All We Are

With their dreamy, chilled-out indie pop and falsetto-inflected dance vibe, Liverpool's All We Are have been described as <a href="spotify:artist:1LZEQNv7sE11VDY3SdxQeN">the Bee Gees</a> on Diazepam. The engaging grooves and global feel of their 2015 debut won them an international fan base as they segued from elements of Krautrock and disco to blissful uptempo pop on later releases like 2020's Providence.

Formed in 2011 at the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts (LIPA), the trio has a unique multi-cultural makeup, with none of its members hailing from England. Drummer <a href="spotify:artist:30mEqCmOyV1lx7hFjSRId9">Richard O'Flynn</a> is from nearby Ireland, while bassist Guro Gikling is a Norwegian and guitarist Luis Santos is Brazilian. They self-released their debut EP in the summer of 2011, following it up early the next year with their second EP, We Hunt. By the time of their 2013 single, "Utmost Good," they had built a sturdy reputation in the U.K. and, after a European tour supporting <a href="spotify:artist:3AmgGrYHXqgbmZ2yKoIVzO">Warpaint</a>, they signed with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Domino+Records%22">Domino Records</a> affiliate <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Double+Six%22">Double Six</a>. Working with producer <a href="spotify:artist:1PXStuNqw9YDsim4EhMSq7">Dan Carey</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:46CuxapoPjUfIOiXdNq7qM">Oh Land</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0b0uhvUEeiD6y0XHVw3mRA">Toy</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1YcprGtF13BYCZQK9jYPEw">Kate Tempest</a>), they issued a handful of singles which preceded their self-titled 2015 debut LP.

After the success of their debut, the trio toured to support the album, then set about writing and recording its follow-up. Teaming with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Warp+Records%22">Warp Records</a>-affiliated producer <a href="spotify:artist:2vvaBnZLZh65JFyWp67Mhn">Kwes.</a>, the group expanded on their chilled-out indie pop debut, adding in dashes of psychedelia, Krautrock, and post-punk. The resulting sophomore album, Sunny Hills, was released in mid-2017. With their third outing, 2020's upbeat Providence, All We Are focused unyieldingly on matters of positivity, love, and friendship. ~ Timothy Monger, Rovi