Cute Is What We Aim For
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Buffalo, New York , United States |
| Products | Studio albums, singles |
Cute Is What We Aim For was a pop-punk group hailing from Buffalo, New York, active in the United States. Established in 2005, the band produced two studio albums: The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch (2006) and Rotation (2008), both released through the Fueled by Ramen record label.
Formation and Fueled by Ramen Signing (2001–2005)
Originating from a group of childhood acquaintances, the band came together in January 2005 while its members were still in their teens. They initially started as a five-member ensemble but soon streamlined to four: lead vocalist Shaant Hacikyan, guitarist and pianist Jeff Czum, drummer Tom Falcone, and bassist/guitarist Fred Cimato. Prior to this collaboration, Hacikyan and Czum had experience playing in other local bands before joining forces with Falcone and Cimato. The band's name was created by Hacikyan with the idea it "had to be Cute," also serving as a tribute to a friend.
Shortly after their formation, they distributed demo tracks on platforms like Myspace and PureVolume, rapidly increasing their exposure. Their initial demo, "Teasing To Please," helped cultivate a growing fanbase, further amplified by support from the Hawthorne Heights street team, which quickly attracted interest from record companies.
In spring 2005, they emerged victorious in PureVolume's Battle of the Bands competition, earning an opportunity to perform at the Bamboozle Festival. The band toured alongside Rookie of the Year and Dave Melillo, then proceeded to record demos in New York City with producer Shep Goodman. During this time frame, original bassist Donnie Arthur exited the group; Cimato assumed bass responsibilities. Arthur later became involved with New Tragic and initiated Talking in My Sleep.
On November 29, 2005, Fueled by Ramen's founder John Janick signed Cute Is What We Aim For after hearing their sessions recorded in New York.
The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch Era (2006–2008)
In November 2005, plans were announced for recording their debut album with producer Matt Squire during 2006. Recording sessions took place at Squire’s Salad Days Studios located in Beltsville, Maryland, starting February 2006. On March 26, their song "The Curse of Curves" was made available for streaming on their PureVolume page. April featured tours with Punchline, Valencia, and New Atlantic, alongside the Audition, as well as an appearance at the HFStival. In June, they embarked on a U.S. tour supporting Anberlin, Jonezetta, and Blackpool Lights.
Their debut album The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch was released on June 20, entering the Billboard 200 chart at number 75 with nearly 14,000 copies sold during its first week. This release became Fueled by Ramen’s fastest-selling debut album to date, surpassing records previously held by Panic! at the Disco. From August through September, they supported Paramore on a U.S. tour. The lead single "There's a Class For This" was launched on September 4 via iTunes. In October, they headlined shows across the UK before joining Paramore on their UK tour. On October 18, bassist Cimato left to continue his education and was replaced by Jack Marin from October Fall. Subsequently, the band supported Hellogoodbye during their U.S. tour in October and November.
On February 5, 2007, "Newport Living" was issued as the second single from the album. Between February and March, they led a U.S. tour featuring support acts like This Providence and All Time Low, followed by co-headlining the Alternative Press tour alongside Circa Survive, supported by As Tall as Lions and Envy on the Coast. Marin departed in April due to personal reasons; Cimato rejoined the lineup. The third single "The Curse of Curves" was released on April 9. From June through August, the band participated in the 2007 edition of the Vans Warped Tour, adding Dave Melillo as an additional guitarist. Between October and December, they supported Fall Out Boy on their U.S. tour. Around this period, Cimato left once more and Melillo transitioned to bass duties.
Rotation period and disbandment (2008–2009)
In 2008, Cute Is What We Aim For entered the studio in Los Angeles to work on their sophomore album with producer John Feldmann. Although the recording was initially set to last about a month, Feldmann’s involvement extended the process to three months. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Tom Petty, Weezer, and Kanye West, the album—first named Change—centered around themes of personal evolution and was ultimately retitled Rotation. The lead single, "Practice Makes Perfect," debuted on May 5, followed by the album release on June 24, which entered the Billboard 200 chart at number 21 with 23,000 copies sold in its opening week.
Between mid-June and mid-August, the band led a US tour featuring support from Ace Enders and A Million Different People, Danger Radio, and Powerspace. They also opened for Simple Plan during a Canadian tour. On September 2, drummer Falcone parted ways with the band due to personal disagreements; Liam Killeen of Not by Choice filled in temporarily before Michael Lasaponara took over as the permanent drummer. Subsequently, the group took part in the Verizon College tour alongside Boys Like Girls and Lights throughout September and October. They then toured across the US with acts like Secondhand Serenade, A Rocket to the Moon, and Automatic Loveletter until December. Early in 2009, they headlined the Take Action Tour.
In August 2009, founding members Melillo and Czum left to establish Nocturnal Me, prompting an official breakup announcement on August 20. Melillo attributed the inability to produce new material after the Take Action! tour to a lack of management and clear direction. Later, Hacikyan disclosed that his battles with depression and alcoholism had also played a role in the band's split; following rehabilitation, he engaged in new musical ventures that moved beyond Cute Is What We Aim For.
