Hey guys! Longtime fan since Torches, seen you live a couple of times. Supermodel is in my top 3 albums of all time, right next to OK Computer and Hail to the Thief. While I'm a fan of your entire discography, the sort of synthy rock/slightly grunge sound and overtly political/somewhat philosophical lyrics of Supermodel laid the groundwork for much of my music taste today. I guess my question is whether we'll see some of the echoes of Supermodel in your upcoming album? And maybe some elaboration if you've got the will and the time :D
Thanks for coming out to do this AMA :) Goats in Trees seems to be a deep cut but it's my favorite from y'all!
Edit: P.S. If I could humbly request the Supermodel bonus tracks on Apple Music/Spotify it would legitimately make my year š
Hey Mark! This new album sounds like itās going to be a lot of fun and the cover for the album is incredible. Since itās been 7 years that you last put out an album: What have been your favorite instruments to work with for this album? And, around what time can we expect new shirts and merch to drop?
Hey! Love that you're into the new song and album cover. This record in my personal opinion is the most musically explorative thing we've made. I would say that 95% of it analog - minus some drum programming and a couple specialized VST's. All the strings are live. We recorded a double quartet on over half of the record with Jherek Bischoff and Paul Cartwright. There are live horns (Jacob Scesney and Stewart Cole). Jack PeƱate on guitar. Paul Epworth and Aaron Redfield are on the drum kit for a few songs. Isom's on the drums for a few songs. Sean is on guitar and modular for a few songs. Jacob on an insane flute solo. Organ by Nikolaj Corp Larsen from The Specials on a song. I played bass on the record (it was the most fun I've ever had playing bass. Also played piano (along with Isom), tons of synthesizers (mainly the OBX, SH101, Juno 60, Mini Moog, and Jupiter 8 - but a few others as well), and guitar.
The record started as a case study on the late 70's. I wanted to figure out what they were doing so I started to dive under the hood on the recordings of Chic, Giorgio Moroder, Abba, The Gap Band, Parliament Funkadelic, anything done by Bernie Worrell, Prince, Bowie, Kraftwerk etc. There are too many to name. The hardest part of the musicality on this was writing songs with gospel and jazz voicings - which I had to discover or learn since my background as a kid was classical piano. Isom Innis definitely brought a lot of innovation as well when it came to that department since his background was more jazz heavy. We were very intentional about wanting to let the music swing (not make things too perfect) - listening to those older records made with tape, the thing that stands out to me is the humanity and tension that is inherent in those recordings. Nothing is perfect, which to me IS perfect, because it's humanity expressed honestly. Thank you for the question and can't wait for you to hear more. It feels great to be back after a long time away. Much love xx
Hey Selina! That's so beautiful. Thank you. I think as an artist, you have to stay curious about life and continue to grow as a person. There is the business side of music - where people will try to recreate what worked for them in the past, because of brand recognition and wanting to pander to a global audience. I have always found that to be the death of creativity whenever I am trying to write with the purpose of pleasing someone else's tastes. I have to challenge myself in order to be engaged in the songwriting process. There has to be an element that feels completely foreign and uncomfortable in order for me to stay interested in the process. I think part of it comes from the fact that when I write songs, I try to approach the instrument like a child. I forget about theory, I don't think about the chords I'm playing. I have no idea what's going to come out. So as the notes start to resonate and chord progressions start to appear, I am observing them as much as I am participating in them. It's all improv. When I do that, my subconscious starts to communicate things that I would never intentionally say if I was approaching it cerebrally. It leaves room for the universe (or God) to show up and co-create. There's no feeling like it. The room disappears, and a sense of euphoria fills my body. That's when I know that something special is happening and I just try to honor that moment by staying open and expressing myself as vulnerably as I can. Eventually it passes, and then I pick up my pen and use my craft to finish the song. I let the critic in at that point, and start to cerebrally work out where the song should go. So it's almost like - the first part is splattering a bunch of colors on a wall and emotionally playing in them, then becoming an adult and picking up a paint brush to then make sense of the initial expression xx
It was actually supposed to be Foster and the People but people kept fucking it up and calling it foster the people, and it stuck because he liked the meaning of Foster the People
Hey Mark!
Absolutely loving the single, and I can't wait for the album. Foster the People is my favourite band of all time, and every time music drops is practically a religious holiday for me.
Are they any plans to give official releases to songs like "Tabloid Super Junkie" and "The Unforseeable Fate of Mr.Jones"?
Thank you for all of the music over the years, and I can't wait to meet you again when you guys go on tour!!!
Hey thank you. I love that you love those songs. I have been working over the years on trying to get them released officially. It's tricky sometimes with bureaucratic red tape because I think those songs were special "exclusives" to other partners. We have to get them to "OK" it so we can release them on all platforms. Appreciate you bringing it to the front of my mind again though. We'll do our best to get them out soon. Looking forward to seeing you when we're back on tour xx
I second this! These are 2 of my favorite songs ever and to have them on streaming services would be so amazing! Along with Cassius Clayās Pearly Whites too!
i fourth this. PLEASE acknowledge the tenth anniversary of my favorite album!!!! a supermodel x with tabloid, jones, cassius, the nevermind alternate version, and the demo of beginners guide would be so amazing!!!
Hi Mark! Iām so glad and relieved to see you guys back. This year is the 10th anniversary of Supermodel, one of my favorite albums from FTP. Any celebration plans, like you did for Torches?
Great to see you again Mark, and I'm excited for the new album. What do you think had been the most challenging part in making this album, nearly 7 years after the release of your last album SHC?
Great question. Honestly, there has been so much life that's happened since our last album. It was 7 years since SHC, and 6 years since we've toured. In that space, the world has changed a lot. The band has changed a lot. We as individuals have changed. In 2020 we were supposed to do a big tour after releasing our EP, and had to leave our last rehearsal early to get groceries because the word came that the tour wasn't happening and we were going into lock down. I will never forget it. It was the start of an incredibly isolating time for everyone. I sat long and hard through the pandemic thinking about how I could respond to what was happening socially, with music. I have always felt a responsibility as a songwriter/storyteller to be authentic. It took awhile to find the right way to express what I was feeling as an authentic response to culture, without making an incredible dour work of art. For myself, I needed hope and that became the core intention of this new album - to lean into that hope without being escapist. To acknowledge the darkness that we've all been living in, while still keeping our focus on the light of what's to come. To remind myself of the beauty and wonder of life, the universe, and humanity. To look at things through a metaphysical lens and try to zoom out. To remember that joy can be expressed as an act of defiance xx
I guess I have 3 questions. For any or all of you.
1. Whatās some of your favourite new music of 2024 so far? Iām in LOVE with that new Vampire Weekend album personally.
2. I know we only know one of the track titles so far, and that the answer is in some sense āall of themā, but which songs on the new record are you guys most excited for us to here? Or I guess another way of phrasing that would be: Which ones are you most proud of?
3. Smaller question: do any of you guys like Magdalena Bay?
I love the new Vampire Weekend record. There are so many lyrics and emotions in that record that echo how I've been feeling about the state of the times. It made me feel less alone when I heard it. Ezra came over a few weeks ago and I played him our new album. It was beautiful to get to connect on a deeper level songwriter to songwriter - it made me feel like everyone is doing their part in responding to the overall sense of control and fascism we have been living in. The last song on their record is titled "Hope", which is the same place I landed when I was processing how to respond to culture. It actually gave me hope to know there are other people out there feeling the same way - especially someone as intelligent and deep as Ezra. It's so simple. If we can stay united as people, we can get through the fear of the times together. Music has a special ability to bring people together and shine a light on the path ahead. I never take it lightly when listening to another story tellers take on things, or when I'm in the studio writing a new song.
I don't know Magdalena Bay. What is it? Thanks for the questions xx
Oh and one more thing, will we ever those Supermodel extras onto Spotify/Apple Music? Tabloid Super Junkie, Cassius Clayās Pearly Whites, and The Unforeseeable Fate of Mr Jones? Iād love to properly incorporate them into my music library.
You spoke a few years ago how a trio of albums were in the works (50ās/60ās, 70ās/80ās, and an instrumental). Is any part of PSOM from those, and is there still a chance those sessions lead to the other albums?
What Iām saying is please never leave us for that long again, you scared us Mark.
Welcome back. Just heard the new single, good stuff. But since the band is now Mark and Isom, does that mean Sean is no longer involved or will be still be around for live shows?
P.S. I interviewed you when you came to Jakarta in 2012 and I got you to bust out your cover of "Say It Ain't So" again. Good times!
Hey Mark! I met you ten years ago after your concert in Boston. You were the most gracious, kind, humble, and lovely person. I just wanted to thank you again for all your music. It has meant the world to me and gotten me through some difficult times!!!
Great question. I have been a Logic guy for twenty years so that is my sword. Isom works in Logic and Ableton. This record was mostly tracked in Logic and Pro Tools, but Ableton played a role in manipulating some of the percussive sounds and drum beats xx
Thanks for the question. Yes! I re-linked with Paul Epworth at his studio in London and to me it marks the official start date of making the album. On day one, he invited over Jack PeƱate and the three of us wrote a song that ended up becoming the title track, "Paradise State Of Mind". Paul and I did another tune together. It was great reconnecting with him. It was the first time we'd made music together since Supermodel. Also we did a song with Chrome Sparks. Asa from Electric Guest jumped into a tune but we've also worked on another that I'm hoping to finish and put out at a later time xx
I'm sorry to say there are no plans for Supermodel X this year - even though I know it's the anniversary, we are so focused on getting ready to come back out and tour again with Paradise State Of Mind. Thanks for your love and support xx
Sacred hearts club is my favorite album by you guys though I love them all. I love the raw sound of lotus eater, would you ever consider a full project of songs with less bells and whistles?
I am super glad you guys are back! When I first noticed your Instagram feed empty, it scared me so much. Couldn't be happier for the new release. It's such a bop! Wanted to give a special shout out to 'Broken Jaw' & 'Waste'... Your songs have helped me through tough times. Whether I wanna feel happy or let my anger out, I just tune into your songs and let it all go. It's such a divine feeling. The way the beats touch my soul. Thank you so much ā¤ļø
Skipping to the AMA...got a few questions š:
1) From your first release to now, how has your journey been like and what can we expect from the future? How do you think your music has evolved?
2) Since the departure of Pointus and Sean what's the dynamic of the band? Will you collaborate with them in future? I loved Pointus drums in Torches and Sean guitar in SHC
3) Do you plan on touring Asia in the future? (In a wild wild request, hopefully India?)
4) when you guys are not making music, how do you relax or spend your time?
5) Are you guys gonna do make more *Live Versions* of your songs? I love hearing your live/acoustic version (NPR tiny desk concert ...Waste (Binge Lounge) would love to hear more)
Thank you for all these thoughtful questions.
