J-14 is scouting out the hottest bands around… and this week's pick is Before You Exit.

Here are five things you need to know about Before You Exit whose debut EP Letting Go is out now!

  1. Pop-rock band Before You Exit consists of vocal and guitarist Connor and vocal and bassist Riley McDonough, guitarist Braiden Wood, and drummer Thomas Silvers. From Orlando, FL, the group was formed when childhood friends banded together in mid-spring of 2007 with one goal in mind: to make music. "The minute the three of us jammed for the first time, we just knew the band was going to work," Connor tells J-14. "It wasn't until a year later when we added my younger brother, Riley, to the band as a vocalist and bassist, completing the band."

  2. The band came up with "Before You Exit" in a conversation one day when they had been struggling to find the perfect band name. One thing that's really cool? "Not only did we like the name but we also realized the initials spell 'BYE,'" Thomas tells us.

  3. Their first EP Letting Go was released this past spring and they're planning on dropping their second album early 2012. "Our EP Letting Go has more of a rock sound compared to the brand new album that we're currently working on," Braiden tells J-14. "The new songs are more of a pop-radio sound from a rock perspective. We're so excited for it."

  4. These guys have had a busy couple of years headlining The Next Big Thing Tour as well as opening for punk-pop vets All Time Low and A Rocket to the Moon. "Touring with All Time Low and A Rocket to the Moon was definitely one of the best experiences of our career so far," Conner tells us. "Both of those bands have become like older brothers to us and showed us the ropes to touring and have helped us out with our music. I think some of the best stories came out of every band constantly pranking us because we're the young guys."

  5. Before You Exit have their sights on a busy 2012. Not only will their second EP hit the shelves but they're also working on their first full-length album, whom they co-wrote a few songs with All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth. "2012 is definitely going to be a big year for us," Riley tells J-14. "We'll definitely be touring and overall we are incredibly excited for it all, and we really hope you guys are too!"

Check out their latest music video, a Christmas video for "O'Silent Night" below and let us know what you think!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWdcb_t24OQ

Like what you hear? Be sure to download the track for free in this exclusive download — just click the arrow in the music player below!

Photo: Courtesy of Before You Exit

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