Cults
The duo of Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion, Cults' twinkling experimenta… Read Full Bio ↴The duo of Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion, Cults' twinkling experimental pop combines gauzy sounds with moods that hit surprisingly hard. On their 2010 breakthrough "Go Outside," dream pop haze and '60s girl group harmonies provided the perfect backdrop for Follin's sweetly empathetic vocals, creating the template for Cults' sound. On the albums that followed, the duo gave different nuances to this style. They added Technicolor vibrancy to 2011's Cults; darkness that echoed the end of their romantic relationship on 2013's Static; and a streamlined approach that reflected the electro-pop purveyors that sprang up in their wake on 2017's Offering. On this album and 2020's Host, Follin's growing creative input reinforced the delicate yet enduring appeal of Cults' music.
Cults formed in 2010, when native San Franciscans Follin and Oblivion were attending school in New York City (Oblivion was a documentary film student at NYU; Follin was studying at the New School). A couple at the time, they wrote and recorded songs in Oblivion's apartment using a computer and a cheap midi keyboard, and before the year was over, they released their self-titled debut EP on Forest Family Records. One of the EP's songs, "Go Outside," which Cults recorded with Paul Kostabi at Thunderdome Studios, became a viral hit, earning acclaim from publications including Pitchfork and NME.
Cults built on the success of "Go Outside" by touring with Richie Follin's Band (the project of Madeline's older brother) for six months. They then signed to In the Name Of, an imprint of Columbia Records founded by Lily Allen. Produced by Shane Stoneback, Cults' June 2011 self-titled album delivered more of their atmospheric, retro-futuristic indie pop and charted in the U.K., Canada, and the U.S., reaching number 52 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart. That year, the duo also appeared on the AIDS/HIV research benefit album Red Hot+Rio 2, collaborating with Superhuman Happiness on a cover of "Um Canto de Afoxé para o Bloco Do Ilê." Along with touring in support of the album, Cults also appeared at the Portishead-curated ATP I'll Be Your Mirror festival that September and at ATP's Nightmare Before Christmas festival, which was curated by Battles, that December.
In October 2013, Cults returned with their second album, Static. Recorded with Stoneback in the wake of Follin and Oblivion's breakup, it won strong reviews for its emotive songwriting and peaked at number 114 on the Billboard Top 200. That month, the duo also appeared with Amber Coffman on J. Cole's "She Knows" from his album Born Sinner; the song hit number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Following the 2014 single "Being It," Cults took some time off. In 2016, Follin formed the group Follin with her brother Richie, and released the single "Roxy" that February.
For their next album, Cults took a more collaborative approach, with Follin playing drums and keyboards as well as singing. After working with Stoneback in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco studios, Cults emerged in October 2017 with Offering, which borrowed from influences as wide-ranging as Pink Floyd, Gary Numan, and the Motels, whose music they'd fallen in love with while touring with Total Control in Australia. They explored their passion for the Motels further in 2018 with a track-by-track cover of the band's 1979 self-titled debut that was part of Turntable Kitchen's Sounds Delicious series. The following year saw the release of Offering B Sides & Remixes, which featured reworkings of the album's tracks by Mike Simonetti, Etienne de Crecy, and John Fryer.
Cults began work on their next album in early 2019, teaming with Stoneback on songs that, for the first time, featured live instrumentation and included lyrics by Follin. Mixed by John Congleton and mastered by Heba Kadry, Host appeared in September 2020 and tackled themes of identity and independence.
Biography by Heather Phares
Cults formed in 2010, when native San Franciscans Follin and Oblivion were attending school in New York City (Oblivion was a documentary film student at NYU; Follin was studying at the New School). A couple at the time, they wrote and recorded songs in Oblivion's apartment using a computer and a cheap midi keyboard, and before the year was over, they released their self-titled debut EP on Forest Family Records. One of the EP's songs, "Go Outside," which Cults recorded with Paul Kostabi at Thunderdome Studios, became a viral hit, earning acclaim from publications including Pitchfork and NME.
Cults built on the success of "Go Outside" by touring with Richie Follin's Band (the project of Madeline's older brother) for six months. They then signed to In the Name Of, an imprint of Columbia Records founded by Lily Allen. Produced by Shane Stoneback, Cults' June 2011 self-titled album delivered more of their atmospheric, retro-futuristic indie pop and charted in the U.K., Canada, and the U.S., reaching number 52 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart. That year, the duo also appeared on the AIDS/HIV research benefit album Red Hot+Rio 2, collaborating with Superhuman Happiness on a cover of "Um Canto de Afoxé para o Bloco Do Ilê." Along with touring in support of the album, Cults also appeared at the Portishead-curated ATP I'll Be Your Mirror festival that September and at ATP's Nightmare Before Christmas festival, which was curated by Battles, that December.
In October 2013, Cults returned with their second album, Static. Recorded with Stoneback in the wake of Follin and Oblivion's breakup, it won strong reviews for its emotive songwriting and peaked at number 114 on the Billboard Top 200. That month, the duo also appeared with Amber Coffman on J. Cole's "She Knows" from his album Born Sinner; the song hit number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Following the 2014 single "Being It," Cults took some time off. In 2016, Follin formed the group Follin with her brother Richie, and released the single "Roxy" that February.
