"I want to start a pop band."

In the early 2000s, Jayson Belt fronted The Red West, an alt-rock band that signed to Atlantic Records and somehow ended up on the Warped Tour, despite their vibe being much more Wilco than Warped. Following The Red West's breakup, Jayson released a solo album and wrote and recorded dozens of tracks for music libraries, but couldn't shake the desire to play in a band again.

One fall evening he reached out to a few friends with various musical backgrounds: Adam Ferry was the founding drummer of Plankeye and played in other bands including the OC Supertones, Fielding, and Two Guns; Eric Churchill had played bass in punk/hardcore legends the Blamed; and Eric Exley had played guitar and drums in multiple bands in the Chicago area, including Colored by Numbers and Towers.

Jayson invited them to have a beer and discuss the idea of playing together. He laid out his plan: "I want to start a pop band." Everyone enthusiastically agreed to give it a go.

However, by the end of the first writing session, it became clear they were heading in a different direction. The first idea they hammered into a song had verses in 7/8 time and a chorus that blew the roof off. Not quite "pop", though Jayson's voice and melodies always kept things from getting out of control.