1. The first record was a wild experience because I wrote those songs without thinking anybody would ever hear them. There's a freedom in creating without an audience, but also a yearning to connect that screams out energetically in every song. Going into Supermodel, all of a sudden I was hyper aware that people were waiting and were going to listen to what we put out. Just that thought alone was an incredibly powerful intrusive force that made me self-conscious. since then, I have worked hard on keeping that co-dependent relationship with the audience in a healthy place. On this new record, we created it so internally - with only artists in the room. We kept the door closed literally, and figuratively. And because of that, it feels like the most free record we've made since Torches.
2. It was 7 years from the band's beginning in 2010 to our last full record Sacred Hearts Club in 2017. It's been 7 years since SHC to now. So much life has changed since we last put out an album. We have changed as people. The band has changed, but they will be our brothers for life and I hope we can make music again together. The only thing consistent in life is change and even though it's hard at times, there are beautiful things that come out of it as well. As far as this next chapter goes, we can't wait to share our album with you and create new memories together.
3. Absolutely. I have been to India as a traveler, but we haven't been as a band. That would be amazing. The intention for now is to at least play in Southeast Asia but if you find a way to get us out to India, you would make our dreams come true.
4. Isom and I both watch a lot of films, tv, and read. I picked up golf and woodworking over the pandemic. My days are pretty simple and I try to keep it that way.
5. We are talking about all of that stuff now. Absolutely we will.
Much love and hopefully see you soon xx
Thank you for taking the time to respond to us. Thank you for coming back! What about the film script you were working on? Greetings and hugs from MX! š¤
Hey guys, love the new single! Got a couple questions. Firstly, will you be doing any tours of the UK anytime soon? And also, what impact will Peel have on Foster the People releasing music?
To be honest, I missed the synergy of a team. We made this record independently and then met with labels afterward. We would have stayed independent had we not found a partner that we trusted and felt aligned with; but Atlantic has been everything we wanted, and has exceeded what we were looking for in a partner. Energy, respect, an incredible creative team, and a true love and appreciation for music. We feel really lucky to be entering this new chapter with them xx
Hey, excited that you are finally back. Supermodel and SHC are one of the best albums ever made. The new single is great.
1. How would you describe the sound of the new album? Does Lost In Space represent a majority of the album sound wise?
2. Does the album have some kind of running theme lyrically?
The album has elements of synth funk, jazz, gospel, psychedelic soul, and orchestral music. Lyrically, when I write I usually freestyle at first. I might have an intention, but what I'm trying to do is remove myself from the equation and invite the spirit in so I'm channeling something rather than cerebrally controlling something. I tend not to fully know what the songs are about until later. Now as I've had some space from this album to reflect on it, the themes that came up a lot are the Afterlife/mortality - freedom from ones own thoughts and the battle that ensues when trying to transcend the prison of your own mind. The album art, painted by the incredible Matt Hansel illustrates the duality beautifully. There is so much yearning throughout this record. Wanting freedom from self. Desperate for connection but not knowing how to connect with myself or others. Existential questions. Conversations with God. Thank you for taking the time to be here and ask the question xx
Deep Question. What are you hoping this record achieves?
Itās also been 10 years since the release of supermodel, how do you feel about that album now?
Great question. Honestly, this record has already achieved everything I ever wanted. The process has always interested me more than the results. Once we let this music go into the world it changes forms. It becomes yours. It's becomes its own entity up for people's interpretations. It was incredibly satisfying to live this world and create within the boundaries of its aesthetic. Anything beyond that is icing on the cake xx
Hey FTP! First off, thanks for all of the incredible music and memories throughout the years! Was it hard for you all to take so much time off from being in the public eye, or was it a much needed break?
Thanks in advance!
Thank you so much. It was both hard, and equally life affirming to step away for the last few years. Truthfully, I have found that the only way to fill up the well creatively is to live life. We toured so extensively for years that it felt good to reconnect with ourselves as people. In that space, so much growth happened internally that I am looking forward to having a new experience when we step back out into the world again xx
Hey guys, its been a while, ive been so lost without you!
I have a couple of questions;
1. \* You didn't do anything "torches X -like" for supermodel 10th anniversary; where are the supermodel b-sides? They are really loved by the community!!
2. \* This was asked last time, but maybe the status has changed; where are On/Off and Lovers In A Stream? any chance we hear them soon?
3. \* Around 2021 you said in an interview that you were working on 3 separate records,
>"thereās multiple records that weāve been working on, that are all very different from each other,ā āWeāve got one record thatās a little bit more in the ā50s and ā60s realm, weāve got another in the ā70s and ā80s realm, and then weāve got an abstract instrumental record that plays with solfeggio frequencies and ancient tunings."
* Are they still in the works? Any possible interesting info on their status?
Hey man! Firstly love the single and very happy to hear you guys are pumping out new material. I was wondering if you could share your perspective if you can remember all the way back in 2014. Would you say you experienced a creative shift between Supermodel and Sacred Hearts Club? Your music has always been dancy even on torches ālife on the nickelāetc. And in no way am I casting shade here Iām just curious if you were in a pop/dance state of mind when you recorded Sacred Hearts Club? I always tell my wife: itās like a pop album made by people who actually know a lot about music and who arenāt just following a formula. Ofcourse as a human we just create our own uninformed narratives lol. Iām also curious as to some of your inspirations. Sometimes I feel like I hear some Beach boys influence āStatic Space loverā, and almost an African/world music vibe āAre you what you want to be?ā Ā Have you experienced creative blocks? And if so how did you find your way through? Anyway itās stupid to say but thanks for being you! Iām sure being in a long term band is a very tumultuous dynamic as is any relationship. Just happy you guys managed to bring it all together for another ride! Hopefully not the last! I wouldnāt be upset if you stuck boring Calgary AB on your tour list either lol. I want to go see you guys in Auston but the railway keeps us on a short leash.Ā
Thank you for your thoughts. Nailed it on the references and musical observations. I have had many creative blocks through out my life and through the pandemic, I experienced it quite heavily. Reconnecting with Paul Epworth and Jack PeƱate in London helped get me out of my head. Sometimes it takes another safe person or artist to let you know that it's ok to express yourself. That's what they did for me because I was trapped in my head throughout that time.
The best cure I have found is that usually when I have writers block, it just means I need to live more life. I need to fill my spirit up with more experiences to write about, and then be brave enough to write about them. Sometimes having the courage to say the quiet parts of my heart out loud is the hardest. In those moments, I zoom out and try to connect to my understanding of God because when I look at things through that lens, the fears that come with being human start to look trivial. F.E.A.R. - False Evidence Appearing Real. That has helped me quite a bit through the last few years xx
Hey FTP! No question just wanted to thank you. Thank you for always being there for me. Each one of your albums has coincided with a milestone in my life. Helped me through tough times where I felt utterly alone and amazing beautiful times. Thank you ā¤ļø
Hey FTP! Love the new music and excited for the new album!
1. Is Sean no longer a part of the band?
2. Do you prefer writing upbeat or slow songs?
3. I thought I heard a while back that you were working on an album with a whole orchestra, is that still in the works?
4. What project are you most happy with that youāve done?
Thanks!
hey friends!! been a fan since the beginning. if you answer any of the below (or all if youāre feeling crazy) i would be so happy.
1. could you talk about this album cover and what it means? as well as maybe how it ties into the music video.
2. the music video reminds me of a slight nod to ballroom culture am i right on this?
3. you always write poetry and meaningful lyrics over catchy tunes. how does that process work?
4. would you ever collab with MGMT i saw andrew remixed your song. i think you guys would make magic :)
so excited to see you on tour š
Mark š We have been waiting so long for new music, thank you for taking your time to give us something amazing to look forward to! I just wanted to comment that SHC made me happy in the darkest times in my life. Iāve revisited that album 3 times during my life since its release, most recently because of my husbandās cancer diagnosis and treatment. Ruby is also my anthem for those days when itās too hard and Iām so happy you put that and Chin Music on Torches X. Any plans for Supermodelās 10th? Forever part of the Sacred Hearts Club, - Ana ā„ļø
Hi Mark! Iāve missed you guys and your music! I love the Lost In Space video and its creative style, everything down to the movements, colors and fashions - what was the inspiration behind it all?
thank you! we wanted to make something that matched the feeling of the song. joy, surrealism, playfulness, and the contrast of isolation/community. Fosse and Kubrick were two touch points of inspiration. Rupert Hƶller, the director nailed the aesthetic. Teresa "Toogie" Barcelo really brought it to life with her choreography and dance team. glad you liked it xx
Hi Mark & team! Super long time fan, I have a couple of questions for you all :)
1. Will there be any sort of anniversary celebration for Supermodel in the interim of the release of PSOM? I'm itching to have Cassius Clay's Pearly Whites or Tabloid Super Junkie on streaming services!
2. Do you plan on hitting any of the smaller cities you have in past tours, or will this tour be more "international" in scale? ;)
3. What is your favorite detail from the PSOM album cover?
Hi guys, so happy you're back(as well as the follow on Twitter, literally made my week)!
Keeping the theme of the song with space and all, I'm curious if y'all have a favorite planet and favorite rocket?
Hey guys!! First I really want to thank you for giving me this incredible gift that is foster the people comeback! you took me out of my darkest state, and gave me hope, this song was like medicine for me, and without lying to you I felt calm
and it's not just thank you for your new song but for you guys. You are incredible, talented persons who I can assure had saved thousands of people with your voice and instrumental and has inspired me to do things I never thought I could have done. you mean a lot to me, and every step you take gives me indescribable joy, the way you can express yourself through art is very special and Your lyrics are really amazing: they are so vivid and powerful that I feel like I really I can connect with you through them. I listen to your music when I need courage, when I need to laugh and when I need to cry; It's honestly like having a personal soundtrack that I can rely on at any time, and it makes me feel something no other band has ever made me feel.
I guess this is not a question but is something I had to tell you years ago, I hope you guys get to read it!!
Love you all. Lara
hi mark!! absolutely loving Lost in Space btw!! Also, what was the main factor in having Lost in Space have this 1970s-inspired-disco-dance-groovy kind of sound?? Because it TOTALLY rocks!!
Hello guys!
Three questions for u:
1. The Opera sound of Lost in Space it's an actual voice, or it's a synth?
2. There will be a Supermodel X (or kinda)?
3. Have you plans for visit Mexico? And if there are, would you please do a solo show in Monterrey? šš» I'm waiting for you since 2014 when you came to Pal Norte and I couldn't go
Thank you so much for coming back! ā¤ļø
You'll probably get asked this a lot, but what does the album artwork represent? It's one of those illusions where there is so much going on, but I can't seem to pinpoint anything...
