State Champs and Cartel

Originally formed of lead guitarist Tyler Szalkowski and lead singer Derek DiScanio in upstate New York, guitarist Tony Diaz, bassist William Goodermote, and drummer Evan Ambrosia were later added to complete the line up. Soon after the band’s founding, State Champs issued a untitled five-track EP in 2010, followed by their second EP “Apparently, I’m Nothing” in January 2011. The latter release and supporting performances caught the attention of Pure Noise Records who subsequently signed the band in April 2012. State Champs’ label debut came in September of that year with the 7” “Overslept”, produced by Jay Maas. Influenced by the pioneers of the melodic punk genre Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory, and Story So Far, the 7” encapsulates DiScanio’s similarly soaring vocals and emotive lyrics.

State Champs’ debut album “The Finer Things” arrived in October 2013, debuting at No. Two on Billboard Heatseekers Chart. Produced by Sam Pura and former New Found Glory guitarist Steve Klein, the album was supported by a North American tour alongside Motion City Soundtrack and Bayside. 2014 brought more touring for the band this time alongside We Are The In Crowd, William Becket, and Set It Off in the U.S., and The Wonder Years and A Loss for Words in the UK and mainland Europe. The EP “The Acoustic Things” was released in 2014 once again on Pure Noise Records, and debuted at No. 112 on the Billboard 200. State Champs subsequently performed as a part of the 2014 Vans Warped Tour, and co-headlined the 2014 Pure Noise Records tour.

The original quintet that made up Cartel grew up together in Rockdale Country Georgia, but their story gives hope to every teenager around that can’t seem to find band mates for neither love nor money. They might have all known each other, but they would only get around to forming a band together in late 2003 after they started attending college together at the Georgia State University. The band started touring as avidly as they could while still attending their college courses, but they began to build up a fervent local following with only their first few live shows. It was then that the band had to make the decision all young musicians dream of having.

In 2004, the band were forced to choose between their education and their burgeoning musical career. Their live shows had not gone unnoticed, and they had gotten to the point where their debut, self-produced E.P was picked up by the independent label The Militia Group. For the benefit of every fan of punk shaped music everywhere, the band chose to continue playing together. Upset with the personality clashes that he had with the band their rhythm guitarist, Andy Lee, chose to leave around this time. However, the band still continued with a new member in the form of Nic Hudson and released their debut full length album “Chroma” in September 2005.

Ever since then, the band have been the connoisseur’s choice of American pop-punk. Since the success of their first album, they’ve signed to Epic Records, toured with everyone from Cobra Starship to All Time Low, and took an album that was written and recorded in 20 days to top 20 of the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 28’000 copies in its first week on sale. They might not enjoy the success that some of their peers might see but they honestly don’t need it, they have their devoted cult following, and anyone looking for something a little deeper in their pop-punk. Because of that, Cartel come highly recommended.