The Musical Biography of Walk The Moon: From Beginnings to Chart-Topping Success

Walk The Moon is one of those bands that you've probably heard at least one of their catchy jams before. The band hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, and comprises four members: Nicholas Petricca (lead vocalist, keys), Kevin Ray (bass guitar), Eli Maiman (guitar), and Sean Waugaman (drums). They gained prominence in 2014 with their hit single Shut Up and Dance, which earned them their first-ever Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit. In this blog post, we'll take a deep dive into the musical biography of Walk The Moon, exploring their roots, their influences, and their most famous albums and songs.

Walk The Moon formed in 2006 when Nicholas Petricca, fresh out of high school, began performing as a solo artist under the moniker of Walk The Moon. He played gigs around the Cincinnati area, and in 2008, he recruited guitarist Eli Maiman, bassist Kevin Ray, and drummer Nick Lerangis to expand the band's lineup. Their sound has been described as dance-rock, with the band's effusive energy and catchy hooks driving their music's upbeat vibe. They listed Talking Heads, David Bowie, and The Police as their main influences in creating their sound.

Walk The Moon's self-titled debut LP was released in 2012 and featured Anna Sun, which became a viral hit, leading to the band signing with RCA records. The album received critical acclaim, with many noting the band's tight, pulsing rhythms and Petricca's emotive vocals. From there, Walk The Moon toured extensively before starting work on their next project, Talking Is Hard, released in 2014. The album featured their biggest hit to date, Shut Up and Dance, which reached Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a global sensation. The song brings to life the joys and excitement of a night of flirting and dancing with someone special.

Walk The Moon's most recent album, What If Nothing, came out in 2017, featuring popular tracks such as One Foot and Tiger Teeth. The album's eclectic mixes and moving lyrics were a step beyond any of their previous LPs, with fans and critics alike praising the band's experimentation into broader genres.

One thing that Walk The Moon is known for is their spectacular live performances. The band prides itself on a high-energy, sing-along-worthy, and highly visual show that mixes in synths, choreography, and lots and lots of paint for their Painting Parties. Walk The Moon has made an indelible mark on the music scene and beyond, with their songs being used in commercials, movies, podcasts, and even the Academy Awards telecast.

Walk The Moon has grown beyond just being a pop-rock band into a valuable music phenomenon in recent times. Their signature style and musical diversity with influences ranging from new wave to post-punk have made them one of the most exciting bands to follow and listen to. Despite some management and creative challenges, the group has maintained its commitment to their vision, purpose, and identity. Their spike in popularity didn't change their direction in agonizing style, which is part of what makes them great. Walk The Moon's story is an excellent example not only of making fun, catchy music but demonstrating that taking the right kind of risks and staying true to what you want to do can be a recipe for success.