The band was composed of singer-songwriter Euan Hinshelwood, bassist Joe Chilton, guitarist Adam Beach, and drummer Peter Baker.

The band name is taken from the colonial adventurer Francis Younghusband, who was detailed in the autobiographical travel book Seven Years in Tibet written by Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer.

[3] Hinshelwood expanded the lineup of Younghusband in June 2008 to a 3 piece with fellow ex-New Shapes bandmate Adam Lambert on drums and Joe Chilton on bass.

Hinshelwood had written to Verne asking if he's be willing to produce them, but pointed out that they couldn't afford to pay - impressed by the demo he received, he agreed to work if his airfair to England was covered and the album was recorded at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire.

We’ve done the opposite, concentrated on songwriting and minimalism, sparse arrangements" and that "It’s refreshing to play songs rather than the same chord for 15 mins whilst wiggling around a delay pedal with your big toe".