Composure (Real Friends album)

Real Friends released their second studio album The Home Inside My Head in May 2016.^[1] It peaked at number 53 on the Billboard 200 in the United States;^[2] they promoted it with an appearance at Slam Dunk Festival in the United Kingdom,^[3] joining the Warped Tour touring festival and supporting the Wonder Years in the US,^[4][5] a headlining UK tour^[6] and a headlining US tour through to June 2017.^[7]

"Get By" was released as a single on November 16, 2017.^[8] To promote it, the band played a short, three-date tour they dubbed A Weekend in the Midwest Tour, with support from Life Lessons.^[9] To close out the year, Real Friends played two holiday shows with Knuckle Puck; both bands were supported by This Wild Life, Pet Symmetry, Free Throw and Hot Mulligan.^[10] The band were planned to support Simple Plan on their headlining tour of Australia,^[11] and visit Europe, but these treks were cancelled in March 2018 with the band citing mental health reasons.^[12] "From the Outside" was released as a single on June 4, 2018.^[13] Coinciding with this, the song's music video was posted online.^[14] On June 18, 2018, Composure was announced for release the following month, with its track listing and artwork being revealed.^[15] "Smiling on the Surface" was released as a single on June 19, 2018.^[16] Two days later, the band embarked on the Warped Tour touring festival across North America until August 2018.^[17] "Unconditional Love" was released as a single on July 6, 2018.^[18] Composure was released on July 13, 2018, through Fearless Records;^[19] it was promoted with three listening parties ahead of its release.^[15]

In October and November 2018, Real Friends went on a headlining US tour, with support from Boston Manor, Grayscale and Eat Your Heart Out.^[20] A music video was released for "Me First" on October 29, 2018.^[21] In January 2019, Real Friends appeared at the Maine's 8123 Fest,^[22] which was followed by a tour of Latin America the following month.^[23] In May 2019, they then performed at the Slam Dunk Festival in the UK.^[24] Following this, they supported New Found Glory on their North American tour through to July 2019.^[25] In the midst of this, Real Friends released the Even More Acoustic Songs EP, which featured versions of "From the Outside", "Me First", "Composure" and "Get By";^[26] the first of these, "From the Outside", had been issued ahead of the EP.^[27] In August and September 2019, they went on a short Midwestern and East Coast tour with support from Pronoun and Keep Flying.^[28] Following an appearance at Four Chord Music Festival, Real Friends went on European tour with support from Grayscale and Belmont in October and November 2019.^[29]

Composure peaked at number 166 on Billboard 200.^[2] It also appeared on a variety of Billboard component charts: number 11 on Vinyl Albums,^[31] number 15 on Top Alternative Albums,^[32] number 25 on Top Album Sales^[31] and number 37 on Top Rock Albums.^[33] Alternative Press included the album on their list of the year's best releases.^[34]

1. "Me First" – 3:13
2. "Stand Steady" – 3:26
3. "From the Outside" – 3:05
4. "Smiling on the Surface" – 3:07
5. "Hear What You Want" – 3:16
6. "Unconditional Love" – 3:41
7. "Composure" – 3:15
8. "Get By" – 3:32
9. "Ripcord" – 3:19
10. "Take a Hint" – 2:59

Real Friends

• Dan Lambton – lead vocals
• Dave Knox – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Eric Haines – rhythm guitar
• Kyle Fasel – bass
• Brian Blake – drums, percussion

Production

• Mike Green – production, engineering
• Jeremy McKinnon – production
• Kris Crummett – mixing, mastering

Artwork

• Florian Mihr – album cover artwork