mountain yet, I must say I like the view from where I'm standing a whole He