The Backseat Lovers

{{Short description|American alternative rock band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = group_or_band | name = The Backseat Lovers | image = The Backseat Lovers (53775607771).jpg | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape = yes | alt = | caption = The Backseat Lovers in 2023 | origin = Provo, Utah | genre = {{flat list| * Indie rock * alternative * folk rock }} | years_active = {{Start date|2018}}–present | label = Capitol Records | current_members = Joshua Harmon Jonas Swanson Juice Welch KJ Ward | past_members = Ethan Christensen | website = {{URL|https://www.thebackseatlovers.com/}} }}

'''The Backseat Lovers''' is an American rock band formed in Provo, Utah in 2018. The band's 2019 single "Kilby Girl" reached number 39 on the ''Billboard'' Rock & Alternative Airplay chart. The band released their major label debut album, ''Waiting to Spill'', on October 28, 2022, via Capitol Records.

== History ==

The Backseat Lovers were formed in 2018. Lead singer and guitarist Joshua Harmon and guitarist Jonas Swanson first met while waiting in line for an open mic in Provo, Utah in 2017. The two were joined by drummer Juice Welch and bassist Ethan Christensen.<ref name="CW">{{cite news |last=McGregor |first=Nick |title=P.S. They Love You |work=Salt Lake City Weekly |date=February 13, 2019 |url=https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/ps-they-love-you/Content?oid=12967878 |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref> Christensen was later replaced by KJ Ward.<ref name="ABQ">{{cite news |last=Gomez |first=Adrian |title=Understanding each other: The Backseat Lovers to bring its indie sound to Meow Wolf |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |date=November 5, 2021 |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2443270/understanding-each-other-the-backseat-lovers-to-bring-its-indie-sound-to-meow-wolf.html |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref> Harmon was previously the vocalist of the indie rock band Moody Pulp.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=http://moodypulp.weebly.com/about.html |access-date=February 15, 2024 |website=moody pulp}}</ref> In June 2018, the group won a "battle of the bands" competition at Velour, a Provo venue. That month, the band also self-released its first EP, ''Elevator Days''.<ref name="UVU">{{cite news |last=Bianucci |first=Ty |title=Backseat Lovers celebrate album release at Velour |work=UVU Review |date=January 30, 2019 |url=https://www.uvureview.com/valley-life/artsculture/backseat-lovers-celebrate-album-release-at-velour/ |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref>

In January 2019, The Backseat Lovers released its first studio album, ''When We Were Friends''. The album featured the singles, "Maple Syrup"<ref name="UVU"/> and "Kilby Girl", which can be attributed to their streaming success and growth.<ref name="States20">{{cite news |last=Ellis |first=Brandon |title=The kilby girl: Utah's local music persona |work=The Utah Statesman |date=September 4, 2020 |url=https://usustatesman.com/the-kilby-girl-utahs-local-music-persona/ |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref> The latter song received radio airplay on stations like KKDO in Sacramento and the Sirius XM radio channel, Alt Nation.<ref name="ABQ"/> It peaked at number 39 on the ''Billboard'' Rock & Alternative Airplay chart in 2021.<ref name="RA">{{cite magazine |last= |first= |title=Rock & Alternative Airplay |magazine=Billboard |date=February 27, 2021 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rock-airplay/2021-02-27/ |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref> The band toured during 2019 in support of ''When We Were Friends''.<ref name="CW"/><ref name="Pigeon">{{cite news |last=Spaulding |first=Wes |title=The Backseat Lovers, Release New Track "Just a Boy" To Kick Off Their Upcoming West Coast Tour |work=Rock the Pigeon |date=September 28, 2019 |url=https://rockthepigeon.com/2019/09/28/the-backseat-lovers-release-new-track-just-a-boy-to-kick-off-their-upcoming-west-coast-tour/ |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref>