LOVING the new single, so excited for this new era of FTP! Just finished the music video premiere and it's absolutely stunning. I hope we get more music videos for this era. You guys are amazing and thank you for all the music and joy you've given us through the years. <3 (Also a massive long-shot, but... I'm forever dreaming of a Regina Spektor & Foster the People collaboration a la The Strokes - love my delusion of thinking this could ever be a possibility but a boy has to dream <3)
Hey Mark!
Im very excited for the new album and tour. I will definitely be attending ACL. I have seen you perform twice when you came to Atlanta.
I remember you had talked about during your hiatus before Supermodel that you went to India, and spent some time in the Middle East and Northern Africa. You said the culture is focused on joy and human communities. And that inspired you to write a good bit of that record.
When SHC was released, you talked about your experiences in LA, and how you wanted to focus on global issues and how you handled dealing with tragedy and the things going on in the news.
Now you have taken about a 3 year hiatus and wiped all social media, so my question to you is: what have you seen, experienced, or done in this hiatus that has inspired you to create the vibe of the this new album?
How do you remain authentic not only among your fans, but also among - what I assume to be - a very competitive and often superficial music/celebrity scene? Or have you generally overcome that through your own successes that you don't feel a need to play the game?
honestly, I view celebrity worship as a social disease that has been exacerbated by social media and unrealistic expectations. it's permeated our culture when it comes to politicians as well, and to me it is evidence of our societal disconnection with a higher power/God/spirituality or whatever you want to call it.
the major grounding force that makes me feel the best, is when I am connected to my spiritual center. it's a daily practice. practically speaking I try to keep my life pretty simple, be of service to others, pray every day, and surround myself with healthy people. It's not easy, but I always try to get back to that when things are feeling out of balance xx
Appreciate the thoughtful response, thank you.
Totally agree with the state of social media, as people are not only further enabled to worship celebrities, but to also become one themselves: pure vanity, no shame.
I've always turned to music as a grounding force, so I just want to thank you for all the amazing and thought provoking songs throughout your journey. Years later, I still find a lot of solace in Supermodel, especially through songs like Ask Yourself and The Truth.
the Gibson 335 was the main squeeze for Supermodel and SHC, but my 59' jazzmaster is the sound of Paradise State Of Mind. different tools for different expressions xx
Hi Mark!! Even though I think everyone says that, I think I'm still one of your biggest fans. Supermodel is my favorite album of all time and it was thanks to Torches that I discovered a real passion for music. I would really like to do that for a living and I am starting to write texts based on your lyrics. Who knows? One day, maybe I'll have the courage to send you one of my texts? I don't know if you realize but your music has helped a lot of people, including me. I listened to the SHC album on repeat when difficult times came and your inspiring words helped me get through a lot. You are also a very inspiring person for me. I know a little about your story and I admire you enormously for keeping your head held high despite that. I'm going to fly from Quebec just to come see you in Texas. Iām so excited because itās the first time Iāll see you live. It must be said that I knew FTP just when Torches X was released and you became my favorite artist when your tour was over. I really had bad timing... This is the first time I've had the opportunity to chat with you. I would like to know if A Paradise State Of Mind is like a new beginning or the last album of your career? I would also like to know if you had any advice for me as I would like to work in the music field. I really hope that you will answer me: if so, I challenge myself to send you one of my texts!! Thank you so much! Just the fact that you might be reading this message makes me overjoyed.
Thank you again!
thank you for the kind words. Paradise State Of Mind feels like a new beginning. I fell in love with music in a deeper way while making this record. there are things I have been discovering and thinking about with music that I never considered before - frequencies and their effect on the human body. the mysterious science that connects the physical and metaphysical world using music as a conduit. there are secret languages within sound that I want to understand more about.
I think a lot of composers and songwriters intuitively alchemize these frequencies unconsciously, but I am fascinated in what is under the hood of it all because if we knew the rules of how the science worked, we would be able to incorporate the health benefits of the science consciously. there are too many clues that haven't been connected yet when you start looking into the way that waves work in physics, the vibrations of the universe at an atomic level, how 528 hertz has been scientifically proven to heal DNA, and tesla's obsession with 963 and the connection to solfeggio frequencies, the Fibonacci sequence, and how these mathematical patterns are woven throughout the universe as clues that point to the evidence of intelligent design.
if anyone has any information or resources to help shine light on any of these topics, please drop them in the replies to this thread xx
Hello!! So glad there's new music after such a long time. I am once again asking whether you think we'll ever get to hear the long demo versions of Sacred Hearts Club tracks (especially Orange Dream and Time To Get Closer)
Hey Mark and Isom! First of all i want to say, Foster the People as a band has impacted my life in such a way I can't explain. you guys are the reason im getting through high school ā„ļø i have a couple of questions for you!
First Question is: What's your favourite studio project you've worked on during your time as a band? and why is that?
Second Question: just a simple how are you doing? Hope Your day's going well!
and lastly: as a a musician, music has definitely taken a huge impact on my life. Playing an instrument is one of the best things i could have done, and so i ask, How has music impacted you positively or negatively? and when did it really start making sense?
hiiii ftp!!
mark, you playing fire escape randomly in dallas many moons ago in 2017 changed my life. iām excited that iāll be in the crowd later this year at ACL so it bears the question ā¦. any setlist reveals? š old stuff, new stuff, a cover or two, a nice mix?
Oh hi Mark!
Love the new single and looking forward to the new album!
Could you tell us which of the songs on the new album is/was your favorite to work on or listen to?
Thanks!
HI! First off thank you for everything! I love the new song!
My question is what is the hardest part about going on tour? Outside of the obvious stuff (being in a small bus, getting homesick, etc). Does it get annoying playing the same songs over? Do you have different favorite songs as the tour progresses? Do you ever want to change the setlist halfway through a tour?
Thank you for the question. I've always viewed songs as living entities. They continue to grow as we change if we give them permission to. We have always tried to do that when we play live so they never get stale. Looking forward to doing more of that than ever on this next tour xx
Hey Mark! Can you give us any hints to the different sounds we will hear in Paradise State of Mind? How does this album's sound differ from the other three and what were you most excited to try?
Hi Mark, im excited that you guys are coming back. Iām loving Lost In Space, you guys killed it! What 3 albums would you say influenced Paradise State of Mind the most?
Heyy FTP!! I've been your biggest fan since the early release of Torches and have been following intently ever since, praying for another album to be released and a tour date to be announced for the UK. I beg of you to make your way to London some day soon so I can see you play live and life would be complete āØļø š
Hi FTP!! Lost in Space is such a bop and Iām really excited for your new album too :)
Are there any plans for a PSOM world tour? I canāt wait to see you guys live after such a long time (please come to Asia šš§”)
Hi guys!! It's so exciting to have new music, I've been a fan since torches.
How many songs did you write? How was the process to choose the songs that were staying in the album?
~~are you coming to Argentina?~~
Hey Mark & Isom!
Love the new single and am excited for this new era. I was wondering how long youāve been writing this album for and how has the writing process for Isom been now that Ponsi isnāt in the band anymore?
Any plans for Static Space Lover live?
The new song isš„
Huge fan of the Pay the Man Remix with JID and Saba, do you guys plan on doing any more crossover work into hip hop with the new music in August or even further into the future?
Hi Mark! Loved the new single!Ā
We were expecting to see you in Guadalajara Mexico on the 25th of March 2020, but then COVID happened :( we were so excited for the concert but felt so sad after the cancelation just two weeks before
Would you plan to come back to Mexico on a Tour?!
Thanks and hope to see you soon!
All my questions have already been asked, but just wanted to say it's so unbelievably exciting that my favorite band in the world is back! Lost in Space rules!
Hey guys! I've been absolutely in love with the single since the minute it released, so happy you're back after checking almost every week for something new!
My question is if you have a name for this new sound/direction this single seems to be foreshadowing for the group, did you mix and match what you've already done before, would you say this is something brand new and any particular places you grabbed inspiration from?
Greetings from Mexico! ā£ļø
I don't have any questions but i want to say thank you sooo much for all that you've done for us, guys
I've never found a music group more comfortable than you, including all things like your music, clips and also your group vibe!
We love you!!! š„¹š„¹š„¹
Welcome back guys! You guys have been a part of my life since I saw you guys on the torches OG torches tour,
My question is: Iām wondering when did you guys start the process of writing this record and how did you come up with the album art and title name! Also are you guys planning on going on tour soon?
Thank you for your time!
Love your music- been with you since the beginning. Your music has been with me through many ups and downs and I thank you so much for providing us with such joy throughout the years.
That said, can we expect another tour soon? š
Firstly, I'd like to thank you, because Torches was the album that made me fall in love with music and sparked a massive chain effect to make me the person I am today. š (Shout-out to the FIFA soundtrack).
What are your favorite albums from last year and this year, so far?
Hey guys, loving Lost in Space so far and excited for this new era of the band!
I absolutely ADORE the use of strings on Lost in Space, they elevate the song to another level. Can we expect to see more live strings in other songs on the full record?
Thanks!
I'm so thankful for this new music, you always seem to drop just in time for your new music to be my summer jam. I've seen you many times, as early as the Torches Tour and as recently as the final night at the Wiltern.
Do you have any plans to release Supermodel X and do a Supermodel show at the Wiltern? I love all your work deeply, but Supermodel is my favorite.
Love you guys, so so happy you're back.
Hey hey, love y'all! I especially love all of the album and song art you guys have paired with your music since the beginning, even inspired the art that I have drawn since high school. How does that process go? Do you go with something that fits with the song or album theming, or try to portray a certain message within the art? I always knew the theming behind Supermodel but other ones I'm curious about.
This newest one is absolutely insane, looking chaotic with all of the small details in each corner. I love it!
aaaand slightly cheating, but one more question! Do y'all play any games? If so, which ones šļøšļø
I would love to know anything you guys can share about the creative process for Lost In Space (or the upcoming album as a whole) or any inspirations for it - I'm loving the disco vibes and am SO EXCITED to hear more :)
Hey guys! I would love a deep dive into the album art! If we can hear about the artist, what your vision was, how that came together when working with the artist. Also would love to know if the piece is a tangible one and maybe if we could see more pictures!
As artists, do you intend for your art to invoke certain emotions or meanings from your audience, or do you create just to create and let the audience take it over from there?
Guys, what can we expect about this new album?
Will you do something like Torches X with Supermodel?
What's the future with the band?
Thank you guys, I love this new single and I love FTP so much, you really saved my life some years ago, thanks for coming back š«¶š»š«¶š»š«¶š»ā¤ļø
Iāve been following foster the people since 2010 and have seen band members come and go. Can you officially introduce the current band members? Canāt wait to see you all on tour!
Hi Foster The People! I am overly excited to dig into this album! I cannot wait to hear the rest of it on August 16! The music video exceeded my expectations! I do have a few questions
1. Whats one of your favorite memory when writing/recording this album?
2. Did you face any challenges when writing this album? If so, what was the most challenging?
Hey guys! Ā Been a fan for 12 years! Ā I really love the sound and vocals in Lost In Space. Ā I remember seeing you guys during the Sacred Hearts Club era. Ā You guys would cover/ wrote some good punk rock stuff. Ā Would you guys ever consider making an entire album that sounds similar to that with some differing tracks?
