The 1975

The 1975 are an English alternative pop and rock group from Wilmslow, United Kingdom, formed in 2002. The band is made up of Matthew Healy, Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald and George Daniel. Healy performs as lead vocalist, producer, lyricist and rhythm guitarist, Hann plays lead guitar, MacDonald plays bass, and Daniel plays drums and also produces. The group begins at secondary school, where the members play together as teenagers.

Early development and label history

After early attempts to secure a record deal fail, the band’s manager Jamie Oborne sets up Dirty Hit records. The 1975 then build their profile by supporting major acts and issuing a run of EPs in 2012: Facedown, Sex, Music for Cars and IV.

Albums and commercial success

Their self-titled debut album appears in 2013 and includes the singles “Sex”, “Chocolate” and “Robbers”. It reaches number one in the United Kingdom. Their second album, i like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, follows in 2016 and reaches number one in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

After a further touring cycle, the band announces a third album under the working title Music for Cars, then pauses activity during 2017. They return in 2018 and explain that the project has developed into a broader campaign covering their third and fourth studio albums. The first of these, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, is released in 2018 and becomes their third UK number one album. The second, Notes on a Conditional Form, follows in 2020 and becomes their fourth consecutive UK number one. Being Funny in a Foreign Language arrives in 2022.

Style

The 1975 are associated with alternative pop, alternative rock, ambient pop, art pop, indie pop and indie rock. Their work also draws on pop rock, synth-pop, R&B, electropop, electronic styles including UK garage, 2-step and ambient, and rock forms such as shoegaze, post-punk and post-rock, alongside jazz, soul and gospel elements.

Profile

The band is noted for its wide-ranging lyrical and musical approach, and its catalogue develops from pop rock roots into a broad mix of contemporary pop and guitar-based styles.