For Ace Enders, maturity is one of the biggest factors influencing his music.

"I like my music to grow with me," he said.

The New Jersey native has come a long way since his days as the frontman for pop-punk band The Early November, and is now the frontman for a band with a new direction.

Enders and his band, A Million Different People, will make a return visit to State College at 7 Sunday night for a Nittany Booking show at SoZo, 256 E. Beaver Ave. Joining him on the bill is So to Speak, Hopes High and Lights Camera Distractions.

Enders said as he has gotten older, he approaches music with a different mentality.

The band's new album, entitled When I Hit The Ground, is the prototype for this new mature sound, and Nittany Booking owner Garrett Bogden (senior-marketing) said he likes every song on it.

"It's awesome," Bogden said. "I think he's progressing."

The band is currently on tour with the All American Rejects to support the album and reach a broader fan base.

Enders said he has been touring with A Million Different People for almost two years now, adding that playing with a full band is good for big shows.

"You can get loud and in people's faces," he said.

The name of his band comes from the song "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve, which Enders said is "one of his favorite songs ever."

The band recently released a cover of the song, which Enders said "turned out great." All proceeds from the sale of the cover song go to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, which has a core mission to "restore instrumental music education programs, ensuring that every child has access to a complete education that includes the benefits of music instruction," according to its Web site.

Enders said he is happy the band's music could benefit the foundation.

"Hopefully it will show kids what music is all about in school," he said.

Enders has also been featured in the "intimate" setting of playing solo, and said playing acoustic provides "a different vibe" for him and the crowd.

Bogden can recall a show at SoZo in August 2007 when Enders played acoustic.

"It was one of the most chill shows I've ever booked," he said.

Bogden added Enders has a knack for writing great rock songs, giving his music a wide appeal.

"He's just a really cool guy," he said. "He puts on an amazing show and I think everyone will enjoy it."

Ryan Gardiner, guitarist for So to Speak, can also attest to Enders' being a good musician and a good person.

"He loves everybody," Gardiner said about Enders, one of his hometown friends.

Gardiner and the drummer for So to Speak also used to be on a record label founded by Enders called Regular Music.

So to Speak signed on to the SoZo show after hearing from Enders that he would be headlining, Gardiner said. He added this show would be a good opportunity for the band to spread its alternative-pop music outside of New Jersey, where the band usually gigs and has a "continuously growing fan base."

So to Speak currently has a self-titled EP out, and Gardiner said the band has plans to record again in June for either another EP or a full-length album.

He added the band's sound is different than what is out there now, and he believes it will capture people that are interested in music.

"We have so many different emotions behind everything we do," he said, adding So to Speak just wants to "convey life" with its music.

Aside from the SoZo show, Enders will also perform earlier at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Hot Topic in the Nittany Mall, 2900 E. College Ave. Enders said he is always happy with the responses he gets from the crowd while playing in State College.

"I have no idea what appeals to them," he said. "But I hope it keeps appealing."