# Far from Close

Farm from Close is the debut EP and first commercial release by the American rock band Hinder. It was first released in 2003 on the independent label Brickden Records and sold around 5,000 copies, the EP was later re-released in the summer of 2004 with new packaging shortly before the band signed their record deal with Universal Records with more emphasis on the band's branding with an enlarged logo with a group photo of the band featuring the two new members Mark King and Mike Rodden.

## Background and recording

The EP originated in July 2001 when drummer Cody Hanson and lead guitarist Joe "Blower" Garvey hosted a house party while attending the University of Central Oklahoma and hired a cover band to perform for the occasion and it just so happened to be that future Hinder lead singer Austin John Winkler was the lead singer of the cover band that was hired. Shortly after the cover band's performance ended Hanson and Garvey approached Winkler and the three instantly became good friends and formed the nucleus of Hinder. Hanson later recalled in an interview of how the situation played out, stating "I heard him and was blown away" said Hanson. "He has the kind of charisma very few people have and that unique voice. You can't really compare him to anybody."
Soon after Hanson, Garvey, and Winkler formed the band the trio recruited bass player Cole Parker then immediately went to work on music for a four track demo, with the track listing "Someday", "Like Me", "Broken", and "Worthless Home." The tracks "Someday" and "Broken" were re-recorded and released on Far from Close and the two tracks "Like Me" and "Worthless Home" still remain unreleased, only being able to find them on their demo CDs.
Throughout 2002-2003 the band performed extensively in the Oklahoma City area, raising funds to rent out small clubs and venues to gain exposure to large crowds, purchase air-time on radio statins to promote their shows, and began performing shows regularly at The Blue Note in Oklahoma City every other Friday, gaining a large fanbase, that was crucial in gaining the attention of major record company executives. The group also borrowed a total of $45,000 from their families in order to purchase studio time to record their debut EP, which came to be "Far from Close", in a 2008 interview Hanson stated "We had it figured out, if we didn't pay them back within a year and a half we were gonna quit the band and get jobs. We had a payment plan all figured out." In March 2003 the band entered the March Bandness contest for Clear Channel radio's 94.7 The Buzz in Oklahoma City. They made it to the Final Four out of a field of 32 other bands, ultimately losing to the OKC group Falcon Five-O.

## Release and reception

Upon its completion, the band turned to a local publisher "Brickden Records" to support the distribution of Far from Close by printing 5,000 CDs to sell at their shows across the state of Oklahoma where the band toured mostly to promote it. In 2004 shortly before signing their record deal with the major record label Universal Records who would go on to release their debut single Get Stoned and debut album Extreme Behavior bassist Cole Parker departed the band and the group added two new members Mark King as rhythm guitarist, and Mike Rodden as the new bass player. In light of the new band members, the group repackaged Far from Close with a new album cover featuring new prominent graphics of the band's logo as well as a group shot of all the band members.
The EP sold out all 5,000 copies that was ever printed, and quickly gained traction and praise from the those who purchased copies and attended their live shows. In the summer of 2004, Hinder's great success with Far from Close attracted significant interest from several major record labels, leading to a competitive bidding war in an effort to sign the band to a record deal. The primary labels involved were Atlantic Records, Roadrunner Records, and Universal Records. Ultimately, Hinder chose to sign with Universal Records in early 2005.
Due to immediately getting to work on their debut album Extreme Behavior after signing with Universal Records in 2005, the band did not remaster or re-released Far from Close or promote it in any way. As of 2025 the band has never re-release the album or add it to any streaming platforms, and with only 5,000 copies ever created the disc has become a highly sought album among Hinder fans as collectors items, some selling for hundreds of dollars at auction on eBay.

## Personnel

* Austin John Winkler – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
* Joe "Blower" Garvey – lead guitar
* Cole Parker – bass, backing vocals
* Cody Hanson – drums