MisterWives

MisterWives emerged out of New York City in the mid-2010s with a fizzing indie pop sound that veered from quirky synth-driven dance-pop to lush indie folk and various points beyond. Their infectious 2014 single “Reflections” put them on the map, and they went on to notch two Billboard-charting albums for the Photo Finish label. A brief tenure on Fueled by Ramen yielded 2020′s epic Superbloom, after which they formed their own imprint and released subsequent singles like 2021′s “Stepped on a Bee” and 2022′s “Dreams.” Their fourth album, Nosebleeds, arrived in 2023 and showcased an edgier, post-punk sound.
Formed in 2012 around the core trio of singer/keyboardist Mandy Lee, bassist William Hehir, and drummer Etienne Bowler, MisterWives created an unusual sound that combined elements of synth pop, folk, and indie rock, all tied together by Lee’s nimble melodies. After adding guitarist Marc Campbell, keyboardist Mike Murphy, and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Blum, the group began recording their debut EP, Reflections, which was released on New York indie Photo Finish Records in early 2014. With just one EP and some demos to their name, MisterWives garnered plenty of buzz ahead of their debut LP, Our Own House, which saw release in February 2015. A success right out of the gate, the album hit number 31 on the Billboard 200 thanks in large part to the inclusion of “Reflections” and lead single “Our Own House.”
After spending much of 2016 on tour with Panic! At the Disco, MisterWives returned in 2017 with their second album, Connect the Dots, which, while not as successful as their debut, still entered the Billboard Alternative chart at number 19 and peaked within the Top 200. In 2019, the group inked a deal with Fueled by Ramen, which released their lengthy third long-player, Superbloom in July 2020. Although it failed to chart, the album’s title track notched millions of streams.
MisterWives were ultimately dropped by their new label in 2021 and forged ahead as an independent band for the single “Stepped on a Bee.” Around this time, Blum left the band. Under the umbrella of their former label Photo Finish, MisterWives launched their own Resilient Little Records imprint to release tracks like 2022′s “Dreams” and “Where Do We Go from Here.” Two more songs appeared in March and May of 2023 with “Out of Your Mind” and “Nosebleeds” showcasing a more aggressive, post-punk-infused sound. The latter worked as the title track for the group’s fourth album, Nosebleeds, which arrived that July. ~ Timothy Monger