Lynk (band)

Lynk, previously known as At Sunset were an Australian pop rock band currently consisting of brothers Harrison, Andrew and Matthew Kantarias.[1] Past members include Jae Curtis and 2008 Australian Idol competitor Tom Jay Williams. The band currently reside in Adelaide, South Australia.[2] They are best known as winners of the Nova FM Fresh Discovery[3] and MTV (Australia and New Zealand) Brand New [4] competitions.

Lynk
OriginAdelaide, Australia
GenresPop rock, pop punk
Years active2012–2018
MembersHarrison Kantarias
Andrew Kantarias
Matthew Kantarias
Past membersJae Curtis
Tom Jay Williams
WebsiteOfficial website

Music career

Formation and early years

At Sunset formed in January 2012 in Adelaide, when university friends Harrison Kantarias and Jae Curtis got together and started playing covers at their local pubs. During a rehearsal session, Harrison's brother Andrew joined in which led to the curation of At Sunset.[5] The band began by performing covers and posting them to YouTube, which received significant social media attention, particularly for their cover of One Direction's One Thing.[5] They also amassed over a million views for their cover of Justin Bieber's As Long As You Love Me.[5]

When later asked the reasons for the name "At Sunset", Harrison Kantarias noted 'At Sunset' was decided upon because: "the name is a metaphor for our feeling towards music. We like to be upbeat, positive and really just enjoying life. Playing music, setting suns, beaches, pools, girls in bikinis... it doesn't get better than that, does it?"[6]

In 2012, At Sunset released their first EP, 'Back in Time'. The EP was released digitally, with physical copies only being sold at live shows.

2014-2016: Departure of Curtis and final releases as At Sunset

On 24 February 2014, Curtis announced via his YouTube channel that he was leaving the band.[7] Following this news, on 26 March 2014 the band announced local Adelaide solo act Tom Jay Williams would be joining in Jae's place.[8] Williams was formerly a contestant on Australian Idol in 2008.[9] He was the youngest ever top ten finalist during an Australian Idol series.

Following Williams joining the band, 'Back in Time' was re-released on 23 April 2014 and featured on MTV "Buzzworthy".[10] Their first cover video as a new band, 'Replay', received over 400,000 views in the first two weeks of uploading and was endorsed by the original artist Zendaya.[11]

On 30 March 2015, At Sunset were announced the winner of Nova FM's Fresh Discovery, an Australian-wide search for unsigned talent, ahead of 1500 other acts.[3] This win was followed by a mentoring session with Ed Sheeran and a recording deal with Warner Music Australasia for their debut single Every Little Thing,[2] which was released on 10 April 2015.[12]

Later in 2015, At Sunset were nominated for MTV (Australia and New Zealand)'s Brand New competition.[4] After receiving more than 200,000 votes, At Sunset were announced the winner at an MTV special event at The Metro Theatre on 22 September 2015, ahead of runner up Conrad Sewell.[13]

On 22 January 2016, At Sunset released their single Kiss Me.[14]

2016: Name change and formation of LYNK

On 30 June 2016, At Sunset announced on their social media accounts that they were disbanding, and LYNK was formed. Harrison and Andrew have continued together in this band with their younger brother Matthew Kantarias, however Tom has veered onto a solo pathway and is currently writing songs.

On 16 November 2016, LYNK released the first cover with the new name on their YouTube channel, a cover/mashup of 'Closer' by The Chainsmokers and Troye Sivan's 'Youth'.

2017-present: Best Cover Ever series and first release as Lynk

In November 2017, Lynk appeared on the YouTube series Best Cover Ever.[15] The same month, they also announced the release of the first song under the new band name, titled ‘Rude’, featuring American singer, songwriter and actress Elle Winter. The song was released on YouTube on 21 November 2017.[16] An iTunes and Spotify release followed on 8 December 2017.[17][18]

Touring

In May 2012, At Sunset travelled to Singapore to perform at the Music Matters with Boyce Avenue.[19]

In January 2013, At Sunset toured with Australian pop artist Reece Mastin.[20] Following the Reece Mastin regional tour, At Sunset headlined the Teen Rush Australian Tour from 6–20 April 2013 with bands Titanium and Kristina. This tour played Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.[21]

In May 2014, At Sunset undertook a promotional tour in the USA, consisting of performances in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and New York.[22] The band did interviews with Ryan Seacrest, Tiger Beat, The Rhode Show, KIIS FM, KARE 11 News and KDWB.[22]

At Sunset toured with Nickelodeon Slimefest in September 2015 to Melbourne and Sydney, alongside other acts such as Boyce Avenue and The Veronicas.[23]

In January 2016, At Sunset toured Australia and New Zealand with American acts R5 and Jack & Jack.[24] At the conclusion of this tour, At Sunset also opened for UK band The Vamps at their Wake Up World Tour in Sydney. This was held at Allphones Arena on 23 January 2016.[25]

