Artist Biography

Follows was formed in Chicago, Illinois in 2008 with guitarist/vocalist Mia Clarke (Electrelane), drummer Tony Lazzara (Sterling/Atombombpocketknife/Bloodiest), bass player Colin DeKuiper (Russian Circles), and guitarist Eric Chaleff (Sterling/Bloodiest).

During Electrelane's final tour before their indefinite hiatus in late 2007, Electrelane guitarist Mia Clarke and the band's sound engineer, Tony Lazzara, began writing music together in the van. At that time, Colin DeKuiper was touring with his former band, Russian Circles. His last show with Russian Circles was at the Underworld in London. After the show he attended the Electrelane show at the Roundhouse in London. It would only be a matter of months until he would find himself recruited for a new band fronted by Clarke. When Clarke and Lazzara returned to Chicago, they continued working on songs with Lazzara's longtime Sterling band mate and friend Eric Chaleff. After playing for months and discarding what didn't feel natural, Follows' sound came to fruition and they began cultivating dark, hypnotic songs that were simultaneously vast and minimal.

With everything intact the band began playing live in the spring of 2009, supporting groups such as The Paperchase, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Disappears, School of Seven Bells, The Entrance Band and Dead Meadow.