The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Takes Us Behind the Scenes of the Making of the
‘Face Down (Symphonic Edition)’ Video
Announces Upcoming Dates/Festivals – More TBA
Watch the definitive behind the scenes/making the video of RJA’s “Face Down (Symphonic Edition)”
Ronnie Winter (Lead Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, Producer) explains “Over the years we’ve gotten a lot of requests for this song, not just to play it, but to re-record it. So we finally recorded not only a new symphonic edition of ‘Face Down’, but the whole album. With this video we specifically chose to focus on the line “a new life she has found,” which is also my family’s experience. We definitely did not get to show that in the first video. Everything has been about that. From the casting, to the crew, to the locations, to the treatment, to the story. From the beginning we really just wanted to show how awesome things can get if you have the courage to make decisions that can be extremely painful and tough. That’s what this has been about since the beginning. Not only have things worked out for the character in the video, but now she’s actually learned how to help other people get through the same situation that she has, which is very important to someone like me who’s in recovery because that’s what we do. So, it’s about healing and how it’s hard and messy, but it happens and it’s worth working towards.
I am a child of a domestic violence household, so is my brother Randy, who plays guitar. It’s something that’s been tough, our whole lives. I don’t talk about it a lot, there are probably less than 10 really deep interviews about it, that’s a really low number for being a band for 20 years. The more I think about it, I get a little sad. There were definitely some times during the new video shoot that I got a little emotional. I’m trying to balance those memories, because I thought that was all behind me. I remember showing our director Angela a picture of me on set from 17 years ago, and if you could see the photo you’d see what I’m talking about. I was literally completely full of anxiety, and also bad memories. I hadn’t had any therapy, I was just out there, just a 22 year old with no tools, trying to deal with all this stuff that happened, while people are filming me, while I’m singing a song about it, and I never really even dealt with it myself. But because of the success of this song I did eventually have to get straight with myself on what did happen. My whole family, we worked it out, there’s the good story. My mom, she’s doing really well. And with the new video what I wanted to show is that our character, she later had this great life that she achieved.
The song is an anti-domestic violence song, it has always been. So we did exactly what we did the first time, and we paired with an awesome charity called domesticshelters.org, you need to check them out, they’re great. Even if you don’t have anything like that going on in your life right now, you might get that phone call, from a cousin, or a sister, or a brother, or whoever is going through it, and you would have the resources now.”
Angela Winter-Defoe (Director and wife of Ronnie Winter) adds “As someone who has been through domestic violence myself, it was important for me to honor and show it justice to the people who have tied their experiences with the first video. I also wanted to show how much life could change for the good when you leave abuse. Even though years have passed, we still can be triggered, we show the character use her tools to self regulate and be able to continue on. That’s the hope and healing I wanted to spread with this video.” Angela Winter-Defoe is RJA’s first female director.
The child in the video is played by Ronnie and Angela’s son, Wolfgang.
Kendra Cover (returning actress) says “Working on this video with the band and creative team was such a pleasure. It was an incredible measure of the time that has passed and the lives that have been lived since the original song and video release. But even more so, the gorgeous symphonic return to this song and subject matter is dear to my heart. We see all too often in the media sensational stories of abuse, but not nearly enough do we see the healing that is available and fully possible — just how full and good life can be after trauma. I am honored to be a part of this message out into the world and the creative passion behind it.”
Joey Westwood (Bassist) says “It feels very cool doing ‘Face Down’ again. Obviously the song’s awesome for us, and has a good message, but doing that first video was the first time I ever really did a video, and it was super memorable. And to have Kendra back is awesome.”
Josh Burke (Guitarist) shares “I’m in this band for sure because of the ‘Face Down’ music video. My friend Matt showed it to me when I was 12 years old, and it’s a core childhood memory. If it wasn’t for the video, who knows what might have happened. To be there with everybody again was a trip.”
Randy Winter (Guitarist) states “A legacy song from a legacy band.”
Steve Tramposch (first & current manager, also discovered and signed the band to Virgin Records, A&R’d and produced the original Face Down) brings more insight and states “In late 2004, I was living in NYC scouting new artists when I heard about a band from the Jacksonville area selling out local venues. I pulled up their MySpace and was floored. Every song was incredible, but about fourth down on their playlist was the demo for ‘Face Down.’ I knew right then that I had to sign them – to management, a label, whatever. I became their manager and soon after their A&R person, signing them to Virgin Records, and later produced the original ‘Face Down’ from their debut album Don’t You Fake It, as well as helped choose a treatment and was on set for the original music video. Fast forward to 2022: Ronnie and I had been discussing his idea to re-record Don’t You Fake It with an orchestral arrangement, sending me the recordings he was making for what became ‘Face Down (Symphonic Edition)’ and beginning to discuss music videos. While brainstorming, I began digging through storage crates that contained a plethora of early RJA artifacts, revisiting the origin of the song, its video, and its marketing. I had held onto the original video treatment and shoot schedule, with names of the cast and crew, and thought it would be incredible if we could get the original actress back and revisit where her character is today. I started searching for Kendra and remarkably found her, all these years later. When Ronnie and I spoke about the video the next day and I brought it up, he got it immediately. Ronnie and Angela ran with it from there, and now here we are today, with this incredible video. As someone who has been a victim of domestic violence myself, the song, videos, and work with partner organizations have always had extra meaning to me. I’m blessed to have been on this journey with Ronnie, this song, the band, and all of our incredible partners.”
