The Lumineers

The Lumineers debuted in the midst of the nu-folk boom of the 2010s with the catchy single "Ho Hey," but their so-called overnight success was a long time coming. New Jersey natives Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites tried to make it big in New York City until the high cost of living drove them out west to Denver, Colorado. There, they found a home in the open-mic scene and added a third member, cellist Neyla Pekarek, in 2010. While their 2012 self-titled debut drew comparisons to fellow rustic-folk enthusiasts Mumford & Sons, the Lumineers stood apart with a minimal musical style with an emphasis on melody, which also formed the basis of their future albums.

Before they were The Lumineers, the group went through a variety of names - including Wesley Jeremiah, 6Cheek, and Free Beer - until they accidentally adopted another band's name. While introducing Schultz and Fraites' act, an emcee at a Jersey City club got them confused with a band called Lumineers who were slated to perform at the same time the following week. The duo took the stage as The Lumineers, and the rest is history.

Schultz and Fraites started making music together to cope with their grief over the death of Fraites' brother, Josh, who was also Schultz's best friend. Josh, who died of a heroin overdose in 2001, partly inspired the band's third album, III, which follows the story of a fictional family whose lives are affected by addiction.