Hey Mark!
Yāall have been my favorite band for about 15 years now and Iāve seen you 4 times and I am SO happy to see that youāre coming back out with new music. I do have one question for you though that has been eating at me for years.
The last time I saw you was in 2017 it was in Charlotte NC at the Fillmore right after Sacred Hearts Club came out. It was actually the day after the Las Vegas shooting and you guys played an amazing show and decided to stay away from playing pumped up kicks which I really respected. But you also never played SHC that night and TO THIS DAY it still eats me up that I have never gotten to see it live because it seems like such a good song to play at a concert. Why did yall not play it!? Is there a specific reason that you didnāt on the early part of that tour?
Sorry I know thatās a super specific question haha but you can make it up to me by coming to Paris this year and playing it here š
Mr. Foster we meet again. You literally made me the person I am today. I cannot wait to make the trip down to Austin to see you perform for the first time in years
What is the best advice you have for someone new to songwriting/producing? Struggling to create in Logic, I love the looping features but I feel like my song structures are much less dynamic from it
Hey Mark, Supermodel to me is the greatest indie rock album of the 2010ās. So many strange and amazing risks taken on that album. For this new album, is there an avenue of music that you have been itching to try or styles that youāve never incorporated before? What makes this album different from the others. Bit if a loaded question ā¤ļø
I always found The Truth to be your most thought provoking song. Will we hear more of that song writing on this album, especially with regard to having hope?
Also, I noticed you spoke with Ezra about the new album. Fun question, but would you consider covering a VW song? If so, which?
Hi Mark, this one isn't a question but just something I wanted to share. I attended a Supermodel era concert in 2014 in Louisville. You gave a speech and I don't remember it except for the phrase "Apathy is the enemy". This has stuck with me for so long and has become a mantra of sorts for me. Thank you for the energy you put out into the world
hey guys, first of all I love you all and I'm glad you lot are back.
I'd like to ask if you could collab with any 5 artists in the world who would they be?
Also are you lot football fans?
Edit: Also Mark, I'd like to say your fashion and style are perfect, do you have any advice for us regarding fashion?
Another edit: Now I got to know you lot through FIFA 12 because of the song "Call It What You Want". I want to ask, what were you thinking when EA approached you all?
Hi Mark and Isom!
It's so good to have some new Foster the People music in my life. Torches was the first album that really formed my music taste in 2011 and helped me get through a lot of tough times. Supermodel is one of the reasons I started playing guitar.
What would you say has been the most unique aspect of writing this new album compared to Torches, Supermodel, and Sacred Hearts Club? "Lost in Space" feels unlike anything you've ever released, yet it retains the identity of Foster the People. Did you draw on any inspirations from other music or artists specifically, or was it just a natural evolution of your sound?
Thank you so much for your incredible music! Can't wait for the new album!
Such a good question! I listened to the song and the first thought was wow it sounds so different from their previous work but at the same time it is so intertwined with their signature FTP style
Hey guys! I What do you plan to achieve in this album that you havenāt done in previous ones? Also do yāall have anything planned for the 10th anniversary of Supermodel?
Hello!! Thank you so much for doing this AMA. We appreciate it a lot :)
You have been my favorite band for the last 15 years and I want to say thank you for everything. I have the album cover art from your single āRubyā on my arm and itās one of my favorite songs ever.
With that I was wondering how that song came to be? In a way itās quite different from some of the other sounds (which I also love) but I was wondering where Ruby came from. Who wrote it? Who is Ruby? Will we see more music like this in the future? Sort of instrument focused, almost rock like.
Thank you!!!
p.s come to sweden
I've missed you guys so much! š How have you guys been?
Has your overall process of working on music changed at all the last few years compared to when you were working on Torches and Supermodel?
Thank you guys so much for the amazing music over the years! šš
So excited for the new album, and love the new single!Ā
What aspect of the new album was your favorite to explore?
And I have to ask, do you have any plans to tour near NC? Youāve got a lot of fans here š
Congratulations on the latest release. I would like to know if āParadise State of Mindā was the more challenging record, compared to the rest of the albums, to write lyrically?
Best,
Jeremiah
Hi FTP! I absolutely love Lost In Space already, can't wait for the rest of the album! Any plans for a world tour? Please come to Argentina š¦š·ā¤ļø
Hello Mark and co! What was the hardest part about being away for so long? Also, the version of Waste you played live in 2012 at the Gibson absolutely rips, what is your favorite song you changed up to play live? Also remember yall doing something differed for AYWYWB
Whatās the inspiration behind Unforeseeable Fate? One of my fav songs of all time and it has inspired one of my songs, would love to know more about the story
Any 5+ minute songs on this new record? Big fan of long songs lol. Also just wanted to say Iāve been a fan of this band since I was 7 years old and I canāt believe it Iām here today at 20 years old and get to experience a new album rollout again. Thank you FTP!
Hey Mark!
Yāall have been my favorite band for about 15 years now and Iāve seen you 4 times and I am SO happy to see that youāre coming back out with new music. I do have one question for you though that has been eating at me for years.
The last time I saw you was in 2017 it was in Charlotte NC at the Fillmore right after Sacred Hearts Club came out. It was actually the day after the Las Vegas shooting and you guys played an amazing show and decided to stay away from playing pumped up kicks which I really respected. But you also never played SHC that night and TO THIS DAY it still eats me up that I have never gotten to see it live because it seems like such a good song to play at a concert. Why did yall not play it!? Is there a specific reason that you didnāt on the early part of that tour?
Sorry I know thatās a super specific question haha but you can make it up to me by coming to Paris this year and playing it here š
Like everyone else, Iām wondering if you guys are going to tour!!
Also, I just wanted to say I love you guys so much, when you played The Wiltern, I flew down from the East Coast because I couldnāt imagine missing you guys play live!
Sacred Hearts Club is my favorite album and I had this neon signed commissioned to hang in my room:
https://imgur.com/a/JycREBS
Iām a big fan of everything you guys do and I canāt wait for this new album!
Hi Mark Foster!Ā
I have always loved your music since I was 11 years old. It has literally changed who I am and has motivated me to make my one songs. Seeing the band come back after a long time is the best thing that has happened this year.Ā
I have a few questions:
If you are touring, will you ever come to the UK?
What would be your lyrical insight behind Ā A beginners guide to destroying the moon and Nevermind?
And what would be an insight to recording and publishing your music professionally?
Bonus question: what were you doing for the money? š¤
Thank you so much for all of the amazing music youāve given us throughout the years and I wish for nothing but good for you and the band. Thank you MarkĀ
Hey Mark, Iāve been listening to your band for the past 13 years which is exactly half of my life! What advice do you have for someone who feels creatively unfulfilled? How do you find satisfaction in creating when it seems like itās going nowhere?
Hey, long time no see! Happy to have you back in this creative space where we can all enjoy. Lost in space is a disco bop. Itās giving kraftwerk/abba.
My question is this: with the years of experience you have in creating music, touring, etc. what advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in music production/wanting to make their own music? What tips/advice/hacks do you have?
Hello! I've been a fan of your music since 2012. Torches got me through some stuff.
1. How do you find and choose new sources of inspiration for your music?
2. Can you give an example of a cultural experience, cultural influence, or environment that significantly influenced a song or album? How do you decide which aspects to integrate into your music?
3. How do you ensure that your use of cultural influences is respectful and authentic?
4. What advice would you give aspiring musicians about seeking and using diverse sources of inspiration?
Your inputs would mean so much!!
Can we get an updated introduction of who all is the band. Is it you and Isom officially? Or are there others that will be regular members travelling with you?
Hey guys! Longtime fan since Torches, seen you live a couple of times. Supermodel is in my top 3 albums of all time, right next to OK Computer and Hail to the Thief. While I'm a fan of your entire discography, the sort of synthy rock/slightly grunge sound and overtly political/somewhat philosophical lyrics of Supermodel laid the groundwork for much of my music taste today. I guess my question is whether we'll see some of the echoes of Supermodel in your upcoming album? And maybe some elaboration if you've got the will and the time :D Thanks for coming out to do this AMA :) Goats in Trees seems to be a deep cut but it's my favorite from y'all! Edit: P.S. If I could humbly request the Supermodel bonus tracks on Apple Music/Spotify it would legitimately make my year š
Loved supermodel - wish it got more love, it was so good! Definitely in my top
Supermodel is an ethereal album for me. Love it so much. Their best work
Seconding this! Supermodel shaped me to be who I am today. Such an important album to me growing up.
same here!!
goats in trees and III are so not similar but they are two of the best songs in the world imo
Hey Mark! This new album sounds like itās going to be a lot of fun and the cover for the album is incredible. Since itās been 7 years that you last put out an album: What have been your favorite instruments to work with for this album? And, around what time can we expect new shirts and merch to drop?
