American indie pop group Foster the People was founded in 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Mark Foster on vocals, Sean Cimino on guitar, and Isom Innis on piano make up the group.
Foster started the group in 2009 after spending a number of years in Los Angeles as a struggling musician and jingle composer. The trio earned a record deal from Startime International when Foster’s song “Pumped Up Kicks” went viral in 2010 and became a hit. They built a fan following by playing at local clubs and music festivals. Midway through 2011, with the release of their first album Torches, “Pumped Up Kicks” became a crossover smash on commercial radio and finally peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The songs “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)” and “Helena Beat” were also included on the album. For Torches and “Pumped Up Kicks,” the trio garnered three Grammy Award nominations.
Foster the People’s second album, Supermodel, was released in March 2014 after they completed a two-year tour in support of Torches. The lead single, “Coming of Age,” came before it. The band’s third studio album, Sacred Hearts Club, was released in July 2017 with the official lineup now including Isom Innis and Sean Cimino, both of whom had previously been touring members. Their single “Sit Next to Me” from this album debuted at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was awarded double platinum certification by the RIAA.