


The first iteration of the band was Foster, Pontius, and producer Zach "Reazon" Heiligman. But it was this really awesome singer-songwriter thing with a tricked-out beat, and I felt we could go wherever we wanted with this."įoster the People (as "Foster & The People") played their first show on Octoat the Dakota Live Music Lounge they played many of the songs that Foster had written for his solo record. At that time, Foster had released and was playing shows supporting a solo album Pontius was impressed by the number and diversity of songs that Foster had written to that point, saying, "Some were on the guitar, and some were on the computer. I knew I needed a band." Band formation and first shows įoster the People was born out of a nascent relationship with drummer Mark Pontius, a film school student who left his group Malbec to found a band with Foster in Fall 2009. It took me six years to do it." He still wished to be part of a group reflecting on a residency he did at a venue performing electronic music, he said, "It was just me and a laptop. I was constantly trying to pull those elements together. Another would be like a spiritual, and another would be classic piano song. I'd write another and it'd be heavily electronic. He explained: "I'd write one song and it'd be a hip-hop song. The music Foster wrote spanned a wide range of genres, but he had difficulty reconciling his eclectic compositions. He said of the profession, "I definitely learned from the commercial standpoint what works," and he credited it with reviving his confidence in performing. For the next few years, Foster waited tables at a cafe while dealing with writer's block, but he remained in Los Angeles after landing a job as a commercial jingle writer for Mophonics in 2008.
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Foster's first professional experience as a music artist was as lead vocalist on the 2006 song " Breakdown" by the Toques. After turning 22, he says he was contacted by Aftermath Entertainment about showcasing his musical talents, but the opportunity ultimately fell through. I wasn't being productive." įoster played in several bands, including one with which he auditioned for a record deal in New York. When I was 19 years old, it got to a point where I said, 'Enough is enough'. I wanted to be the center of attention." Foster struggled with drug addiction during his initial years in Los Angeles, saying, "It got pretty dark. I wasn't shy about taking my guitar out at a party. I was just diving into this Hollywood Hills subculture and taking it all in. He said, "I felt like an 18-year-old Hunter S. Foster worked various jobs and at night, he attended parties in Hollywood to expand his social network. With his father's encouragement, Foster moved in with his uncle in Sylmar, Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in music. Mark Foster graduated from Nordonia High School in the suburbs of Macedonia, Ohio, in 2002. History 2008–2009: Background and formation Mark Foster founded the group in Los Angeles in 2009 after years as a struggling musician. From this album, their song " Sit Next to Me" peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. In July 2017, the band released their third studio album, Sacred Hearts Club, with the addition of Isom Innis and Sean Cimino, both former touring members, to the official lineup. It was preceded by the lead single " Coming of Age". The group received three Grammy Award nominations for Torches and "Pumped Up Kicks".Īfter touring for two years in support of Torches, Foster the People released their second album, Supermodel, in March 2014. The record also featured the singles " Helena Beat" and " Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)". After releasing their debut album Torches in May 2011, "Pumped Up Kicks" became a crossover hit on commercial radio in mid-2011 and eventually reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

After Foster's song " Pumped Up Kicks" became a viral success in 2010, the group received a record deal from Startime International and gained a fanbase through small club shows and appearances at music festivals. įoster founded the band in 2009 after spending several years in Los Angeles as a struggling musician and working as a commercial jingle writer. Its members are singer Mark Foster, guitarist Sean Cimino, and keyboardist Isom Innis. Foster the People is an American indie pop band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2009.