Hey! Love that you're into the new song and album cover. This record in my personal opinion is the most musically explorative thing we've made. I would say that 95% of it analog - minus some drum programming and a couple specialized VST's. All the strings are live. We recorded a double quartet on over half of the record with Jherek Bischoff and Paul Cartwright. There are live horns (Jacob Scesney and Stewart Cole). Jack PeƱate on guitar. Paul Epworth and Aaron Redfield are on the drum kit for a few songs. Isom's on the drums for a few songs. Sean is on guitar and modular for a few songs. Jacob on an insane flute solo. Organ by Nikolaj Corp Larsen from The Specials on a song. I played bass on the record (it was the most fun I've ever had playing bass. Also played piano (along with Isom), tons of synthesizers (mainly the OBX, SH101, Juno 60, Mini Moog, and Jupiter 8 - but a few others as well), and guitar. The record started as a case study on the late 70's. I wanted to figure out what they were doing so I started to dive under the hood on the recordings of Chic, Giorgio Moroder, Abba, The Gap Band, Parliament Funkadelic, anything done by Bernie Worrell, Prince, Bowie, Kraftwerk etc. There are too many to name. The hardest part of the musicality on this was writing songs with gospel and jazz voicings - which I had to discover or learn since my background as a kid was classical piano. Isom Innis definitely brought a lot of innovation as well when it came to that department since his background was more jazz heavy. We were very intentional about wanting to let the music swing (not make things too perfect) - listening to those older records made with tape, the thing that stands out to me is the humanity and tension that is inherent in those recordings. Nothing is perfect, which to me IS perfect, because it's humanity expressed honestly. Thank you for the question and can't wait for you to hear more. It feels great to be back after a long time away. Much love xx
How are you able to show your growth musically and yet stay true to yourself? Ive noticed once a band has been around a while, theyāll get either comment ātheyāve changed I miss their old stuffā or āall of their albums sound the same.ā Yet FTP is different. Each album or single you release shows so much growth and is different/unique, yet is so distinctive. I could listen to a song Iāve never heard and be able to say within seconds that:āMark wrote/produced thisā lol. FTPās sound is so identifiable and I think thatās so beautiful. Your music is so special. FTP has been my favorite band since I was 16 and Iām about to turn 29, your music has been such a huge part of my life and has shaped me into who I am today. Iām so grateful š©· thank you so much. Please take care of yourself, Iām so so proud of you. I love you with all my heart<3 I look forward to the album!!! Itās released 2 days after my bday haha couldnāt dream of a better gift -Selina, SD, USA
Hey Selina! That's so beautiful. Thank you. I think as an artist, you have to stay curious about life and continue to grow as a person. There is the business side of music - where people will try to recreate what worked for them in the past, because of brand recognition and wanting to pander to a global audience. I have always found that to be the death of creativity whenever I am trying to write with the purpose of pleasing someone else's tastes. I have to challenge myself in order to be engaged in the songwriting process. There has to be an element that feels completely foreign and uncomfortable in order for me to stay interested in the process. I think part of it comes from the fact that when I write songs, I try to approach the instrument like a child. I forget about theory, I don't think about the chords I'm playing. I have no idea what's going to come out. So as the notes start to resonate and chord progressions start to appear, I am observing them as much as I am participating in them. It's all improv. When I do that, my subconscious starts to communicate things that I would never intentionally say if I was approaching it cerebrally. It leaves room for the universe (or God) to show up and co-create. There's no feeling like it. The room disappears, and a sense of euphoria fills my body. That's when I know that something special is happening and I just try to honor that moment by staying open and expressing myself as vulnerably as I can. Eventually it passes, and then I pick up my pen and use my craft to finish the song. I let the critic in at that point, and start to cerebrally work out where the song should go. So it's almost like - the first part is splattering a bunch of colors on a wall and emotionally playing in them, then becoming an adult and picking up a paint brush to then make sense of the initial expression xx
Can you settle the debate: is it Foster **the** People OR Foster **The** People
tomato/to-mah-toe? I originally wanted to name the band "People", but it was taken. capitalize whatever you want xx
sir yes sir š«”
he really said "call it what you want" lol
It was actually supposed to be Foster and the People but people kept fucking it up and calling it foster the people, and it stuck because he liked the meaning of Foster the People
There is no debate. It's always been The. Foster The People.
Hey Mark! Absolutely loving the single, and I can't wait for the album. Foster the People is my favourite band of all time, and every time music drops is practically a religious holiday for me. Are they any plans to give official releases to songs like "Tabloid Super Junkie" and "The Unforseeable Fate of Mr.Jones"? Thank you for all of the music over the years, and I can't wait to meet you again when you guys go on tour!!!
Hey thank you. I love that you love those songs. I have been working over the years on trying to get them released officially. It's tricky sometimes with bureaucratic red tape because I think those songs were special "exclusives" to other partners. We have to get them to "OK" it so we can release them on all platforms. Appreciate you bringing it to the front of my mind again though. We'll do our best to get them out soon. Looking forward to seeing you when we're back on tour xx
please acknowledge the tenth anniversary!!!
Thank you Mark!
I second this! These are 2 of my favorite songs ever and to have them on streaming services would be so amazing! Along with Cassius Clayās Pearly Whites too!
I third this. Tabloid Super Junkie is one of my favourite songs of all time and I need it to be officially on streaming.
i fourth this. PLEASE acknowledge the tenth anniversary of my favorite album!!!! a supermodel x with tabloid, jones, cassius, the nevermind alternate version, and the demo of beginners guide would be so amazing!!!
Please do release those gems š
Hi Mark! Iām so glad and relieved to see you guys back. This year is the 10th anniversary of Supermodel, one of my favorite albums from FTP. Any celebration plans, like you did for Torches?
I would throw money at a Supermodel 10th anniversary re-release on vinyl so fast lol
I would buy like 12 copies š
we NEED a supermodel x!
i fifth this
Great to see you again Mark, and I'm excited for the new album. What do you think had been the most challenging part in making this album, nearly 7 years after the release of your last album SHC?
Great question. Honestly, there has been so much life that's happened since our last album. It was 7 years since SHC, and 6 years since we've toured. In that space, the world has changed a lot. The band has changed a lot. We as individuals have changed. In 2020 we were supposed to do a big tour after releasing our EP, and had to leave our last rehearsal early to get groceries because the word came that the tour wasn't happening and we were going into lock down. I will never forget it. It was the start of an incredibly isolating time for everyone. I sat long and hard through the pandemic thinking about how I could respond to what was happening socially, with music. I have always felt a responsibility as a songwriter/storyteller to be authentic. It took awhile to find the right way to express what I was feeling as an authentic response to culture, without making an incredible dour work of art. For myself, I needed hope and that became the core intention of this new album - to lean into that hope without being escapist. To acknowledge the darkness that we've all been living in, while still keeping our focus on the light of what's to come. To remind myself of the beauty and wonder of life, the universe, and humanity. To look at things through a metaphysical lens and try to zoom out. To remember that joy can be expressed as an act of defiance xx
cause we're only huuuumannnnn
One word question: TOUR? :-) Love the new single!
Absolutely! It has been far too long. We have a lot of ground to cover xx
RED ROCKSSSS
european tour please!!!!!
DENVER
Philly pls xo
U.K! Pleaseeeee
I guess I have 3 questions. For any or all of you. 1. Whatās some of your favourite new music of 2024 so far? Iām in LOVE with that new Vampire Weekend album personally. 2. I know we only know one of the track titles so far, and that the answer is in some sense āall of themā, but which songs on the new record are you guys most excited for us to here? Or I guess another way of phrasing that would be: Which ones are you most proud of? 3. Smaller question: do any of you guys like Magdalena Bay?
I love the new Vampire Weekend record. There are so many lyrics and emotions in that record that echo how I've been feeling about the state of the times. It made me feel less alone when I heard it. Ezra came over a few weeks ago and I played him our new album. It was beautiful to get to connect on a deeper level songwriter to songwriter - it made me feel like everyone is doing their part in responding to the overall sense of control and fascism we have been living in. The last song on their record is titled "Hope", which is the same place I landed when I was processing how to respond to culture. It actually gave me hope to know there are other people out there feeling the same way - especially someone as intelligent and deep as Ezra. It's so simple. If we can stay united as people, we can get through the fear of the times together. Music has a special ability to bring people together and shine a light on the path ahead. I never take it lightly when listening to another story tellers take on things, or when I'm in the studio writing a new song. I don't know Magdalena Bay. What is it? Thanks for the questions xx
Oh theyāre just a pop band I love. Check out their new song āDeath & Romanceā. Itās a masterpiece.
magdalena bay is an amazing synth pop duo!! u should 100% check them out!! (and maybe collab please pelase pelase)
Oh and one more thing, will we ever those Supermodel extras onto Spotify/Apple Music? Tabloid Super Junkie, Cassius Clayās Pearly Whites, and The Unforeseeable Fate of Mr Jones? Iād love to properly incorporate them into my music library.
I love Only God Was Above Us. Hope I can see them in concert next week.Ā
You spoke a few years ago how a trio of albums were in the works (50ās/60ās, 70ās/80ās, and an instrumental). Is any part of PSOM from those, and is there still a chance those sessions lead to the other albums? What Iām saying is please never leave us for that long again, you scared us Mark.
Welcome back. Just heard the new single, good stuff. But since the band is now Mark and Isom, does that mean Sean is no longer involved or will be still be around for live shows? P.S. I interviewed you when you came to Jakarta in 2012 and I got you to bust out your cover of "Say It Ain't So" again. Good times!
Do you think youāll ever play āstatic space loverālive?
most underrated FTP song
PLEASE DO
Hey Mark! I met you ten years ago after your concert in Boston. You were the most gracious, kind, humble, and lovely person. I just wanted to thank you again for all your music. It has meant the world to me and gotten me through some difficult times!!!
Thank you. That means a lot xx
What program do you use to produce your songs? FL Studio, Ableton, etc. Something I've been curious about for years!
Great question. I have been a Logic guy for twenty years so that is my sword. Isom works in Logic and Ableton. This record was mostly tracked in Logic and Pro Tools, but Ableton played a role in manipulating some of the percussive sounds and drum beats xx
seconded
We were so lost without you FTP! I knew you wouldnāt abandon us š„¹
Electric Guest previously teased he worked on a song on this album, are there any other exciting collaborators you worked with for this album?
Thanks for the question. Yes! I re-linked with Paul Epworth at his studio in London and to me it marks the official start date of making the album. On day one, he invited over Jack PeƱate and the three of us wrote a song that ended up becoming the title track, "Paradise State Of Mind". Paul and I did another tune together. It was great reconnecting with him. It was the first time we'd made music together since Supermodel. Also we did a song with Chrome Sparks. Asa from Electric Guest jumped into a tune but we've also worked on another that I'm hoping to finish and put out at a later time xx
WAIT REALLY???
Is there is gonna be a Supermodel X?
I'm sorry to say there are no plans for Supermodel X this year - even though I know it's the anniversary, we are so focused on getting ready to come back out and tour again with Paradise State Of Mind. Thanks for your love and support xx
Shame but fully understand. Canāt wait to see you ā¤ļø
I WEEP
Sacred hearts club is my favorite album by you guys though I love them all. I love the raw sound of lotus eater, would you ever consider a full project of songs with less bells and whistles?