The band also toured throughout 2021,<ref name="ABQ"/> including their first festival appearance at Lollapalooza in July of that year.<ref name="COSLol">{{cite news |last1=Graves |first1=Wren |last2=Clark |first2=Tyler |title=Lollapalooza 2021 Day 3 Recap: Rap and Rock Duel with Journey, Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, and Limp Bizkit |work=Consequence of Sound |date=July 31, 2021 |url=https://consequence.net/2021/08/lollapalooza-2021-day-3-recap/ |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref><ref name="UM">{{cite news |last=Goudie |first=Keegan |title=Lollapalooza 2021 Artist Spotlight: The Backseat Lovers |work=Urban Matter |date=August 10, 2021 |url=https://urbanmatter.com/chicago/lollapalooza-2021-artist-spotlight-the-backseat-lovers/ |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref> In 2022, the band embarked on its North American "Turning Point" tour.<ref name="MUD">{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Lucy |title=The Backseat Lovers Go on Tour for the Ages |work=MUD Magazine |date=March 4, 2022 |url=https://www.themudmag.com/post/the-backseat-lovers-north-american-tour-kilby-girl |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref> Later in 2022, the group began releasing new singles, including "Growing/Dying",<ref name="MelodicGD">{{cite news |last=Wales-Harding |first=Megan |title=The Backseat Lovers return with new single "Growing/Dying" |work=Melodic Magazine |date=August 22, 2022 |url=https://www.melodicmag.com/2022/08/22/the-backseat-lovers-return-with-me-single-growing-dying/ |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref> "Close Your Eyes", and "Slowing Down". Those songs appeared on the band's major label debut studio album, ''Waiting to Spill'', which was released on October 28, 2022, via Capitol Records. According to frontman Josh Harmon, the album reflects the band’s personal and artistic growth, moving from the high school-driven angst of ''When We Were Friends'' to a more intimate and reflective sound that “had room for a much lower dynamic level.” <ref>{{Cite web |last=Midnight |first=Chip |title=Interview: The Backseat Lovers |url=https://bigtakeover.com/interviews/InterviewTheBackseatLovers |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=The Big Takeover |language=en}}</ref> The Backseat Lovers also announced their Waiting to Spill Tour in the U.K. and Ireland which took place in the spring of 2023.<ref name="BWW">{{cite news |last=Major |first=Michael |title=Backseat Lovers Release 'Close Your Eyes' Ahead of Upcoming Album |work=Broadway World |date=September 20, 2022 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Backseat-Lovers-Release-Close-Your-Eyes-Ahead-of-Upcoming-Album-20220920 |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref><ref name="MelodicSD">{{cite news |last=Wales-Harding |first=Megan |title=The Backseat Lovers release new single "Slowing Down" and announce new UK & Ireland 2023 tour |work=Melodic Magazine |date=October 10, 2022 |url=https://www.melodicmag.com/2022/10/10/the-backseat-lovers-release-new-single-slowing-down-and-announce-new-uk-ireland-2023-tour/ |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref>

In 2024, lead vocalist Joshua Harmon released a self-titled album under the name 'deeper sleeper'.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Spotify – Web Player|url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/641zDmmghbd2tTMqrj3HBZ|website=Spotify|access-date=2025-11-27|language=en}}</ref> In an interview with Hashtag Magazine, Harmon confirmed he had returned to work on a third The Backseat Lovers album.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DEEPER SLEEPER – THE SELF-TITLED DEBUT PROJECT FROM JOSHUA HARMON – IS OUT NOW|url=https://hashtagmagazine.net/home/2024/10/14/deeper-sleeper-the-self-titled-debut-project-from-the-backseat-lovers-joshua-harmon-is-out-today|website=Hashtag Magazine|date=2024-10-14|access-date=2025-11-27|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Band members==

=== Current members ===

* Joshua Harmon – lead vocals, guitars * Jonas Swanson – guitars, vocals * Juice Welch – drums, percussion * KJ Ward – bass guitar

=== Former members ===

* Ethan Christensen – bass guitar

== Discography ==

=== Studio albums ===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ List of studio albums with selected details ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:13em"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- ! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US <ref>{{cite tweet |user=billboardcharts |number=1622675868370800658 |title=Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/2)... |date=February 6, 2023 |access-date=February 7, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''When We Were Friends'' (US) | * Released: January 27, 2019 (US) * Label: Self-released * Formats: Digital download | 199 |- ! scope="row"| ''Waiting to Spill'' | * Release date: October 28, 2022 (US) * Label: Capitol * Formats: Digital download | — |}

=== EPs ===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ List of EPs with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:13em"| Title ! scope="col"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''Elevator Days'' | * Released: June 3, 2018 (US) * Label: Self-released * Formats: Digital download |}

=== Singles ===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles with selected details ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peaks ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US R&A Air ! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US AAA <ref>{{cite magazine |title=Adult Alternative Airplay: Week of January 21, 2023 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/triple-a/2023-01-21 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 21, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Out of Tune" | rowspan=:"2"| 2018 | — | — | rowspan="1"| ''Elevator Days: EP'' |- ! scope="row"| "Maple Syrup" | rowspan="2"| 2019 | — | — | rowspan="2"| ''When We Were Friends'' |- ! scope="row"| "Kilby Girl" | 39 <ref name="RA"/> | — |- ! scope="row"| "Just a Boy" | 2019 | — | — | — |- ! scope="row"| "Heavy" |2020 | — | — | — |- ! scope="row"| "Growing/Dying" | rowspan="3"| 2022 | — | 18 | rowspan="3"| ''Waiting to Spill'' |- ! scope="row"| "Close Your Eyes" | — | — |- ! scope="row"| "Slowing Down" | — | — |}

== References ==

== External links ==

* [https://www.thebackseatlovers.com/ Official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backseat Lovers}} Category:Alternative rock groups from Utah