Alvvays (pronounced "always") is a Canadian indie pop band formed in 2011, originating from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and subsequently based in Toronto, Ontario.

[8] Alvvays was formed the following year, with Rankin recruiting MacLellan, O'Hanley, drummer Phil MacIsaac and bassist Brian Murphy.

[10][7] Alvvays were signed to Polyvinyl Records (US) on the strength of their performances at South by Southwest[14] and online response to the demo of their single "Adult Diversion".

[16] Alvvays went to #1 on US college charts on August 5, 2014;[17] in November that year they performed in Los Angeles with another Canadian band, Absolutely Free.

[19] The group toured heavily in support of their debut, including slots at Glastonbury 2015 and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2016.

In 2016, Phil MacIsaac left the music industry for a career in graphic design;[23] he was replaced by Sheridan Riley.

On September 16, 2017, at a show in Antwerp, a male audience member jumped on stage and attempted to kiss singer Molly Rankin.

[10] The band has been compared to Camera Obscura; Rankin noted she shared vocalist Tracyanne Campbell's "fondness for the pathetic perspective.

"[11] Rankin sought inspiration from Stephin Merritt, frontman of the Magnetic Fields, appreciating the honest but lighthearted nature of his lyrics.

[8] Rankin's personal influences include The Magnetic Fields, Teenage Fanclub, Dolly Mixture, The Smiths, Celine Dion, Pavement, The Primitives, Oasis[11][10] and Australian indie-pop group The Hummingbirds.

[32] While the band does not have an overt Celtic music sound, Rankin acknowledges that she was immersed in the genre from childhood, and it has a discernible influence on the way she sings and writes melodies.