At Duke, he started the band The White Octave, which released two albums and appeared on a few samplers.
When Pedersen graduated, he returned to Omaha, Nebraska, started Criteria, and began working at Kutak Rock LLP.
Hometown friends Saddle Creek Records took them in and re-released En Garde in 2005, as well as a new album, When We Break.
Since then, Pedersen quit his day job to focus full-time on his music.
See also albums under Criteria, Cursive, Slowdown Virginia, and The White Octave.