Your Favorite Enemies

Your Favorite Enemies are a Canadian alternative rock group from Varennes, Québec. Formed in 2006, the band includes Alex Henry Foster and Miss Isabel, with Alex Foster on vocals, Jeff Beaulieu on guitar, Sef on guitar, Ben Lemelin on bass, Miss Isabel on vocals and keys, and Charles Moose Allicy on drums.

History and approach

From the beginning, the group manages its own career and works according to a do-it-yourself approach and community values. The band also builds a reputation around a strong commitment to human rights, linked in particular to Alex Foster’s work as a spokesperson for Amnesty International and as a youth speaker.

Releases and label work

Your Favorite Enemies create Hopeful Tragedy Records in 2007 after interest grows in their self-produced material. The label releases the fan-exclusive EP And If I Was To Die In the Morning… Would I Still Be Sleeping With You, which is issued as a hard-copy release and sells through the band’s independent network. Their second album, Love Is A Promise Whispering Goodbye, follows in 2008 and sells strongly.

International activity and media projects

The band tours in Europe and Japan and develops a wide online following through street teams, fan sites, forums and community projects. Hopeful Tragedy Records later expands into multimedia work, including community web initiatives and programming for YFE-TV, which streams live concerts over the web. The group also acquires a former Catholic church and presbytery, where it builds two studios, label offices, live-streaming facilities and a television set, and sets up a non-profit organisation focused on human rights and helping children through music.

Other work and recognition

Your Favorite Enemies become the first international act to write theme songs for the Final Fantasy video game franchise, contributing to a soundtrack album that reaches number one in Japan. The band is also named one of Billboard magazine’s top five bands to watch in 2008 and receives the award for Best International Rock Band from the Sound of Excellence Music Awards in the UK.