For their next album, Cults took a more collaborative approach, with Follin playing drums and keyboards as well as singing. After working with Stoneback in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco studios, Cults emerged in October 2017 with Offering, which borrowed from influences as wide-ranging as Pink Floyd, Gary Numan, and the Motels, whose music they'd fallen in love with while touring with Total Control in Australia. They explored their passion for the Motels further in 2018 with a track-by-track cover of the band's 1979 self-titled debut that was part of Turntable Kitchen's Sounds Delicious series. The following year saw the release of Offering B Sides & Remixes, which featured reworkings of the album's tracks by Mike Simonetti, Etienne de Crecy, and John Fryer.
Cults began work on their next album in early 2019, teaming with Stoneback on songs that, for the first time, featured live instrumentation and included lyrics by Follin. Mixed by John Congleton and mastered by Heba Kadry, Host appeared in September 2020 and tackled themes of identity and independence.
Biography by Heather Phares
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Cults Lyrics
- Abducted I knew right then that I'd been abducted I knew right…
02. Go Outside I really want to go out I really want to go…
03. You Know What I Mean I, I can't take things slowly Come then go away, that's…
04. Most Wanted Up late at night all alone Can't you see that I'm…
05. Walk At Night When I walk at night I cant help but I…
06. Never Heal Myself Tell me all the things that you thought weren't right…
3 You Know What I Mean I, I can't take things slowly Come then go away, that's…
4 Most Wanted Up late at night all alone Can't you see that I'm…
5 Walk At Night When I walk at night I cant help but I…
7 Oh My God Oh my god, I'm stuck inside the same position I'm so…
8 Never Saw The Point I never saw the point in trying 'Cause I would only…
8th Avenue Look through the eye of the needle You have to pull…
9 Bad Things There's nothing like losing out so long To the bad things…
A Low Eyes like a painting Watching Unfading Vacant figures Fragm…
A Purgatory Can't end, can't begin Can't end, can't begin The wheels kee…
Abducted I knew right then that I'd been abducted I knew right…
Always Forever You and me always forever We could stay alone together You a…
Bad Things Bad things happen to the people you love And you'll find…
Bumper He had been untrue I had learned of all his lies I…
Clear from Far Away All my time passed me by like a stranger Gravity pulled…
fire Wound up, can't sleep, can't do anything right, little honey…
free To be free Like the birds and the bees, yeah To be…
Gilded Lily Now it's been long enough to talk about it I've started…
Go Outside I really want to go out I really want to go…
Good Religion Lead and I'll follow you down to the bottom We'll fall…
Hardly Make You I can hardly make you mine Telling you too often I’ve been…
High Road No one really knows who's house you haunted Places that you…
Honest Love Maybe this could all be nothing Or am I forgetting something…
I Can Hardly Make You Mine I can hardly make you mine Telling you too often I’ve been…
I Can Hardly Make You Mine I can hardly make you mine Telling you too often I've been…
I Know I, I can't take things slowly Come then go away, that's…
I Took Your Picture I took your picture I felt my heartbeat slow down It's hard…
Keep Your Head Up Outside in your [?] I take my chances there I am glad…
Like I Do No Nobody does it like I do See? Still nobody does it like…
machine Check this one Fell to the red room Because she was there,…
Masquerading Could we wander the city Let the days Slip away All this sp…
Monolithic Call it a mix-up Call it unsympathetic Through all of the hi…
Most Wanted Up late at night all alone Can't you see that I'm…
Most_Wanted Up late at night all alone Can't you see that I'm…
Natural State Could it be a losing sight? What you think is necessary…
Never Heal Myself Tell me all the things that you thought weren't right…
Never Saw The Point I never saw the point in trying 'Cause I would only…
Never_Heal_Myself Tell me all the things that you thought weren't right…
night There's just just Something about it That makes me Feel less…
night improv 1 That night her kiss told me it was over I walked…
No Hope Calm sort of feeling They're all turned to gray The days muc…
No Risk No risk No believing Or leading I can't ex- I can't ex- I ca…
Nothing Is Written [?] just speak to me I don't wanna hear your reasons They…
Offering No, I can't see, not yet Knowing it's so real to…
Oh My God Oh my god, I'm stuck inside the same position I'm so…
Rave On It always seems the more you fear the more you…
Recovery Drifting through the silence Searching for guarantees Out of…
Right Words Right words, but I said them at the wrong time Even…
Shine a Light Late at night alone I was hoping you would show Just waiting…
Shoulders To My Feet Dove in the deep end Not just my toes in Filled up…
So Far I've been trying hard to keep the static low Drown out…
Spit You Out You open and shut your mouth A hard thing to ignore Your…
Talk in Circles Take a step back to where it started Where it stands,…
The Curse I left first* because I knew that this was cursed Knew I…
Trials I met a stranger in your skin With the same eyes I…
TV Dream Darling nearer I can see clearer You're guarding a new love …
Walk At Night When I walk at night I cant help but I…
We Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah …
We're Before I met you on the sidewalk I hoped you were the…
We've Got It I bet you think that you're the only ones That the…
Were Before I met you on the sidewalk I hoped you were the…
Weve Got It I bet you think that you're the only ones That the…
With My Eyes Closed No time like the present I've waited so long to be…
Working It Over I remember everything seemed less heavy Disorienting, think …
You Know What I Mean I, I can't take things slowly Come then go away, that's…