Guards (band)

2010-2011: Formation

Guards formed in New York City when Follin finished a European tour and went to a recording studio. He began writing and recording with his sister's band, Cults, and he ended up singing the songs. They put the songs on the internet and began to get show offers, so he formed Guards consisting of himself, Loren Humphrey and Kaylie Church. Follin and Humphrey were originally of the band Willowz with Jessica Reynoza. Together they released five albums and six singles. The trio caught the attention of 3 Syllables Records and they released their eponymous debut EP on the label in 2010. They released their first single, "Resolution of One", on Small Plates Records in December 2010. The single was re-released in May, 2011, on Kitsuné Music, with B-sides "Hear You Call" and "Swimming After Dark".

2012-2013: Debut album

On 12 October, the band uploaded a new song on YouTube titled "Silver Lining" along with the announcement of their debut album. Five days later, a video was released for the song, which was directed by Kaylie Church and shows the band performing the song with various changing backgrounds behind them. The song is currently used as background music during the "Maps" commercial for the Big Ten Conference. In November they uploaded another song titled "Coming True". In Guards We Trust was released in February, 2013, on Black Bell Records. The album was generally well received, Drowned in Sound said that "Guards are one of those bands that sound great in the sunshine, with a cloak of hazy afternoon drunk to keep your shoulders warm and chin up." Giving it seven out of ten. However, Pitchfork Media gave it 5.9 out of ten, saying that "(...)In Guards We Trust sounds like it lives in 2013, as the emphasis on low-end throughout indicates that hip-hop was a likely framing device." The first single for the album, "Ready to Go", was released in April along with a video. The band toured the album supporting Queens of the Stone Age.

Members