Function Picture: Katie Fricker, CC BY 2.0
When three skilled musicians from disbanded or separate tasks converged in New Jersey throughout 2008, they created a collaboration that might obtain speedy business success and chart dominance inside 4 years. Enjoyable, a pop rock band from New York Metropolis, emerged from Nate Ruess’s departure from his earlier group and his reference to Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff, every bringing established musical backgrounds to the venture. The band launched two studio albums between 2009 and 2012, establishing themselves as a major pressure in up to date pop music throughout the early 2010s.
The group’s trajectory accelerated considerably following the discharge of their second album, Some Nights, in February 2012. This album reached quantity three on the U.S. Billboard 200 and topped each the Prime Different Albums and Prime Rock Albums charts. The lead single from the album, “We Are Younger,” that includes artist Janelle Monáe, turned a cultural phenomenon, reaching primary on the Billboard Scorching 100 in March 2012 and attaining 300,000 or extra downloads for seven consecutive weeks—a document for digital gross sales at the moment. The only appeared in a number of tv packages and commercials, amplifying the band’s visibility.
On the fifty fifth Annual Grammy Awards held in February 2013, Enjoyable acquired recognition for his or her achievements. The band received two main awards: Tune of the 12 months for “We Are Younger” and Greatest New Artist. Their second album generated a number of profitable singles together with “Some Nights” and “Carry On,” each reaching the highest 20 on the Billboard Scorching 100. The band additionally acquired Grammy nominations for File of the 12 months and a nomination for Greatest Pop Vocal Album for Some Nights. In February 2015, the band introduced they have been taking break day to pursue particular person tasks, getting into an indefinite hiatus that has continued since that announcement.
Nate Ruess
Nate Ruess fashioned Enjoyable after his earlier band, the Format, dissolved in February 2008. He instantly approached Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff to collaborate on this new venture, serving because the group’s lead vocalist and sampler all through the band’s lively interval from 2008 to 2015. Ruess dealt with vocal duties throughout each studio albums, Intention and Ignite and Some Nights, and was the first songwriter for the band’s main hits. His vocal efficiency on “We Are Younger,” the album’s flagship single, turned synonymous with the tune’s worldwide success. Past his work with Enjoyable, Ruess has maintained a solo profession, releasing solo albums and collaborating with different artists within the music business. He additionally competed on tv competitors reveals and has maintained ongoing musical tasks outdoors of the band’s scope.
Andrew Dost
Andrew Dost joined Enjoyable in 2008 after having toured as a multi-instrumentalist with the Format, Ruess’s earlier band. All through Enjoyable’s seven-year existence till their 2015 hiatus, Dost served because the band’s main instrumentalist, dealing with keyboards, piano, guitars, flugelhorn, trumpet, glockenspiel, bass guitar, drums, and offering backing vocals throughout each studio albums. His instrumental contributions formed the sonic panorama of Intention and Ignite and Some Nights, along with his keyboard work significantly distinguished all through each releases. Dost’s musical background in offering varied instrumentation and preparations contributed considerably to the band’s distinctive sound. After the band’s 2015 break up, he turned the lead singer of Steel Bubble Trio, shifting from his main function as an instrumentalist to a vocal place in a brand new musical enterprise.
Jack Antonoff
Jack Antonoff was launched to the Enjoyable venture via Nate Ruess’s connection following the Format’s tour with Metal Practice, the place Antonoff was concerned. From 2008 via the band’s indefinite hiatus in 2015, Antonoff contributed guitars, drums, percussion, bass guitar, keyboards, piano, and backing vocals to Enjoyable’s output. His work seems on each Intention and Ignite and Some Nights, along with his guitar work and percussion preparations integral to the band’s sound. Antonoff’s involvement lasted seven years, contributing to the albums’ manufacturing and performing extensively throughout the band’s touring interval. Following Enjoyable’s 2015 hiatus, Antonoff turned the first determine within the indie rock band Bleachers, which emerged as his main musical focus. In 2024 interviews, he mirrored on his Enjoyable expertise, noting that the band had an unintentional high quality that he discovered personally difficult, and he emphasised his resolution to give attention to long-term musical tasks that aligned along with his inventive imaginative and prescient.
