Chvrches

Chvrches are a Glasgow-based electronic pop trio active from 2011. The group consists of Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. Their name is pronounced “churches” and is stylised as CHVRCHΞS.

Formation and members

The band begins as a studio project in October 2011, formed by long-time friends Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. Cook already knows Lauren Mayberry through work with her previous band Blue Sky Archives and suggests her as vocalist for the project. Mayberry sings lead vocals and sometimes plays synths and samplers; Cook plays synths, guitar, bass and vocals; Doherty plays synths, samplers and vocals.

Before Chvrches, Mayberry is a member of Boyfriend/Girlfriend and Blue Sky Archives. She is also a trained drummer and has studied law and journalism. Cook is a former member of Aereogramme and The Unwinding Hours and writes music for film and television. Doherty is a live member of The Twilight Sad. Mayberry says that Cook and Doherty know each other from university.

Sound and influences

The group works in electronic pop, with related genres including synthpop, electro-pop, indie pop, indietronica, dance, electronica, pop and rock. They write, record, mix and master their music in a basement studio in Glasgow. Their influences include Prince, Tubeway Army, Robyn, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Laurie Anderson.

Early releases and debut album

In 2012, Chvrches release the song “Lies”, tour with Passion Pit and also tour on their own. “Lies” reaches number 28 on NME’s best tracks of 2012 list, and the band places fifth on the BBC Sound of 2013 list. They release the Recover EP on 25 March 2013 and appear at SXSW, where they win the inaugural Grulke Prize for Developing Non-US Act. They also support Depeche Mode on four dates during the group’s 2013 Delta Machine Tour.

Their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe, follows in 2013 and includes the singles “The Mother We Share”, “Recover” and “Gun”.

Second and third albums

Recording for the second album begins in January 2015 and is completed in June that year. Every Open Eye uses a wider range of synths than the debut album, including the Korg MS-20 mini, Korg Polysix, Roland Jupiter-8, Moog Sonic Six, Oberheim OB-Xa and DSI Prophet 12. The album is released in 2015 and is preceded by the singles “Leave a Trace”, “Never Ending Circles”, “Clearest Blue” and “Empty Threat”. A version of “Bury It” featuring Hayley Williams later appears as the album’s fifth and final single. The band debuts at the Royal Albert Hall in 2016 with a set of songs from the first two albums.

Chvrches also write “Warning Call” with Solar Fields for the video game Mirror’s Edge Catalyst.

Work on the third album begins in February 2017, with recording in Los Angeles, New York City and London. Dave Stewart of Eurythmics works in the studio with the band, and Greg Kurstin produces the record. Matt Berninger of The National appears on “My Enemy”. The album, Love Is Dead, is released in 2018 and also includes the singles “Get Out”, “Never Say Die”, “Miracle” and “Graffiti”.

Later releases and collaborations

In 2019, Chvrches perform with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for the launch of BBC Scotland, including an orchestral version of “Miracle”. They also collaborate with Marshmello on “Here with Me” and release “Death Stranding” as the lead single from the soundtrack album Death Stranding: Timefall for the video game of the same title. The song is performed with the Game Awards Orchestra at the opening of The Game Awards 2019.

Work on the fourth album begins in February 2020, with Doherty and Mayberry in Los Angeles and Cook in Glasgow. The album, first referred to as CHV4, is announced in 2021 as Screen Violence. The singles “He Said She Said”, “How Not to Drown”, featuring Robert Smith of the Cure, and “Good Girls” are released from the album, which follows in 2021. Chvrches perform “Good Girls” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Record deal and recent activity

After nearly a decade with Glassnote, the band signs with Island Records and EMI Records in 2022. In 2023, they release “Over” under the new deal. Lauren Mayberry also announces solo music and a solo tour, while the band is on hiatus. Chvrches later mark the tenth anniversary of The Bones of What You Believe with a special edition that adds unreleased tracks, live tracks and the original album; “Manhattan” is issued alongside the announcement.