Unhappily Ever Now

Origin: Phoenixville, PA (USA)

Genres: Alternative, Industrial, and Progressive Metal

Years Active: 2020 - Present

Musically Sounds Like: 90s Stabbing Westward; a blend of Puscifer/TOOL/A Perfect Circle;  modern industrial rock/metal bands

Lyrically Feels Like: Stabbing Westward 

Unhappily Ever Now is the alternative, industrial, and progressive metal project founded by Cleopatra Records (Green Jelly) songwriter Stephen Watson and is composed of Stephen Watson (lead performer and songwriter) and Maria V (vocals, lyrics, and melodies).  

Their music is driven by complex and ambitious compositions inspired by bands such as Stabbing Westward, TOOL, and A Perfect Circle, among others.

While Stephen's work with Green Jelly contributing to the Cleopatra Records album, Garbage Band Kids ("Hey Hey Hey"), is carefree and intended to be humorous, his work with Unhappily Ever Now is much more serious, brooding, and critical of the human condition.

The band name and themes are heavily inspired and influenced by Stephen's favorite TV show, 12 Monkeys (SyFy), and explore the deep-seated sadness that not only have we lost our ability as a society to coexist with each other and to be happy in the NOW, but that we've lost so much along the way -- our pets, family, friends, partners, relationships, homes and jobs.

We seem to be stuck unhappily ever in our NOW, and themes of watching us struggle to survive, losing our place in time, and not having the chance to say goodbye, are prominent in Unhappily Ever Now's music.

Stephen Has Worked With: Stabbing Westward/StabWalt (remix), Rabbit Junk (remix), Assemblage 23 (remix), The Joy Thieves (remixes), 00tz 00tz (remix), Green Jelly (member)

Maria V Has Worked With: Stabbing Westward/StabWalt (remix), Rabbit Junk (remix), Assemblage 23 (remix), The Joy Thieves (remixes), 00tz 00tz (remix), Subliminal Noise Yard (member), Ailanthus (member), Matadora (guest vocals)

Unhappily Ever Now Has Performed With: I Ya Toyah, Megatronix, SPANKTHENUN, Xentrifuge, The Russian White, Cyborg Amok, Malice Machine, Elektrikill, Eyes of The Living, Fire From Olympus, Fragmented, Zilla, HeadHum, Days of Grey, Kurt Donavon

Maria V Has Performed With: Iris, I Ya Toyah, Megatronix, SPANKTHENUN, Xentrifuge, The Russian White, Cyborg Amok, Malice Machine, Elektrikill, Eyes of The Living, Fire From Olympus, Fragmented, Zilla, HeadHum, Days of Grey, Kurt Donavon

Unhappily Ever Now Has Performed At: QXT's Night Club (Newark, NJ), Debonair Music Hall (NJ), Dingbatz (NJ), The Rusty Nail aka The Nail (PA); Now seeking to book more shows as UEN was founded during the pandemic

Maria V Has Performed At: Vans Warped Tour (NJ Side Stage), QXT's Night Club (Newark, NJ), Debonair Music Hall (NJ), Dingbatz (NJ), CBGB's Gallery (NY), The Saint, Darkstar Festival, Cybertron, Northsix, Don Hill's, Otto's Shrunken Head, Asbury Lanes, The Rusty Nail aka The Nail (PA)