STRFKR was started as a solo project by Joshua Hodges but quickly grew into a fully realized band with Keil Corcoran, Shawn Glassford, and Arian Jalali. Beginning with the mission of creating engaging, thought-provoking songs that people could dance to, the band released one full length and one EP before signing on with Polyvinyl in 2010. The band grew commercially and creatively with every new album, with 2011’s Reptilians, 2013’s Miracle Mile, and 2016’s Being No One, Going Nowhere all performing strongly enough to crack various Billboard charts, while multiple STRFKR songs were used in highly visible film, television, and streaming productions. The band started out in a time when a co-sign from blogs and music outlets of note were all but mandatory for new music to be heard and accepted. STRFKR bypassed the hype machine almost completely, focusing instead on making their shows more exciting and pushing their music to new places. In addition to a live album and several remix collections, the band’s extensive Vault Series has offered fans three volumes worth of unreleased demos and outtakes from every point in their evolution. On their latest full-length album, Parallel Realms, STRFKR embrace a more pop-forward approach while also hinting at experimentalism and the gentler textures on 2020’s heralded, Future Past Life.