The band’s lack of pretension is as refreshing as it is uncommon, their self-assuredness a most likely side effect of the years they’ve spent playing together. “We met when we were teenagers,” explains Allen of fellow bandmate Andrew Gomez. “We’ve stuck with each other ever since.” The decade long friendship not only earned them their moniker, but—through practice and experimentation—aided in the cultivation of a pop group that masters the genre.

Their upcoming record—brimming with buoyant melodies and standout hooks—is a playful demonstration of everything pop. The self-titled debut pays homage to their R&B and alternative rock influencers while maintaining an attitude all its own. “This record is a byproduct of our daily lives,” explains Allen. “It’s therapeutic to write what you feel in the moment, whether you’re sad, or you’re in love, or you just don’t care. We aren’t curated, we just write what we feel.”