Foster The People

Foster the People broke through with “Pumped Up Kicks,” a song that began as a viral success in 2010 before becoming a commercial-radio crossover hit the following year. The track eventually reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, turning the Los Angeles band from a small-club and festival act into an international pop fixture. Its success followed several years in which founder and frontman Mark Foster had worked in Los Angeles as a struggling musician and commercial jingle writer.

Formed in 2009, Foster the People initially built momentum after signing with Startime International. Their debut album, Torches, arrived in May 2011 and paired “Pumped Up Kicks” with singles including “Helena Beat” and “Houdini.” The album and its breakout single received three Grammy Award nominations. The group's early sound placed melodic pop hooks alongside dance-oriented rhythms and rock instrumentation, a combination that helped carry their songs from indie outlets to mainstream radio.

After spending two years on the road behind Torches, the band released its second album, Supermodel, in March 2014. “Coming of Age” served as the record's lead single. Their third studio album, Sacred Hearts Club, followed in July 2017, by which time former touring members Isom Innis and Sean Cimino had joined the official lineup. The album produced “Sit Next to Me,” which peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA.

Foster and keyboardist Innis remain central members of Foster the People. Between 2018 and 2021, the group issued singles, an EP, and an album reissue. They returned in 2024 with the single “Lost in Space,” released May 31, followed by their fourth album, Paradise State of Mind, on August 16. The album received mostly positive reviews.