Hello My Name Is... is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Bridgit Mendler released on October 22, 2012, through Hollywood Records. Mendler began planning the project in 2011 and co-wrote all fifteen of its tracks.
The album debuted at number thirty on the US Billboard 200 and at number 20 on the US Billboard Digital Albums chart with over 12,000 pure album sales. It also charted at number 17 on the Polish Albums Chart, the first country to chart outside the US. The first single of the album, "Ready or Not", premiered on August 3, 2012, and was released as a digital download on August 7, 2012. The song debuted at number 98 and peaked at number 49 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
She has used three more songs to promote her album: "Hurricane", "Top of the World" and the promotional single "Forgot to Laugh". The album received mainly positive reviews from music critics, who praised Mendler's vocals and songwriting skills, but criticized the songs for sounding too alike and lacking direction.
Background, composition and release
Mendler described the album as authorial and pop, with R&B, jazz and funk influences. Mendler originally announced that her album would be released in September 2012. It was also announced that her single, "Ready or Not", would premiere on children's radio on August 3, 2012, be available to purchase on August 7, 2012, and impact top 40 radio on August 20, 2012. The song impacted the mainstream radio on August 21, 2012. The release date of the album was later changed to October 22, 2012. The track listing and album cover were announced on August 20, 2012. The album has an "acoustic, soulful jazzy funky sort of thing." The re-release of the album for Japan features an alternative album cover, and was released on February 17, 2014.
Promotion
On October 19, 2012 Mendler performed "Ready or Not" and "Hurricane" on Off the Charts. On October 20, she performed "Ready or Not" on Radio Disney and Disney Channel show Total Access. On November 14, 2012 Mendler sang "Ready or Not" and "5:15" on Good Morning America on November 14, 2012. Mendler performed the song on Live! with Kelly and Michael on November 15, 2012. The first single also was performed on The X Factor semi-final results show on December 13, 2012. On March 11, 2013 Mendler performed "Hurricane" on Live! with Kelly and Michael. On April 27 Mendler was on 2013 Radio Disney Music Awards and performed "Hurricane". This was the first time in her career that Mendler sang in an award. In Canada Mendler performed the some songs on The Morning Show, on New Music Live in Toronto, Canada and on Disneyland Resort the song was performed on October 12, 2012.
In May she traveled to Argentina to record a cameo appearances in the Latin telenovela show Violetta and sang "Hurricane" with the cast. On May 17 Mendler performed the song on MTV Push. On May 30 the CBBC's show Blue Peter also broadcast a performance previously recorded. On June 5, she performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after an interview. On June 20 Mendler traveled to the United Kingdom to promote her single on BBC Radio 1. The next day, Mendler performed "Hurricane" on Daybreak and, on June 23, she promoted the song on Sunday Brunch, but didn't sing it. On July 15 Mendler performed it on the FOX morning talk show Good Day L.A. On July 23 Mendler traveled Singapore to promote the song on the radios and, in the same week, went to Australia to perform the song on The Today Show, on July 30, and on NovaFM, 31. Also on July 31, the Grammy Academy released a video of "Hurricane" in an exclusive intimate performance for 'Grammy HQ' with "5:15", "Ready or Not" and an interview.
Tours
To promote the album, Mendler embarked on her debut headlining concert tour entitled Bridgit Mendler: Live in Concert. The tour played 25 shows starting on August 25, 2012 and ended on January 19, 2013. The tour played music festivals and state fairs in the United States and Canada; it became a major success with critics, selling out many dates in the United States. She continued to promote the album with her 2013 Summer Tour. The tour began on June 16, 2013 in Burlington, Iowa and ended on September 21, 2013 in Puyallup, Washington.
VEVO Lift series
In April 2013, Mendler recorded a series of videos at the request of VEVO, from the special VEVO Lift, an intimate acoustic performance recorded in the VEVO Studios and interviews about her debut album. The project was released in twenty three parts in her official channel.
Acoustic performances
"Ready or Not" "Hurricane" "5:15" "Blonde" "Love Will Tell Us Where to Go"