Everyone has to start somewhere. It’s a rare feat for recording artists to score a huge hit with the first single they release. Once a single becomes popular and receives radio play, fans can usually find an extended discography from the artist prior to success. This normally includes at least one EP (extended play), a musical recording with more than one song, but not enough songs to classify it as a full-length album. Many artists may strike out with their first EPs, but hard work and perseverance goes a long way.
Just ask Fun. The band recently won a Grammy for Best New Artist. Lead singer Nate Ruess joked that the band’s win in the category seemed odd since the members weren’t new to the music industry and had been making music for 12 years. Their past bands never gained the popularity Fun. has now, but that doesn’t mean the music isn’t worth listening to. Here are some past projects of current popular artists worth checking out.
Nate Ruess of Fun. – Lead singer of The Format
Before Fun. blew up the charts with hits like “Some Nights” and “We Are Young,” lead singer Nate Ruess made up half of the indie rock band The Format. He teamed up with fellow Arizona native Sam Means in 2001. The duo gained popularity on a local Phoenix radio station with its first single aptly titled “The First Single.” With albums like “Interventions and Lullabies” in 2003 and “Dog Problems” in 2006, the band developed a following. The band’s sound is just as creative and addicting as Fun.’s, but Ruess and Means announced The Format was going on hiatus in 2008. With Fun. dominating the charts and radio, it seems futile that The Format will be reuniting.
Chris Wallace – Lead singer of The White Tie Affair
Newcomer Chris Wallace is rocking the music world as a solo artist, but he actually first made his mark on the scene as part of a band known as The White Tie Affair. The pop-electronic band developed an impressive resume as they performed on the Vans Warped Tour and with music heavyweights like Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga. Hailing from Chicago, the band also had songs featured on the MTV hit show “The Hills” and traveled the country as headliners for several tours. Wallace may be dominating the pop music world as a solo artist since the band broke up in 2012, but The White Tie Affair was his first claim to fame.
Cassadee Pope – Lead singer of Hey Monday
Winner of season three of “The Voice,” Cassadee Pope was rocking the stage as lead singer of Hey Monday long before her audition for the show. The pop-punk band released the album “Hold On Tight” in 2008, which put them on the punk scene map. The band toured with popular bands like Fall Out Boy and All Time Low and landed a spot on Vans Warped Tour. Pope’s killer vocals gave the band a creative twist to its sound as there weren’t many female singers in the pop-punk genre when Hey Monday first formed. Before she was crowned champion of “The Voice” and won fans over with her country sound thanks to her coach Blake Shelton, Pope dominated the punk scene with her rock anthems and female lead vocals.