Emily Moore
Emily Moore joined Enjoyable as a supporting musician in 2009, remaining with the band via their 2015 hiatus. Throughout her six-year tenure, Moore carried out guitars, vocals, keyboards, saxophone, maracas, and violin, contributing to the band’s preparations and dwell performances. Her instrumentation appeared throughout the band’s later materials and touring interval, including textural components via her work with varied devices. Past her involvement with Enjoyable, Moore has pursued musical tasks and performances outdoors the band’s scope.
Will Midday
Will Midday served as Enjoyable’s drummer and percussionist from 2011 till the band’s 2015 hiatus. Beforehand related to the band Straylight Run, Midday joined Enjoyable throughout the later phases of the group’s lively interval. His drumming and percussion work contributed to the band’s dwell performances and later materials throughout the last years earlier than the group took their indefinite break. Midday introduced his established drumming expertise from his earlier musical work to the Enjoyable venture throughout this era.
Jonathan Goldstein
Jonathan Goldstein was Enjoyable’s preliminary drummer and percussionist from 2008 to 2010, enjoying throughout the band’s childhood and the recording of Intention and Ignite. His drumming contributions appeared on the debut album, establishing the rhythmic basis for the band’s earliest materials. After his departure in 2010, further drummers would ultimately be a part of the band for touring and different performances.
Jessica Martins
Jessica Martins participated in Enjoyable throughout the band’s formation yr in 2008, performing guitars, vocals, and keyboards as a part of the early ensemble. Her instrumental and vocal contributions have been current throughout the band’s preliminary growth part earlier than the group’s lineup advanced and expanded.
David Lizmi
David Lizmi carried out bass guitar for Enjoyable in 2008 throughout the band’s earliest formation interval. He was a part of the preliminary instrumental basis because the group developed their sound and commenced their first recordings and performances.
Maggie Malyn
Maggie Malyn contributed violin to Enjoyable’s sound in 2008, collaborating within the band’s formative yr when the group was nonetheless establishing their musical course and compositional method.
Am Wheeldon
Am Wheeldon performed bass guitar for Enjoyable throughout the band’s first yr in 2008, contributing to the band’s early instrumental preparations throughout the formation stage earlier than different members joined for later releases and excursions.
Nate Harold
Nate Harold served as Enjoyable’s bass guitarist from 2009 via 2015, spanning almost your complete interval lined by the band’s studio albums and touring years. His bass work appeared on Some Nights and the band’s dwell performances all through the early 2010s.
Will Yates
Will Yates contributed bass guitar to Enjoyable in 2009, enjoying throughout the interval between the discharge of the primary album and earlier than further touring musicians have been integrated into the band’s lineup.
Ryan Mann Jr.
Ryan Mann Jr. performed bass guitar for Enjoyable in 2009, collaborating throughout the band’s growth part between their first and second album releases.
Lee Wilkinson
Lee Wilkinson carried out guitars for Enjoyable in 2009, contributing to the band’s instrumental preparations throughout this era of exercise and growth.
Alex Townley
Alex Townley performed guitars for Enjoyable from 2010 to 2011, performing throughout the band’s touring interval and the lead-up to their breakthrough success with Some Nights.
Ian Hare
Ian Hare served as Enjoyable’s bass guitarist in 2010, contributing throughout the band’s touring and efficiency interval.
Liam O’Keefe
Liam O’Keefe carried out guitars for Enjoyable in 2010 as a part of the band’s supporting musicians throughout touring and dwell performances.
Mike Schey
Mike Schey performed guitars for Enjoyable in 2010, collaborating as a supporting musician throughout the band’s dwell performances and touring actions.
George Roth
George Roth served as Enjoyable’s bass guitarist in 2011, enjoying throughout the band’s efficiency interval whereas making ready for and supporting the Some Nights album launch and subsequent touring.
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