“It’s hard to say exactly when, but somewhere along the way, it definitely happened,” says T-Jay Tipps, the lead vocalist of Tennessee’s Wake the Light. “You don’t realize it at first, of course, but one day it hits you – you’ve grown up.”

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a young band coming full circle and hitting its stride; finding its own voice in a crowded room. “We spent so much time trying to be what everyone else expected us to be, and in the end, we found out that all we really wanted to be was ourselves.

That’s all we could be,” adds Tipps, furiously pounding out a text message on his cell phone.

It’s certainly been a busy ride for the five members of Wake the Light, who come from diverse backgrounds and locales, ranging from northern Ohio to southern California. The young band has wowed crowds throughout the southeastern United States, from Texas to Illinois, back down to Alabama. They’ve shared the stage with acts such as Saliva, 12 Stones, Hurt, Course of Nature, Breaking Point, Hot Action Cop, Ligion, Faktion, Machina (ex-Evanescence and Future Leaders of the World members), and countless more. They were Artist of the Week and a finalist for Artist of the Year on mtvU’s Best Music on Campus site and were chosen to participate in Adidas’ “Impossible is Nothing” marketing campaign. Frontman Tipps was a hand-picked finalist for the lead vocals spot in Fuel and a Top 100 finalist in CBS’ RockStar: INXS show. Not too shabby, but perhaps the one thing they’ve gleaned most from their experiences is that good bands aren’t born, they’re made.

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Wake the Light’s debut record, produced by Grammy-nominated Travis Wyrick (10 Years, POD, Pillar) and recorded at Lakeside Studios in Knoxville, TN, is a refreshing experience to behold: a young band coming of age and delivering a delicate balance of good, solid rock and roll that shines due to its honesty and sheer power. Backed by solid musicianship, emotionally-charged vocals, and excellent songwriting, Wake the Light is here to stay.

The track “What Are You Waiting For?” is a somber power-rocker that reveals the scars of addiction and its impact on the relationships we foster. “Give In To You” is potentially of the catchiest songs you’ve heard in a decade and will leave you singing along long after the song has ended. “Paper Dolls” is a ballad with a monstrous singalong chorus, but the song is not without a conscience, focusing on losing a significant other and the deep depression that often accompanies it.

Balance. That’s what makes the record so good. Tracks like “Broken Wings” and “Misplaced Hero” kick you in the teeth and show the band’s edgier side, which is well-known amongst its fans due to Wake the Light’s impressive and often frantic live shows.

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It takes guts to deliver solid, commercial music that still keeps its honesty and its promises. “In the end, really, we are who we are. We’re five guys from different walks of life who come together as one unit and that’s what makes it work.

“Music, much like life, is what you make of it,” Tipps muses.

Truer words were never spoken.