Icon For Hire

Originating in Decatur, Illinois, Icon For Hire formed in 2007 around Ariel Bloomer and Shawn Jump. Initially a full band, it evolved into a tight duo as line-ups changed. Icon For Hire’s alternative rock blends pop-punk and alternative metal guitar work, highly melodic choruses, electronic textures, and vocal passages that move between singing and rap-like phrasing. After two self-produced EPs — Icon For Hire EP (2008) and The Grey EP (2009) — the group signed with Tooth & Nail and released Scripted in 2011 and the album Icon for Hire in 2013. The band later shifted toward independence, parting ways with their label in 2015 and issuing You Can’t Kill Us in 2016 via a crowdfunding campaign, followed by Amorphous in 2021 and The Reckoning in 2022. On stage, Icon For Hire has played both US rock circuits and broader tours, including appearances on the Warped Tour and several European dates. The band’s identity has always rested on the combination of Ariel Bloomer’s direct songwriting and Shawn Jump’s guitar work, keeping a rock foundation while incorporating pop and electronic elements.