Hot off of the release of their sleek first full-length album “Finding It Hard to Smile,” Los Angeles indie pop group lovelytheband is coming to Iowa State to perform in the Memorial Union’s Great Hall Thursday, Aug. 23 at 8 p.m. The concert is one of the events planned by the Student Union Board to kickoff the new academic year.

The band is comprised of former Oh Honey vocalist Mitchy Collins, guitarist Jordan Greenwald and drummer Sam Price.

Before their breakout 2017 hit “Broken,” Collins and Greenwald only knew each other through mutual friends. They found purpose through music and decided not to attend college. As they sonically collaborated, they sought a drummer who would come in the form of Sam Price. They found their rhythm section on Instagram and reeled him in through direct messaging.

From the start, the band has utilized what makes indie pop as a genre so successful. Catchy hooks, synth heavy melodies and lush layering are all prominent in lovelytheband’s catalog.

thank you @billboard hot 100 festival. that was sweaty. 💋 pic.twitter.com/raN6bwZW6C

— lovelytheband (@lovelytheband) August 18, 2018

Let’s talk more about the song “Broken” that managed to sizzle all over the Billboard top charts months after the bands inception. The song was the centerpiece to their “Everything I Could Never Say” extended play, and it represents the crux of lovelythebands template. “Broken” would go on to become the longest running #1 track on Alternative Radio thus far in 2018 with six weeks at the top. In under a year, it earned 25 million total global streams.

The three men attempt to translate feelings and emotions into invigorating indie pop anthems. Startling as it may be to see an indie group crash into the mainstream shores so quickly, the three men almost saw it coming, by using a connection with listeners that holds nothing back.

“I really believe the importance of songwriting is saying something when someone else doesn’t know how to,” affirms Collins. “In the songs, I’m talking about life, trials, tribulations, depression, anxiety, and s— I deal with as well as the headaches that come along with the good and bad days. My problems don’t define me, but we should embrace every side of who we are.”

Recently, lovelytheband has been spotted supporting Vance Joy and AWOLNATION on tour in the midst of working on their debut release “Finding It Hard to Smile,” which includes 16 tracks all produced by the same mind who crafted “Broken,” collaborator Christian Medice.