Reunion and second dissolution (2010–2014)
On January 3, 2010, Shaant Hacikyan revived Cute Is What We Aim For to commemorate the band’s fifth anniversary, intending to release music under the band's name as a solo artist. On April 29, he unveiled the single "Harbor" online. By May, Hacikyan was midway through producing a new album with assistance from former Every Time I Die drummer Mike Novak. In June, they toured alongside Down with Webster. November featured an Australian tour with a lineup consisting of Hacikyan, Novak, Mike Brady, and Kevin Scoma. Additionally, the band recorded a cover of T.I. and Justin Timberlake's "Dead and Gone" for the Punk Goes Pop 3 compilation released on November 2, 2010.
On May 19, 2011, Hacikyan released another single titled "He Went From A 'Fuck-Up' To 'Stand Up' Kid," followed by the demo "Next To Me" on July 5. On February 28, 2012, he issued a further single called "Titanic."
On August 18, 2012, original members Hacikyan, Fred Cimato, and Jeff Czum reunited for an acoustic performance lasting an hour—the band's first full ensemble show in six years—and announced their official return. Their comeback concert took place on September 21 at Mohawk Place in Buffalo, New York. By December that year, Cute Is What We Aim For had signed with Working Group Management and commenced work on new material. In January 2013, they supported Allstar Weekend during a tour. On February 5, they released a free EP available for streaming and download.
On September 2, they premiered the track "A Closed Mind With an Open Mouth" and revealed plans for an October headlining tour. The band also supported You Me at Six during their US tour in September and October.
On January 18, 2014, Cute Is What We Aim For shared three previously unreleased B-sides via SoundCloud. They performed on the Vans Warped Tour later that year before disbanding for a second time.
Reunion (2016–2019)
In early 2016, Hacikyan reached out to the other band members to explore the possibility of a 10-year anniversary tour celebrating The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch. By March, the group had publicized the tour through their Instagram account. Their participation in the 2017 Slam Dunk Festival in the UK was announced on November 23, extending the milestone tour. The year 2018 saw the band commemorating a decade since the release of their sophomore album, Rotation. In 2019, they issued three bonus tracks as singles under Warner Music Group: "Lyrical Lies (electric version)" and "Hipbones and Microphones" from The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch, alongside "Through to You" from Rotation.
Band members
Final line-up
- Shaant Hacikyan – lead vocals (2005–2019)
- Christopher Simmens – bass (2018)
- Aaron Miller – guitar (2018)
- Evan Kirkley – drums (2018)
- Liam Shatzer – guitar (2018)
Former members
- Jeff Czum – guitar, backing vocals (2005–09, 2012–2017)
- Tom Falcone – drums (2005–08, 2012–2017)
- Seth Van Dusen – bass (2014–2017)
- Donnie Arthur – bass (2005)
- Fred Cimato – bass (2005–06; 2007–08; 2012–13)
- Jack Marin – bass (2006–07)
- Dave Melillo – rhythm guitar (2007–08), bass (2008–09)
- Mike Lasaponara – drums (2008–09)
Former touring members
- Liam Killeen – drums (2008)
- Michael Novak – drums (2010)
- Kevin Scoma – rhythm guitar (2010)
- Michael Brady – lead guitar, backing vocals (2010)
- Dylan Sellick – rhythm guitar (2009–10)
Studio albums
| Title | Release details | Highest chart positions | Sales figures | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 |
US Alt |
US Rock |
CAN | UK Rock | ||||
| The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch |
|
75 | — | — | 81 | 13 |
| |
| Rotation |
|
21 | 9 | 11 | — | — |
| |
| "—" indicates no chart placement or release in that region. | ||||||||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||||
| "There's a Class for This" | 2006 | — | The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch | ||
| "Newport Living" | 2007 | — | |||
| "The Curse of Curves" | 191 | ||||
| "Practice Makes Perfect" | 2008 | — | Rotation | ||
| "Harbor" | 2010 | — | rowspan="4" Template:N/A | ||
| "He Went from a 'Fuck Up' to a 'Stand Up' Kid" | 2011 | — | |||
| "Titanic" | 2012 | — | |||
| "A Closed Mind With an Open Mouth" | 2013 | — | |||
| "Through to You" | 2019 | — | Rotation B-Side | ||
| "Lyrical Lies (electric version)" | — | The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch B-Side | |||
| "Hipbones & Microphones" | — | ||||
| "—" signifies no charting or no release in that particular territory. | |||||
Promotional singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Doctor" | 2008 | Rotation |
| "Safe Ride" |
Music videos
- "There's a Class for This" (2006, directed by Jay Martin)
- "The Curse of Curves" (2007, directed by Lex Halaby)
- "Newport Living" (2007, live version)
- "Practice Makes Perfect" (2008, directed by Walter Robot)
- "Doctor" (2009)
- "Next to Me" (2013, lyric video)