Midnight Youth came together while at Rangitoto College in Auckland's North Shore with three members of the band playing together in New Zealand's high school Rockquest competition.

The band released two independent singles, "Supernatural" and "A New Day", in 2007 and played opening slots for Incubus, OK Go and a re-formed INXS in their New Zealand shows.

Skyline Studios (drums) in Manhattan, GödelString (guitars, drums, vocals, bass) in Brooklyn, The Buddy Project (guitars and vocals) in Queens and (Grand Piano) City College's Sonic Arts Center concert hall were all unique recording environments Dover selected for their debut record The Brave Don't Run.

After recording the album, the band signed with Warner Music NZ in September 2008 and released their third single, "The Letter", to widespread acclaim across New Zealand.

The band gained a reputation as a top-performing festival act after playing sets at SXSW, Big Day Out, Musexpo, One Movement, Sounds of Spring, and Rhythm and Vines.