In February 2016, At Sunset toured in Manila, Philippines. They opened for Boyce Avenue at their arena show at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on 16 February 2016.[26] As part of promotion for this show, At Sunset performed alongside Savannah Outen at a Valentine's Day event at SM Southmall on 14 February 2016.[27]

Following their return from the Philippines, At Sunset conducted a headline tour of Australia to coincide with their new single, Kiss Me. The Kiss Me Tour toured to Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in March 2016.[28]

In July 2016, Lynk travelled back to Manila, Philippines for the first time as the new line up to perform at the 'Own It' concert with other YouTube sensations. This took place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where they opened for Boyce Avenue back in February of that year when the band were still known as ‘At Sunset’, and the announcement that they would perform at this concert was made before the band was renamed. They also performed at the SM Southmall again with a few other 'Own It' performers.[29]

In late October 2016, it was announced that Lynk would be opening for Shawn Mendes at his debut Australian shows in Sydney. These shows took place at the Enmore Theatre on 1 and 2 November 2016.[30]

Members

Current members
  • Harrison Kantarias - vocals, lead guitar
  • Andrew Kantarias - vocals, keyboards and piano
  • Matthew Kantarias - vocals, bass guitar

Former members
  • Jae Curtis
  • Tom J Williams - vocals, rhythm guitar

Timeline

Discography

Extended plays
  • 2012: Back in Time EP

Singles
  • 2012: Back in Time
  • 2012: This is Who I Am
  • 2013: Rush
  • 2014: Back in Time (re-released)
  • 2014: Us Against the World
  • 2015: Every Little Thing
  • 2016: Kiss Me
  • 2017: Rude (featuring Elle Winter)

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2015 Nova FM Fresh Discovery Fresh Discovery Themselves Won [3]
MTV Australia & New Zealand Brand New Brand New Themselves Won [13]
2016 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favourite Pop Sensation AU/NZ Themselves Nominated [31]

References
  1. "At Sunset Official Website – About At Sunset". atsunsetmusic.com. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  2. "Ed Sheeran gives Adelaide boy band At Sunset the thumbs-up". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  3. "Nova's Fresh Discovery Winner Announces". Nova Entertainment. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  4. "MTV Brand New Artist Spotlight – At Sunset". The Music Network. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  5. "At Sunset Interview (Sep 2012) | At Sunset - Overview, Music Video & Songs, Interviews, News". Take 40. 20 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  6. "At Sunset Talks Music, Australian Slang and Much More!". Teen Diaries. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  7. "Jae Curtis Resignation from At Sunset". YouTube. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  8. "Tom Jay Williams About". Tom J Williams. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  9. "Show Watch: Australian Idol 2008". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  10. "iTunes – Music – At Sunset". apple.com.
  11. "Australian band rises to fame in the US". WPRI 12 Eyewitness News.
  12. "Every Little Thing by At Sunset". Apple. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  13. "At Sunset Awarded the Winners of MTV Brand New". Media Week. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  14. "Aussie Trio At Sunset Announce New Single Kiss Me". Amnplify. 19 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  15. Best.Cover.Ever. (20 November 2017), Katy Perry Best.Cover.Ever. - Episode 2, retrieved 30 November 2017
  16. LYNK - Official (21 November 2017), Rude Ft Elle Winter, retrieved 1 December 2017
  17. LYNK (30 November 2017). "We are releasing RUDE to iTunes and Spotify on the 8th of December!! Hope everyone is loving it #rude". @wearelynk. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  18. LYNK (8 December 2017). "HERE IT IS! RUDE IS OFFICIALLY RELEASED!! RT RT RT RT RT". @wearelynk. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  19. "The Vaudeville Smash Report from Music Matters Singapore, Part II ♫ B…". themusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  20. "At Sunset living their dream on tour with Reece Mastin". Gladstone Observer. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  21. "Titanium Join At Sunset on Teen Rush Tour". The Hot Hits. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  22. "Adelaide Band At Sunset are on the Shortlist for MTVs Brand New Competitions". Glam Adelaide. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  23. "Slimefest 2015: It's Time for Slime!". Foxtel. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  24. "R5 and Jack & Jack Announce January Australian And New Zealand Co-Headline Tour". Stereoboard. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  25. "The Vamps, Little Sea, Tyde Levi & More Will Play a Sydney Arena Show for $20 in January". Project U. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  26. "Street Where Boyce Avenue Lives". Phil Star. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  27. "YouTube Phenomenal Artists Savannah Outen and At Sunset Serenade Us at SM Southmall". What's Happening PH. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  28. "At Sunset Touring Nationally Through March and April". The AU Review. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  29. "Matthew Kantarias on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  30. Company, The Frontier Touring Company. "Shawn Mendes 2016 Australia Tickets, Concert Dates, Pre-sale & Tour Information". The Frontier Touring Company. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  31. "Kids' Choice Awards 2016 Aussie Nominees". TV Tonight. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
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