Foster the People

Mark Foster created the band in 2009 after several years in Los Angeles, where he worked as a struggling musician and as a jingle composer. The song "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster went viral in 2010, leading the group to sign a contract with Startime International and to gain followers through performances in small clubs and music festivals. Their debut album, Torches, released in May 2011, included "Pumped Up Kicks", which became a commercial radio hit in mid-2011, reaching third place on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also featured the singles "Helena Beat" and "Houdini." The band received three Grammy nominations for Torches and "Pumped Up Kicks".

After a two-year tour promoting Torches, Foster the People released their second album, Supermodel, in March 2014, preceded by the single "Coming of Age." In July 2017, they presented their third studio album, Sacred Hearts Club, with the official inclusion of Isom Innis and Sean Cimino, who had been members on tour. From this album, the song "Sit Next to Me" reached number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received a double platinum certification from the RIAA. Between 2018 and 2021, the band released several singles, two EPs, and a reissue of an album. On May 31, 2024, they released a new single titled "Lost in Space." Their fourth album, Paradise State of Mind, is scheduled to be released on August 16, 2024.

Mark Foster graduated from Nordonia High School, near Cleveland, Ohio, where he began his musical career in a band with friends. With his father's support, he moved to Sylmar, Los Angeles, to pursue a music career. Foster worked in various jobs and attended parties in Hollywood to expand his network. At that time, he commented that he felt like a young Hunter S. Thompson, immersed in the Hollywood Hills subculture. On one occasion, he shared a room with actor Brad Renfro. During his early years in Los Angeles, Foster faced drug addiction problems, reaching a critical point at 19 years old, when he decided to change his life after realizing he was not being productive.

Inspired by the group Foster the Duffs, Mark Foster decided to form his own band, initially called "Foster and the People," which later changed to "Foster the People" to better reflect their focus on charity events. The band was established in 2009, after its members spent years in Los Angeles working on music composition for ads and other activities. In 2010, their popularity grew thanks to the viral success of Pumped Up Kicks, which allowed them to sign with Columbia Records. That year, they gained many followers through performances at clubs and festivals like Coachella and South by Southwest. After the release of their debut album Torches in May 2011, Pumped Up Kicks became a commercial radio hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, number three on Rock Songs and Billboard Hot 100, and the Top 5 on Adult Pop Songs and Pop Songs.