Devaney, Kaye, and Brennan started playing together their first year of high school for a class project on the Harlem Renaissance.

[1] Each attended separate universities for one semester before leaving to continue playing music together, along with then-bassist Spencer Kimmins.

After a series of small tours around the Northeast in support of the EP in their parent's cars,[3] the band decided it was time to get a van, and took to busking in New York City parks for money.

They spent the next year writing and touring, until early 2012, when they began recording their debut full-length album, If You're Young, with the producer Chris Shaw.

It was recorded at a studio in Jersey City that was built inside an art-storage facility, and owned by high school friend Dan Zavaro.