[3][4] At the age of 18, Gundersen left home to pursue a career in music and began to play at venues around Seattle.

The group served as his backing band as he performed songs from Brand New World at clubs and cafes around Washington state.

The band performed at the Sisters Folk Festival in both 2008 and 2010 and evolved further, recording their debut album, Fearful Bones, under the name The Courage in 2010.

Launching his career further into the mainstream, Gundersen's title song "Family" was hand-selected by producer Kurt Sutter for the hit FX TV show, Sons of Anarchy.

[9] In 2014, Gundersen self-produced his debut album, Ledges,[3] at Seattle’s Studio Litho, owned by Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard.

[13] Returning to his hometown during a lull in his tour schedule, Gundersen reunited with friends from his high school band, Beneath Oceans.

On July 7, 2021, Gundersen announced via Instagram that he had been engaged, bought a house, and that his new record would be out "later in the year," also revealing that a new Young in the City EP "is done and will be out soon."

On August 30, Gundersen posted a blue and white graphic to Instagram, teasing what appeared to be lyrics paired with the number "11," which fans quickly figured out was a countdown.

Gundersen further revealed that the song would appear as the eighth track on his solo LP A Pillar of Salt, which was released on October 8 via his label, Cooking Vinyl.