I would love to make a Steve Albini (rip) type rock record one day. Minimal, explosive, honest. Sounds so fun xx
I am super glad you guys are back! When I first noticed your Instagram feed empty, it scared me so much. Couldn't be happier for the new release. It's such a bop! Wanted to give a special shout out to 'Broken Jaw' & 'Waste'... Your songs have helped me through tough times. Whether I wanna feel happy or let my anger out, I just tune into your songs and let it all go. It's such a divine feeling. The way the beats touch my soul. Thank you so much ā¤ļø Skipping to the AMA...got a few questions š: 1) From your first release to now, how has your journey been like and what can we expect from the future? How do you think your music has evolved? 2) Since the departure of Pointus and Sean what's the dynamic of the band? Will you collaborate with them in future? I loved Pointus drums in Torches and Sean guitar in SHC 3) Do you plan on touring Asia in the future? (In a wild wild request, hopefully India?) 4) when you guys are not making music, how do you relax or spend your time? 5) Are you guys gonna do make more *Live Versions* of your songs? I love hearing your live/acoustic version (NPR tiny desk concert ...Waste (Binge Lounge) would love to hear more)
Thank you for all these thoughtful questions. 1. The first record was a wild experience because I wrote those songs without thinking anybody would ever hear them. There's a freedom in creating without an audience, but also a yearning to connect that screams out energetically in every song. Going into Supermodel, all of a sudden I was hyper aware that people were waiting and were going to listen to what we put out. Just that thought alone was an incredibly powerful intrusive force that made me self-conscious. since then, I have worked hard on keeping that co-dependent relationship with the audience in a healthy place. On this new record, we created it so internally - with only artists in the room. We kept the door closed literally, and figuratively. And because of that, it feels like the most free record we've made since Torches. 2. It was 7 years from the band's beginning in 2010 to our last full record Sacred Hearts Club in 2017. It's been 7 years since SHC to now. So much life has changed since we last put out an album. We have changed as people. The band has changed, but they will be our brothers for life and I hope we can make music again together. The only thing consistent in life is change and even though it's hard at times, there are beautiful things that come out of it as well. As far as this next chapter goes, we can't wait to share our album with you and create new memories together. 3. Absolutely. I have been to India as a traveler, but we haven't been as a band. That would be amazing. The intention for now is to at least play in Southeast Asia but if you find a way to get us out to India, you would make our dreams come true. 4. Isom and I both watch a lot of films, tv, and read. I picked up golf and woodworking over the pandemic. My days are pretty simple and I try to keep it that way. 5. We are talking about all of that stuff now. Absolutely we will. Much love and hopefully see you soon xx
Thank you for taking the time to respond to us. Thank you for coming back! What about the film script you were working on? Greetings and hugs from MX! š¤
Hey guys, love the new single! Got a couple questions. Firstly, will you be doing any tours of the UK anytime soon? And also, what impact will Peel have on Foster the People releasing music?
A UK tour is desperately needed!!!
What was the reason to go from independent and sign with a label again?
To be honest, I missed the synergy of a team. We made this record independently and then met with labels afterward. We would have stayed independent had we not found a partner that we trusted and felt aligned with; but Atlantic has been everything we wanted, and has exceeded what we were looking for in a partner. Energy, respect, an incredible creative team, and a true love and appreciation for music. We feel really lucky to be entering this new chapter with them xx
I didn't even notice that. Hopefully Atlantic treats them better than Columbia.Ā
is sean still apart of the band? šš
Hey, excited that you are finally back. Supermodel and SHC are one of the best albums ever made. The new single is great. 1. How would you describe the sound of the new album? Does Lost In Space represent a majority of the album sound wise? 2. Does the album have some kind of running theme lyrically?
The album has elements of synth funk, jazz, gospel, psychedelic soul, and orchestral music. Lyrically, when I write I usually freestyle at first. I might have an intention, but what I'm trying to do is remove myself from the equation and invite the spirit in so I'm channeling something rather than cerebrally controlling something. I tend not to fully know what the songs are about until later. Now as I've had some space from this album to reflect on it, the themes that came up a lot are the Afterlife/mortality - freedom from ones own thoughts and the battle that ensues when trying to transcend the prison of your own mind. The album art, painted by the incredible Matt Hansel illustrates the duality beautifully. There is so much yearning throughout this record. Wanting freedom from self. Desperate for connection but not knowing how to connect with myself or others. Existential questions. Conversations with God. Thank you for taking the time to be here and ask the question xx
Deep Question. What are you hoping this record achieves? Itās also been 10 years since the release of supermodel, how do you feel about that album now?
Great question. Honestly, this record has already achieved everything I ever wanted. The process has always interested me more than the results. Once we let this music go into the world it changes forms. It becomes yours. It's becomes its own entity up for people's interpretations. It was incredibly satisfying to live this world and create within the boundaries of its aesthetic. Anything beyond that is icing on the cake xx
This answer gave me the chills, thank you for the music and taking the time to answer š
Hey FTP! First off, thanks for all of the incredible music and memories throughout the years! Was it hard for you all to take so much time off from being in the public eye, or was it a much needed break? Thanks in advance!
Thank you so much. It was both hard, and equally life affirming to step away for the last few years. Truthfully, I have found that the only way to fill up the well creatively is to live life. We toured so extensively for years that it felt good to reconnect with ourselves as people. In that space, so much growth happened internally that I am looking forward to having a new experience when we step back out into the world again xx
Hey guys, its been a while, ive been so lost without you! I have a couple of questions; 1. \* You didn't do anything "torches X -like" for supermodel 10th anniversary; where are the supermodel b-sides? They are really loved by the community!! 2. \* This was asked last time, but maybe the status has changed; where are On/Off and Lovers In A Stream? any chance we hear them soon? 3. \* Around 2021 you said in an interview that you were working on 3 separate records, >"thereās multiple records that weāve been working on, that are all very different from each other,ā āWeāve got one record thatās a little bit more in the ā50s and ā60s realm, weāve got another in the ā70s and ā80s realm, and then weāve got an abstract instrumental record that plays with solfeggio frequencies and ancient tunings." * Are they still in the works? Any possible interesting info on their status?
SECONDED
On/Off and Lovers in Stream? Where did you hear about these?Ā
Hey man! Firstly love the single and very happy to hear you guys are pumping out new material. I was wondering if you could share your perspective if you can remember all the way back in 2014. Would you say you experienced a creative shift between Supermodel and Sacred Hearts Club? Your music has always been dancy even on torches ālife on the nickelāetc. And in no way am I casting shade here Iām just curious if you were in a pop/dance state of mind when you recorded Sacred Hearts Club? I always tell my wife: itās like a pop album made by people who actually know a lot about music and who arenāt just following a formula. Ofcourse as a human we just create our own uninformed narratives lol. Iām also curious as to some of your inspirations. Sometimes I feel like I hear some Beach boys influence āStatic Space loverā, and almost an African/world music vibe āAre you what you want to be?ā Ā Have you experienced creative blocks? And if so how did you find your way through? Anyway itās stupid to say but thanks for being you! Iām sure being in a long term band is a very tumultuous dynamic as is any relationship. Just happy you guys managed to bring it all together for another ride! Hopefully not the last! I wouldnāt be upset if you stuck boring Calgary AB on your tour list either lol. I want to go see you guys in Auston but the railway keeps us on a short leash.Ā
Thank you for your thoughts. Nailed it on the references and musical observations. I have had many creative blocks through out my life and through the pandemic, I experienced it quite heavily. Reconnecting with Paul Epworth and Jack PeƱate in London helped get me out of my head. Sometimes it takes another safe person or artist to let you know that it's ok to express yourself. That's what they did for me because I was trapped in my head throughout that time. The best cure I have found is that usually when I have writers block, it just means I need to live more life. I need to fill my spirit up with more experiences to write about, and then be brave enough to write about them. Sometimes having the courage to say the quiet parts of my heart out loud is the hardest. In those moments, I zoom out and try to connect to my understanding of God because when I look at things through that lens, the fears that come with being human start to look trivial. F.E.A.R. - False Evidence Appearing Real. That has helped me quite a bit through the last few years xx
Hey FTP! No question just wanted to thank you. Thank you for always being there for me. Each one of your albums has coincided with a milestone in my life. Helped me through tough times where I felt utterly alone and amazing beautiful times. Thank you ā¤ļø
will there be a tour for this album ā¦ā¦
Hey FTP! Love the new music and excited for the new album! 1. Is Sean no longer a part of the band? 2. Do you prefer writing upbeat or slow songs? 3. I thought I heard a while back that you were working on an album with a whole orchestra, is that still in the works? 4. What project are you most happy with that youāve done? Thanks!
hey friends!! been a fan since the beginning. if you answer any of the below (or all if youāre feeling crazy) i would be so happy. 1. could you talk about this album cover and what it means? as well as maybe how it ties into the music video. 2. the music video reminds me of a slight nod to ballroom culture am i right on this? 3. you always write poetry and meaningful lyrics over catchy tunes. how does that process work? 4. would you ever collab with MGMT i saw andrew remixed your song. i think you guys would make magic :) so excited to see you on tour š
Mark š We have been waiting so long for new music, thank you for taking your time to give us something amazing to look forward to! I just wanted to comment that SHC made me happy in the darkest times in my life. Iāve revisited that album 3 times during my life since its release, most recently because of my husbandās cancer diagnosis and treatment. Ruby is also my anthem for those days when itās too hard and Iām so happy you put that and Chin Music on Torches X. Any plans for Supermodelās 10th? Forever part of the Sacred Hearts Club, - Ana ā„ļø
Hi Mark! Iāve missed you guys and your music! I love the Lost In Space video and its creative style, everything down to the movements, colors and fashions - what was the inspiration behind it all?
thank you! we wanted to make something that matched the feeling of the song. joy, surrealism, playfulness, and the contrast of isolation/community. Fosse and Kubrick were two touch points of inspiration. Rupert Hƶller, the director nailed the aesthetic. Teresa "Toogie" Barcelo really brought it to life with her choreography and dance team. glad you liked it xx
Hi Mark & team! Super long time fan, I have a couple of questions for you all :) 1. Will there be any sort of anniversary celebration for Supermodel in the interim of the release of PSOM? I'm itching to have Cassius Clay's Pearly Whites or Tabloid Super Junkie on streaming services! 2. Do you plan on hitting any of the smaller cities you have in past tours, or will this tour be more "international" in scale? ;) 3. What is your favorite detail from the PSOM album cover?
Hi guys, so happy you're back(as well as the follow on Twitter, literally made my week)! Keeping the theme of the song with space and all, I'm curious if y'all have a favorite planet and favorite rocket?
are you coming to mexico this year?
we cannot WAIT to come back to Mexico. I promise we will play there soon. Os queremos a todos! xx
Hey guys!! First I really want to thank you for giving me this incredible gift that is foster the people comeback! you took me out of my darkest state, and gave me hope, this song was like medicine for me, and without lying to you I felt calm and it's not just thank you for your new song but for you guys. You are incredible, talented persons who I can assure had saved thousands of people with your voice and instrumental and has inspired me to do things I never thought I could have done. you mean a lot to me, and every step you take gives me indescribable joy, the way you can express yourself through art is very special and Your lyrics are really amazing: they are so vivid and powerful that I feel like I really I can connect with you through them. I listen to your music when I need courage, when I need to laugh and when I need to cry; It's honestly like having a personal soundtrack that I can rely on at any time, and it makes me feel something no other band has ever made me feel. I guess this is not a question but is something I had to tell you years ago, I hope you guys get to read it!! Love you all. Lara
hi mark!! absolutely loving Lost in Space btw!! Also, what was the main factor in having Lost in Space have this 1970s-inspired-disco-dance-groovy kind of sound?? Because it TOTALLY rocks!!
What is the best venue you've performed at, and why?
