The group, which had roots in zydeco, jazz and Cajun music, continued performing part-time until they opened for Dirty Projectors in 2009, who brought them along for an East Coast tour.

Givers was formed in 2008 in Lafayette, Louisiana by Tiffany Lamson, Taylor Guarisco, Kirby Campbell, Josh LeBlanc, William Henderson, and Nick Stephan.

[4] After the newly christened Givers performed at Baton Rouge's stalwart music hall Spanish Moon, booking agent Aaron Scruggs gave the band what would become one the "major accidents that became very fruitful occurrences," according to Guarisco.

[4][5] The band recorded their debut album in January 2010 at the "magical, swampy [and] historical" Dockside Studios in Maruice, Louisiana, which had previously hosted acts such as B.B.

[4] As they were completely separated from city life — "You can't hear cars, there's no light pollution," said Guarisco — they never found themselves distracted, simply waking up to record until "[we] were dead tired" in the late night.

[4] "Ceilings of Plankton" combines "Annuals-style harmonies with bouncy drums, flutes, and a synth-led coda that recalls electropop acts like Neon Indian.

Catherine P. Lewis of The Washington Post described the record as an "instant mood-lifter," writing that "There’s not a lethargic moment here […] the band’s exuberance is barely containable.

"[12] Allmusic's Matt Collar called In Light an "accomplished, ambitious debut," while comparing it to "the peppy pseudo-Afro pop of Vampire Weekend and the percussive, improv-heavy dance rock of Local Natives.

"[13] Ryan Reed of Paste felt the record rose above its reference points, "because the songs are usually excellent […] speaking strictly sonics, In Light is literally the brightest album I’ve heard in ages.

"[14] Q felt "This world music/indie rock mix is countered by the affecting melancholy of their quieter moments,"[15] while Ari Lipsitz of CMJ opined that Givers were a "seriously cute band that writes seriously catchy love songs that you will probably seriously enjoy — if you're all right with that ebullience thing.

"[16] Emily Temple of American Songwriter praised the record as "impossibly optimistic," writing that "The music is charismatic and chaotic, full of shouts, clanging and bright guitars — listen to it with your eyes closed and you’ll see everything short of sparkling blue stars.

"[17] Alternative Press called the music on In Light "enthralling," summarizing that "Givers have created a debut that will surely set them atop the indie-rock world, if not only for their strict adherence to trying everything possible and succeeding gloriously at it all.

"[18] Jon Young of Spin recommended that the record is "best absorbed in small portions, allowing you to savor the seriously catchy melodies and uplifting vibes," feeling that the songs blur together when consumed at once.

While Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian praised the band's enthusiasm, she felt that "The formula of cramming 30 different songs into one is fun for a while, and it's invigorating, but ultimately it's hard to shake a sense of over-indulgence.