Upcoming RJA Shows
03/05 – Kota Jakarta Utara, Indonesia – Everblast Festival EVERBLAST FESTIVAL
03/05 FRI
03/11 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant – 6161 Delmar Blvd. – Doors 7PM – Show 8 PM
Tickets $30 &up ADV / $35 &up DOA – supporting Story of the Year https://www.ticketmaster.com/
04/22 – Orlando, FL – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – WJRR’s Earthday Birthday – Central Florida Fairgrounds – 4603 West Colonial Drive -Doors 11AM – Tickets $55 & up –Earthday Birthday 2023 Tickets Apr 22, 2023 Orlando, FL | Ticketmaster
06/16 – Kansas City, KS – Phase Fest 2023 – Not Just a Phase Fest – Phase Fest
MORE DATES TBA
Billboard Charts-topping band The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (RJA) released a new symphonic version of their RIAA certified 5x Platinum hit Face Down on all streaming platforms Friday, October 21. Face Down (Symphonic Edition) is a stirring, emotional follow-up to the original hit, both timeless and scathing indictments of domestic violence and its devastating impacts. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is partnering with leading digital domestic violence resource, DomesticShelters.org, throughout Domestic Violence Awareness Month and onward to raise awareness about domestic violence and share free resources for people experiencing abuse.
Listen to “Face Down” (Symphonic Edition)
https://createmusic.fm/
The band is celebrating the Anniversary of their Multi-Platinum debut album “Don’t You Fake It” (one of Alt Press Most Influential Emo Albums) and their 5x Platinum single “Face Down” (video / audio / lyrics), a timeless and scathing indictment of domestic violence. Warped tour kids grew up on RJA, (who are hailed by Alt Press as one of the most influential EMO bands), and now the next generation of their fans are discovering “Face Down,” which RJA has taken to the next level with this modern and reimagined version of this dramatic and emotive song that hasn’t lost its potency on shedding a light on domestic violence. In addition to many stations still spinning the original version, the Symphonic Edition version has climbed to #42 (and rising) on the US Alternative Radio charts.
The 2006 smash hit “Face Down“ was written by RJA lead singer, Ronnie Winter, who witnessed firsthand the lifelong effects domestic violence has on abuse victims and their families. Since its initial release more than 15 years ago on the band’s RIAA certified Platinum debut album Don’t You Fake It (2006), “Face Down” has helped a countless number of domestic violence victims and survivors find their voices and work to escape abuse. “Face Down” has an enduring legacy of positive impact, with over 347 million streams on Spotify and over 120 million views of its original music video on YouTube alone. Fans of RJA and “Face Down” began an outpouring of support for the new Symphonic Edition on TikTok, with the announcement video generating more than 2.6 million views and thousands of comments in less than a week.
“Face Down is a song I’d play until I’m 96 years old because it’s based on the experience of my brother and I growing up with domestic violence. The number of people who’ve reached out to us since Face Down came out is staggering and it shows just how many people experience abuse,” said RJA’s front man, Ronnie Winters. “The Symphonic Edition focuses on the ‘new life she has found,’ which is also my family’s experience. So, it’s about healing and how it’s hard and messy, but it happens and it’s worth working towards.”
The partnership between The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and DomesticShelters.org is designed to help lift the voices of survivors and increase awareness of resources available to victims of domestic violence and their families, friends and community. DomesticShelters.org provides the largest searchable database of domestic violence shelters and programs in the U.S. and Canada, as well as one of the most extensive sources of educational content, such as comprehensive guides, videos and articles.
“Oftentimes the difference between a victim of abuse staying and leaving is as simple as knowing that abuse is wrong and that they don’t deserve it,” said Ashley Rumschlag, CEO and President of Theresa’s Fund, the 501(c)3 nonprofit that operates DomesticShelters.org. “Face Down has created that ‘change mindset’ for so many. When you combine that with access to the powerful information on DomesticShelters.org, it’s a recipe for potentially lifesaving change in someone’s life.”