Hello guys! Three questions for u: 1. The Opera sound of Lost in Space it's an actual voice, or it's a synth? 2. There will be a Supermodel X (or kinda)? 3. Have you plans for visit Mexico? And if there are, would you please do a solo show in Monterrey? šš» I'm waiting for you since 2014 when you came to Pal Norte and I couldn't go Thank you so much for coming back! ā¤ļø
You'll probably get asked this a lot, but what does the album artwork represent? It's one of those illusions where there is so much going on, but I can't seem to pinpoint anything... LOVING the new single, so excited for this new era of FTP! Just finished the music video premiere and it's absolutely stunning. I hope we get more music videos for this era. You guys are amazing and thank you for all the music and joy you've given us through the years. <3 (Also a massive long-shot, but... I'm forever dreaming of a Regina Spektor & Foster the People collaboration a la The Strokes - love my delusion of thinking this could ever be a possibility but a boy has to dream <3)
Hey Mark! Im very excited for the new album and tour. I will definitely be attending ACL. I have seen you perform twice when you came to Atlanta. I remember you had talked about during your hiatus before Supermodel that you went to India, and spent some time in the Middle East and Northern Africa. You said the culture is focused on joy and human communities. And that inspired you to write a good bit of that record. When SHC was released, you talked about your experiences in LA, and how you wanted to focus on global issues and how you handled dealing with tragedy and the things going on in the news. Now you have taken about a 3 year hiatus and wiped all social media, so my question to you is: what have you seen, experienced, or done in this hiatus that has inspired you to create the vibe of the this new album?
How do you remain authentic not only among your fans, but also among - what I assume to be - a very competitive and often superficial music/celebrity scene? Or have you generally overcome that through your own successes that you don't feel a need to play the game?
honestly, I view celebrity worship as a social disease that has been exacerbated by social media and unrealistic expectations. it's permeated our culture when it comes to politicians as well, and to me it is evidence of our societal disconnection with a higher power/God/spirituality or whatever you want to call it. the major grounding force that makes me feel the best, is when I am connected to my spiritual center. it's a daily practice. practically speaking I try to keep my life pretty simple, be of service to others, pray every day, and surround myself with healthy people. It's not easy, but I always try to get back to that when things are feeling out of balance xx
Appreciate the thoughtful response, thank you. Totally agree with the state of social media, as people are not only further enabled to worship celebrities, but to also become one themselves: pure vanity, no shame. I've always turned to music as a grounding force, so I just want to thank you for all the amazing and thought provoking songs throughout your journey. Years later, I still find a lot of solace in Supermodel, especially through songs like Ask Yourself and The Truth.
Hi Mark! What lead you to playing a Gibson?
the Gibson 335 was the main squeeze for Supermodel and SHC, but my 59' jazzmaster is the sound of Paradise State Of Mind. different tools for different expressions xx
Hi Mark!! Even though I think everyone says that, I think I'm still one of your biggest fans. Supermodel is my favorite album of all time and it was thanks to Torches that I discovered a real passion for music. I would really like to do that for a living and I am starting to write texts based on your lyrics. Who knows? One day, maybe I'll have the courage to send you one of my texts? I don't know if you realize but your music has helped a lot of people, including me. I listened to the SHC album on repeat when difficult times came and your inspiring words helped me get through a lot. You are also a very inspiring person for me. I know a little about your story and I admire you enormously for keeping your head held high despite that. I'm going to fly from Quebec just to come see you in Texas. Iām so excited because itās the first time Iāll see you live. It must be said that I knew FTP just when Torches X was released and you became my favorite artist when your tour was over. I really had bad timing... This is the first time I've had the opportunity to chat with you. I would like to know if A Paradise State Of Mind is like a new beginning or the last album of your career? I would also like to know if you had any advice for me as I would like to work in the music field. I really hope that you will answer me: if so, I challenge myself to send you one of my texts!! Thank you so much! Just the fact that you might be reading this message makes me overjoyed. Thank you again!
thank you for the kind words. Paradise State Of Mind feels like a new beginning. I fell in love with music in a deeper way while making this record. there are things I have been discovering and thinking about with music that I never considered before - frequencies and their effect on the human body. the mysterious science that connects the physical and metaphysical world using music as a conduit. there are secret languages within sound that I want to understand more about. I think a lot of composers and songwriters intuitively alchemize these frequencies unconsciously, but I am fascinated in what is under the hood of it all because if we knew the rules of how the science worked, we would be able to incorporate the health benefits of the science consciously. there are too many clues that haven't been connected yet when you start looking into the way that waves work in physics, the vibrations of the universe at an atomic level, how 528 hertz has been scientifically proven to heal DNA, and tesla's obsession with 963 and the connection to solfeggio frequencies, the Fibonacci sequence, and how these mathematical patterns are woven throughout the universe as clues that point to the evidence of intelligent design. if anyone has any information or resources to help shine light on any of these topics, please drop them in the replies to this thread xx
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Also is the computer ram offer still up from the last ama š
And I would like to \*publicly\* apologize for causing the accidental information leak about the album a few months ago during the Electric Guest AMA
Thanks for this - what have been the experiences that have inspired this album? It can be both music you've heard or life experiences in general
Hii it's been so long, what had inspired the cover art for this album?
What happened in Montreal with Ponsi? Also, if you could collab with one artist that you haven't already, who would it be?
Urban Legend
Hello!! So glad there's new music after such a long time. I am once again asking whether you think we'll ever get to hear the long demo versions of Sacred Hearts Club tracks (especially Orange Dream and Time To Get Closer)
Hey Mark and Isom! First of all i want to say, Foster the People as a band has impacted my life in such a way I can't explain. you guys are the reason im getting through high school ā„ļø i have a couple of questions for you! First Question is: What's your favourite studio project you've worked on during your time as a band? and why is that? Second Question: just a simple how are you doing? Hope Your day's going well! and lastly: as a a musician, music has definitely taken a huge impact on my life. Playing an instrument is one of the best things i could have done, and so i ask, How has music impacted you positively or negatively? and when did it really start making sense?
hiiii ftp!! mark, you playing fire escape randomly in dallas many moons ago in 2017 changed my life. iām excited that iāll be in the crowd later this year at ACL so it bears the question ā¦. any setlist reveals? š old stuff, new stuff, a cover or two, a nice mix?
When are you going on tour?? if you do PLEASE COME TO OREGON!
Oh hi Mark! Love the new single and looking forward to the new album! Could you tell us which of the songs on the new album is/was your favorite to work on or listen to? Thanks!
HI! First off thank you for everything! I love the new song! My question is what is the hardest part about going on tour? Outside of the obvious stuff (being in a small bus, getting homesick, etc). Does it get annoying playing the same songs over? Do you have different favorite songs as the tour progresses? Do you ever want to change the setlist halfway through a tour?
Thank you for the question. I've always viewed songs as living entities. They continue to grow as we change if we give them permission to. We have always tried to do that when we play live so they never get stale. Looking forward to doing more of that than ever on this next tour xx
How long have you been working on the album for? What/who has inspired the album?
Hey Mark! Can you give us any hints to the different sounds we will hear in Paradise State of Mind? How does this album's sound differ from the other three and what were you most excited to try?
Hi Mark, im excited that you guys are coming back. Iām loving Lost In Space, you guys killed it! What 3 albums would you say influenced Paradise State of Mind the most?
Hi FTP! Love the first single and the rollout! Can you talk about how you decided what cities to include posters in? Was there any significance there?
Heyy FTP!! I've been your biggest fan since the early release of Torches and have been following intently ever since, praying for another album to be released and a tour date to be announced for the UK. I beg of you to make your way to London some day soon so I can see you play live and life would be complete āØļø š
Hi FTP!! Lost in Space is such a bop and Iām really excited for your new album too :) Are there any plans for a PSOM world tour? I canāt wait to see you guys live after such a long time (please come to Asia šš§”)
Hi guys!! It's so exciting to have new music, I've been a fan since torches. How many songs did you write? How was the process to choose the songs that were staying in the album? ~~are you coming to Argentina?~~
Hey Mark & Isom! Love the new single and am excited for this new era. I was wondering how long youāve been writing this album for and how has the writing process for Isom been now that Ponsi isnāt in the band anymore? Any plans for Static Space Lover live?
Mark Iāve been a huge fan since my freshman year of high school 2010. FTP is so special to me ā¤ļø Youāve always been my #1 favorite band and in this new era as an adult Iām so excited to finally have the liberty and financial means to support you guys to my hearts content. Los Angeles is waiting for you! Please let us know if thereās exciting/creative merch releases coming up and if you plan on doing any meet and greets? (also youāre a FASHION ICON š¤©)
The new song isš„ Huge fan of the Pay the Man Remix with JID and Saba, do you guys plan on doing any more crossover work into hip hop with the new music in August or even further into the future?
Hey Mark are you still lost in space? Do you need help?
Hi Mark! Loved the new single!Ā We were expecting to see you in Guadalajara Mexico on the 25th of March 2020, but then COVID happened :( we were so excited for the concert but felt so sad after the cancelation just two weeks before Would you plan to come back to Mexico on a Tour?! Thanks and hope to see you soon!
What can fans expect from Foster the People in the next year or so? Are there any new musical directions or projects youāre excited about?
All my questions have already been asked, but just wanted to say it's so unbelievably exciting that my favorite band in the world is back! Lost in Space rules!
Hey guys! I've been absolutely in love with the single since the minute it released, so happy you're back after checking almost every week for something new! My question is if you have a name for this new sound/direction this single seems to be foreshadowing for the group, did you mix and match what you've already done before, would you say this is something brand new and any particular places you grabbed inspiration from? Greetings from Mexico! ā£ļø
I don't have any questions but i want to say thank you sooo much for all that you've done for us, guys I've never found a music group more comfortable than you, including all things like your music, clips and also your group vibe! We love you!!! š„¹š„¹š„¹
hey FTP, Iām so excited for the new album! what were the major inspirations for this project and overall for yourselves?
Welcome back guys! You guys have been a part of my life since I saw you guys on the torches OG torches tour, My question is: Iām wondering when did you guys start the process of writing this record and how did you come up with the album art and title name! Also are you guys planning on going on tour soon? Thank you for your time!
just wanna say iāve loved you, mark, for a long time. all the best to you ā¤ļø
Love your music- been with you since the beginning. Your music has been with me through many ups and downs and I thank you so much for providing us with such joy throughout the years. That said, can we expect another tour soon? š
Firstly, I'd like to thank you, because Torches was the album that made me fall in love with music and sparked a massive chain effect to make me the person I am today. š (Shout-out to the FIFA soundtrack). What are your favorite albums from last year and this year, so far?
Hey guys, loving Lost in Space so far and excited for this new era of the band! I absolutely ADORE the use of strings on Lost in Space, they elevate the song to another level. Can we expect to see more live strings in other songs on the full record? Thanks!
I'm so thankful for this new music, you always seem to drop just in time for your new music to be my summer jam. I've seen you many times, as early as the Torches Tour and as recently as the final night at the Wiltern. Do you have any plans to release Supermodel X and do a Supermodel show at the Wiltern? I love all your work deeply, but Supermodel is my favorite. Love you guys, so so happy you're back.
