[3] Formed in secrecy, Weekes and Seaman denied the band's existence before promoting their debut EP 1981 Extended Play, released in 2018.

The duo was described as "the hottest unsigned band in the world" on the cover of Rock Sound in March 2018,[4][5] before signing with Fearless Records.

After Seaman's departure in 2023, the band continued as the solo project of Weekes and their second studio album Gloom Division was released the following year.

Prior to the formation of the band, Dallon Weekes and Ryan Seaman were longtime friends who had worked together in the past.

[9][10] Seaman performed drums on these songs, which eventually became their debut EP 1981 Extended Play, and Weekes proposed that they present themselves as a duo.

[15] After the show, different sources wrote about a "new side project" by Weekes and Seaman and confirmed the band name.

[18] Weekes later stated that they did not want to exploit his and Seaman's name recognition and association with the well-known bands they played in.

[28] On March 14, 2018, they released the song "Nobody Likes The Opening Band" as a free download on their website accompanied with a music video.

[30] On August 24, the duo re-released "Choke" alongside a new song titled "Do It All The Time" as a double A-side single via Fearless Records.

[2] In October, the duo announced their debut EP titled 1981 Extended Play, with a release date of November 9.

"[44][45] IDKHow performed their first non-televised live show since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic at Utah's Fork Fest in June, which was followed by four headlining dates in the UK in August.

These included sold-out shows at Glasgow's SWG3 and London's Kentish Town Forum as well as a set on the Main Stage of the Reading and Leeds Festivals.

[51] The music, appearance, and social media presence of the group were strongly influenced by the style of the 1980s, and Weekes has stated that he draws inspiration from the pop culture of the time.

[65] Among others, Weekes has named Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Oingo Boingo, Elvis Costello, The Ink Spots, and Joe Jackson as musical influences for the band's sound.