Hoops begins as a solo project for musician Drew Auscherman and later becomes a full band. Auscherman recruits the other members in 2011, when they are all juniors in high school, although they have been friends since sixth grade. The project starts with a solo run of releases that includes the song “Commercial” in December 2011, a two-song release called Avian Way later that month, Rosie’s Garden in 2012, and the full-length Little Pleasures in 2014.

Releases and style

The full band records a first tape, Tape #1, in 2015. It includes versions of Little Pleasures songs “Be There” and “Grass”; “Be There” is re-recorded for this release. Two more tapes follow, #2 and #3, in 2015 and 2016. The group also records a live session for Audiotree Live in July 2016, then issues its first self-titled EP on Fat Possum Records. A first full-length album for Fat Possum, Routines, follows in May 2017 and reaches number 21 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.

Later activity

In November 2017, Hoops issues the compilation Tapes #1-3 on vinyl. The band later announces an indefinite hiatus in July 2018, then returns with the single “They Say” in November 2019. It also announces the album Halo, with “Fall Back” appearing as the first single in June 2020. Later in 2020, the band ends and the planned release of Halo is withdrawn.

Other details

Hoops is described as indie, and is associated with jangle pop, lo-fi, indie rock and dream pop. Drew Auscherman also records on and runs Cthonic Records.