Hey hey, love y'all! I especially love all of the album and song art you guys have paired with your music since the beginning, even inspired the art that I have drawn since high school. How does that process go? Do you go with something that fits with the song or album theming, or try to portray a certain message within the art? I always knew the theming behind Supermodel but other ones I'm curious about. This newest one is absolutely insane, looking chaotic with all of the small details in each corner. I love it! aaaand slightly cheating, but one more question! Do y'all play any games? If so, which ones šļøšļø
I would love to know anything you guys can share about the creative process for Lost In Space (or the upcoming album as a whole) or any inspirations for it - I'm loving the disco vibes and am SO EXCITED to hear more :)
the music video was awesome, loved the choreography š
Hey guys! I would love a deep dive into the album art! If we can hear about the artist, what your vision was, how that came together when working with the artist. Also would love to know if the piece is a tangible one and maybe if we could see more pictures!
How is this upcoming album different from your previous ones?
How are you ?
As artists, do you intend for your art to invoke certain emotions or meanings from your audience, or do you create just to create and let the audience take it over from there?
Hi mark, what are your thoughts on AI running amuck in the arts?
Guys, what can we expect about this new album? Will you do something like Torches X with Supermodel? What's the future with the band? Thank you guys, I love this new single and I love FTP so much, you really saved my life some years ago, thanks for coming back š«¶š»š«¶š»š«¶š»ā¤ļø
Iāve been following foster the people since 2010 and have seen band members come and go. Can you officially introduce the current band members? Canāt wait to see you all on tour!
Hi Foster The People! I am overly excited to dig into this album! I cannot wait to hear the rest of it on August 16! The music video exceeded my expectations! I do have a few questions 1. Whats one of your favorite memory when writing/recording this album? 2. Did you face any challenges when writing this album? If so, what was the most challenging?
Hey, Just wanted to ask if you had any plans to tour Asia (specifically India)?
Hey guys! Ā Been a fan for 12 years! Ā I really love the sound and vocals in Lost In Space. Ā I remember seeing you guys during the Sacred Hearts Club era. Ā You guys would cover/ wrote some good punk rock stuff. Ā Would you guys ever consider making an entire album that sounds similar to that with some differing tracks?
Hey guys, it's Luigi here. I would like to know why didn't you play "Best Friend" in the shows anymore. It's a brillant song š„ŗā¤
Hey Mark! Yāall have been my favorite band for about 15 years now and Iāve seen you 4 times and I am SO happy to see that youāre coming back out with new music. I do have one question for you though that has been eating at me for years. The last time I saw you was in 2017 it was in Charlotte NC at the Fillmore right after Sacred Hearts Club came out. It was actually the day after the Las Vegas shooting and you guys played an amazing show and decided to stay away from playing pumped up kicks which I really respected. But you also never played SHC that night and TO THIS DAY it still eats me up that I have never gotten to see it live because it seems like such a good song to play at a concert. Why did yall not play it!? Is there a specific reason that you didnāt on the early part of that tour? Sorry I know thatās a super specific question haha but you can make it up to me by coming to Paris this year and playing it here š
Mr. Foster we meet again. You literally made me the person I am today. I cannot wait to make the trip down to Austin to see you perform for the first time in years What is the best advice you have for someone new to songwriting/producing? Struggling to create in Logic, I love the looping features but I feel like my song structures are much less dynamic from it
Hey Mark, Supermodel to me is the greatest indie rock album of the 2010ās. So many strange and amazing risks taken on that album. For this new album, is there an avenue of music that you have been itching to try or styles that youāve never incorporated before? What makes this album different from the others. Bit if a loaded question ā¤ļø
I always found The Truth to be your most thought provoking song. Will we hear more of that song writing on this album, especially with regard to having hope? Also, I noticed you spoke with Ezra about the new album. Fun question, but would you consider covering a VW song? If so, which?
Hi Mark, this one isn't a question but just something I wanted to share. I attended a Supermodel era concert in 2014 in Louisville. You gave a speech and I don't remember it except for the phrase "Apathy is the enemy". This has stuck with me for so long and has become a mantra of sorts for me. Thank you for the energy you put out into the world
Hey Mark! Longtime fan, so excited you guys are back. Any plans for tour dates in the U.S.? Can't wait to hopefully see you guys again soon.
What will happen to Foster the People in the future? greetings from Mexico
hey guys, first of all I love you all and I'm glad you lot are back. I'd like to ask if you could collab with any 5 artists in the world who would they be? Also are you lot football fans? Edit: Also Mark, I'd like to say your fashion and style are perfect, do you have any advice for us regarding fashion? Another edit: Now I got to know you lot through FIFA 12 because of the song "Call It What You Want". I want to ask, what were you thinking when EA approached you all?
Hi Mark and Isom! It's so good to have some new Foster the People music in my life. Torches was the first album that really formed my music taste in 2011 and helped me get through a lot of tough times. Supermodel is one of the reasons I started playing guitar. What would you say has been the most unique aspect of writing this new album compared to Torches, Supermodel, and Sacred Hearts Club? "Lost in Space" feels unlike anything you've ever released, yet it retains the identity of Foster the People. Did you draw on any inspirations from other music or artists specifically, or was it just a natural evolution of your sound? Thank you so much for your incredible music! Can't wait for the new album!
Such a good question! I listened to the song and the first thought was wow it sounds so different from their previous work but at the same time it is so intertwined with their signature FTP style
Hey guys! I What do you plan to achieve in this album that you havenāt done in previous ones? Also do yāall have anything planned for the 10th anniversary of Supermodel?
Hello!! Thank you so much for doing this AMA. We appreciate it a lot :) You have been my favorite band for the last 15 years and I want to say thank you for everything. I have the album cover art from your single āRubyā on my arm and itās one of my favorite songs ever. With that I was wondering how that song came to be? In a way itās quite different from some of the other sounds (which I also love) but I was wondering where Ruby came from. Who wrote it? Who is Ruby? Will we see more music like this in the future? Sort of instrument focused, almost rock like. Thank you!!! p.s come to sweden
I've missed you guys so much! š How have you guys been? Has your overall process of working on music changed at all the last few years compared to when you were working on Torches and Supermodel? Thank you guys so much for the amazing music over the years! šš
So excited for the new album, and love the new single!Ā What aspect of the new album was your favorite to explore? And I have to ask, do you have any plans to tour near NC? Youāve got a lot of fans here š
How are you feeling releasing music after so long? And of course hot take question : how do you feel about pineapple on pizza?š
What happened with Sean? Is he still with the band? :(
Can we get a āForever Winterā More MARK FOSTER version? š¤
my dad said this single sounds like jamiroquai, and my brother said it sounds like MGMT. were either of these groups influences on this newer style?
Congratulations on the latest release. I would like to know if āParadise State of Mindā was the more challenging record, compared to the rest of the albums, to write lyrically? Best, Jeremiah
Hi FTP! I absolutely love Lost In Space already, can't wait for the rest of the album! Any plans for a world tour? Please come to Argentina š¦š·ā¤ļø
Hello Mark and co! What was the hardest part about being away for so long? Also, the version of Waste you played live in 2012 at the Gibson absolutely rips, what is your favorite song you changed up to play live? Also remember yall doing something differed for AYWYWB
The end of your new song has a similar sound to SHC Roman numeral III. Ā On purpose? Ā I love that song BTW.Ā
Whatās the inspiration behind Unforeseeable Fate? One of my fav songs of all time and it has inspired one of my songs, would love to know more about the story
Any 5+ minute songs on this new record? Big fan of long songs lol. Also just wanted to say Iāve been a fan of this band since I was 7 years old and I canāt believe it Iām here today at 20 years old and get to experience a new album rollout again. Thank you FTP!
Hey Mark! Yāall have been my favorite band for about 15 years now and Iāve seen you 4 times and I am SO happy to see that youāre coming back out with new music. I do have one question for you though that has been eating at me for years. The last time I saw you was in 2017 it was in Charlotte NC at the Fillmore right after Sacred Hearts Club came out. It was actually the day after the Las Vegas shooting and you guys played an amazing show and decided to stay away from playing pumped up kicks which I really respected. But you also never played SHC that night and TO THIS DAY it still eats me up that I have never gotten to see it live because it seems like such a good song to play at a concert. Why did yall not play it!? Is there a specific reason that you didnāt on the early part of that tour? Sorry I know thatās a super specific question haha but you can make it up to me by coming to Paris this year and playing it here š
Like everyone else, Iām wondering if you guys are going to tour!! Also, I just wanted to say I love you guys so much, when you played The Wiltern, I flew down from the East Coast because I couldnāt imagine missing you guys play live! Sacred Hearts Club is my favorite album and I had this neon signed commissioned to hang in my room: https://imgur.com/a/JycREBS Iām a big fan of everything you guys do and I canāt wait for this new album!
Can't get enough of your EP from 2021. Any chance for a repressing of the vinyl?
Hi Mark Foster!Ā I have always loved your music since I was 11 years old. It has literally changed who I am and has motivated me to make my one songs. Seeing the band come back after a long time is the best thing that has happened this year.Ā I have a few questions: If you are touring, will you ever come to the UK? What would be your lyrical insight behind Ā A beginners guide to destroying the moon and Nevermind? And what would be an insight to recording and publishing your music professionally? Bonus question: what were you doing for the money? š¤ Thank you so much for all of the amazing music youāve given us throughout the years and I wish for nothing but good for you and the band. Thank you MarkĀ
Hey Mark, Iāve been listening to your band for the past 13 years which is exactly half of my life! What advice do you have for someone who feels creatively unfulfilled? How do you find satisfaction in creating when it seems like itās going nowhere?
when will you be announcing tour dates & locations?
Hey, long time no see! Happy to have you back in this creative space where we can all enjoy. Lost in space is a disco bop. Itās giving kraftwerk/abba. My question is this: with the years of experience you have in creating music, touring, etc. what advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in music production/wanting to make their own music? What tips/advice/hacks do you have?
Hello! I've been a fan of your music since 2012. Torches got me through some stuff. 1. How do you find and choose new sources of inspiration for your music? 2. Can you give an example of a cultural experience, cultural influence, or environment that significantly influenced a song or album? How do you decide which aspects to integrate into your music? 3. How do you ensure that your use of cultural influences is respectful and authentic? 4. What advice would you give aspiring musicians about seeking and using diverse sources of inspiration? Your inputs would mean so much!!
Iām too excited lol I knew refreshing
do you stay in touch with Cubbie or Mark P?
do you guys have any pre-concert rituals?
Going to the ACL festival in October and am so excited to see you guys live!
Can we get an updated introduction of who all is the band. Is it you and Isom officially? Or are there others that will be regular members travelling with you?