With Confidence formed in Sydney, Australia in 2012 when high school friends Jayden Seeley, Josh Brozzesi and Samuel Haynes decided to start a band together. Shortly after, Inigo Del Carmen joined the group to round out the quartet. The band began posting videos of their music on YouTube, releasing their debut single “Stand Again” as a free download in April 2013.
With Confidence Release EPs and Build a Following
In July 2013, With Confidence independently released their debut EP titled Youth. The EP received airplay on major Australian radio stations like 2Day FM and Triple J, helping the band gain exposure. The band supported the release by embarking on their first Australian tour opening for The Never Ever.
The band continued to build momentum, opening for popular acts like 5 Seconds of Summer, The Getaway Plan, and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. In January 2014, guitarist Samuel Haynes departed the band. Undeterred, With Confidence carried on as a trio, releasing the single and music video for “I Will Never Wait” in March 2014.
Luke Rockets officially joined With Confidence as their new lead guitarist in September 2014. The band released their second EP Distance in January 2015 and launched their second Australian headlining tour to packed venues. Alternative Press highlighted the band as one of “18 Bands You Need To Know” in 2015.
Hopeless Records Signs With Confidence
On January 4, 2016, With Confidence announced they had signed with American label Hopeless Records, home to bands like All Time Low and Neck Deep. They released a new single and music video “We’ll Be Okay” to mark the occasion.
With Confidence’s debut full-length album Better Weather came out on June 17, 2016 to positive reviews. The album, recorded with producer Stevie Knight, featured catchy pop punk anthems full of uplifting melodies and emotionally honest lyrics. Songs like “Keeper” and “Voldemort” (inspired by the Harry Potter series) helped the album reach #22 on the ARIA charts in Australia.
The band promoted Better Weather with extensive touring, including the entire 2016 Vans Warped Tour in the US, their own headlining tours in Australia and the UK, and opening for acts like Motion City Soundtrack and 5 Seconds of Summer. Rock Sound named With Confidence one of the “Breakout Bands of 2016.”
Lineup Changes and Love and Loathing
In November 2017, With Confidence parted ways with guitarist Luke Rockets due to allegations of sexual misconduct. The band canceled their remaining US tour dates and announced they would be taking a break from touring.
They returned in 2018 with a new single “That Something” and the announcement of their second album Love and Loathing, produced by Mike Green (All Time Low, Paramore). Before the album’s release in August, the band played the final cross-country Vans Warped Tour.
Love and Loathing showcased a more mature sound from With Confidence, with the band exploring new musical textures while maintaining their trademark heartfelt lyrics and soaring hooks. Singles like “Jaded” and “Moving Boxes” racked up millions of streams. Kerrang! praised Seeley’s “powerhouse vocals” and the album’s “massive sing-along choruses.”
In March 2021, the band welcomed new lead guitarist Scotty Mac to the band. They spent 2022 on the road supporting Stand Atlantic in the US and Europe and later joining Real Friends on their North American tour.
After a decade-long career, in September 2022 With Confidence announced they would be breaking up following the completion of the Real Friends tour and some final shows in Australia. In a statement, the band expressed gratitude to their fans, crew, and team, and excitement for their next chapters.
With Confidence Leave a Legacy
Over their 10 years together, the band established themselves as one of Australia’s premier pop punk exports. The band’s two studio albums and captivating live shows earned them a devoted fanbase around the world.
Though the story of With Confidence has come to an end, their music and impact on the pop punk scene will endure. To quote the chorus of their defiant song “Voldemort” that refuses to let mental struggles win: “I won’t let you have the last word.” With Confidence certainly got the last word with an impressive body of work and a lasting legacy.
