Years active 2010–present Genres Indie pop, Synthpop | Website cultscultscults.com | |
Origin Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States (2010) Albums Static, Cults, Live From The Lot, Cults 7", Upstairs at United, Volume 10 Members Madeline Follin, Brian Oblivion Record labels Columbia Records, In the Name Of Similar Amber Coffman, J Cole, Guards, Dominic Cournoyer, Sleigh Bells Profiles | ||
Cults is an American indie band formed in New York City in 2010. The band first came to prominence when they posted a three song EP, Cults 7", on their Bandcamp page. They are signed to Sony and In the Name Of, a record label that was set up by British singer Lily Allen.
Contents
History
Cults formed in 2010 while guitarist Brian Oblivion and singer Madeline Follin were students in New York City. Oblivion went to NYU to study documentary cinema, Follin went to The New School. Madeline had previously recorded with punk band Youth Gone Mad on the album, Touching Cloth. Cults released an EP on Forrest Family Records, Cults 7", with the track "Go Outside" recorded by Paul Kostabi at Thunderdome Studios, named "Best New Music" by Pitchfork Media. They toured supporting the Richie Follin's Band with overlapping members for six months before signing to ITNO/SONY. Their song "Go Outside" had a video made for it which starred Emma Roberts and Dave Franco. Another video featured the band inter-cut with footage of Jim Jones and Jonestown.
Their self-titled debut album, Cults, was released on June 7, 2011, by Columbia Records imprint In the Name Of run by Lily Allen. The album received generally positive reviews, and a second "Best New Music" from Pitchfork was earned for the track "Abducted".
In 2011 Cults collaborated with the group Superhuman Happiness on a version of the track "Um Canto De Afoxé para o Bloco Do Ilê" for the Red Hot Organisation's most recent charity album Red Hot+Rio 2. The album is a follow-up to the 1996 Red Hot + Rio. Proceeds from sales will be donated to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues. The band was chosen to perform at the ATP I'll Be Your Mirror festival curated by ATP & Portishead in September 2011 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and also by Battles to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that they co-curate in December 2011 in Minehead, England.
In early 2012 Cults played the Australasian music festival Laneways. In an interview with 3news.co.nz they said people could expect a more "aggressive sound" with a lot of changes being made to songs as a five-piece band.
In an interview with the magazine Coup De Main, Madeline Follin was quoted saying that "You Know What I Mean" is her favorite song on their self-titled debut album.
In 2013 they were featured alongside Amber Coffman on J. Cole's Born Sinner album which peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200. The song later peaked at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100
Also in 2013, the band recorded their second album, Static, in the aftermath of the duo's breakup. Reviews were generally favorable.
In 2016, Madeline Follin collaborated with her brother Richie James Follin in their single "Roxy" that was released online on February 23, 2016.
Band members
Live members
Albums
EPs
Songs
You Know What I MeanCults · 2011
Go OutsideCults · 2011
Always ForeverStatic · 2013