Cults (band)

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Cults
Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion performing in 2014
Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion performing in 2014
Background information
OriginManhattan, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active2010–present
Labels
MembersBrian Oblivion
Madeline Follin
Websitecultscultscults.com

Cults is an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2010. The band first rose to prominence upon releasing their debut extended play, Cults 7" (2010), on their Bandcamp page.[1] They subsequently signed to English singer Lily Allen's record label In the Name Of, an imprint of Sony Music to release their eponymous debut album (2011). A song from the album, "Bad Things" was sampled by American rapper J. Cole for his 2013 single "She Knows", on which they were credited as featured artists.[2]

History[edit]

Madeline Follin performing in Munich in 2014

Cults formed in 2010 while guitarist Brian Oblivion (real name Ryan Mattos) and singer Madeline Follin, both from San Diego, were students in New York City.[3] Oblivion went to NYU to study documentary cinema, while Follin went to The New School.[1] Madeline had previously recorded with punk band Youth Gone Mad on the album, Touching Cloth. Cults released an EP on Forrest Family Records, Cults 7", with the track "Go Outside" recorded by Paul Kostabi at Thunderdome Studios,[4] and the album earned the title of "Best New Music" by Pitchfork Media.[5] They toured supporting the Richie Follin's Band with overlapping members for six months before signing to ITNO/Sony. Their song "Go Outside" had a video made for it which starred Emma Roberts and Dave Franco. Another video featured the band inter-cut with footage of Jim Jones and Jonestown.[6]

Their self-titled debut album, Cults, was released on June 7, 2011, by Columbia Records imprint In the Name Of run by Lily Allen.[7] The album received generally positive reviews,[8][9] and a second "Best New Music" from Pitchfork was earned for the track "Abducted".[10]

In 2011 Cults collaborated with the group Superhuman Happiness on a version of the track "Um Canto De Afoxé para o Bloco Do Ilê" for the Red Hot Organisation's most recent charity album Red Hot+Rio 2. The album is a follow-up to the 1996 Red Hot + Rio. Proceeds from sales were donated toward causes raising awareness of AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues. The band was chosen to perform at the ATP I'll Be Your Mirror festival curated by ATP & Portishead in September 2011 in Asbury Park, New Jersey,[11] and also by Battles to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that they co-curate in December 2011 in Minehead, England.[12]

In early 2012 Cults played the Australasian music festival Laneways. In an interview with 3news[13] they said people could expect a more "aggressive sound" with a lot of changes being made to songs as a five-piece band.

In an interview with the magazine Coup De Main,[14] Madeline Follin was quoted saying that "You Know What I Mean" is her favorite song on their self-titled debut album.

In 2013 they were featured alongside Amber Coffman on J. Cole's Born Sinner album which peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200. The song later peaked at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Brian Oblivion performing in Munich in 2014

Also in 2013, the band recorded their second album, Static, in the aftermath of the duo's breakup. Reviews were generally favorable while the song "I Can Hardly Make You Mine" was used in the 2013 reboot of Carrie

In 2016, Madeline Follin collaborated with her brother Richie James Follin for a side-chick called Follin. Their single "Roxy" was released online on February 23 of that year.

On October 6, 2017, the band released their third album, Offering.

In 2019 the song "You Know What I Mean" was featured as the outro to episode 6 of Netflix's Russian Doll.

On September 18, 2020, the band released their fourth album, Host.[15]

On August 17, 2021, the single "Always Forever" was certified gold by the RIAA and later was certified platinum on July 18, 2022.[16]

Band members[edit]

  • Brian Oblivion – vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion
  • Madeline Follin – vocals

Live members[edit]

  • Cory Stier - drums
  • Max Kamins - bass guitar
  • Nathan Aguilar – bass guitar (past)
  • Marc Deriso – drums
  • Richie Follin – guitar (past)
  • Gabriel Rodriguez – aux, guitar (past)
  • Loren Humphrey - drums

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

List of studio albums and with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[17]
CAN
LTU
[18]
UK
[19]
Cults 52 89 133
Static
  • Released: October 15, 2013
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, CD, vinyl
114
Offering
  • Released: October 6, 2017
  • Label: Sinderlyn
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, CD, vinyl, cassette
61
Host
  • Released: September 18, 2020
  • Label: Sinderlyn
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, CD, vinyl
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays[edit]

List of extended plays
Title Year
"Motels"
  • Released: September 7, 2018
  • Label: Sinderlyn
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
"Offering B-Sides & Remixes"
  • Released: November 19, 2018
  • Label: Sinderlyn
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
"Host B-Sides & Remixes"
  • Released: September 9, 2022
  • Label: Sinderlyn
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
Sales

[20]
"Um Canto De Afoxé Para O Bloco Do Ilê"
(with Superhuman Happiness)
2011 Non-album single
"Abducted" Cults
"Go Outside" 12
"You Know What I Mean" 63
"High Road" 2013 Static
"Being It" 2014 Non-album single
"Offering" 2017 Offering
"I Took Your Picture"
"Right Words"
"Motels"
"Spit You Out" 2020 Host
"Trials"
"No Risk"
"Monolithic"
"Bourgeois" 2021 Non-album singles
"Beach Ball"
"Make Time"
"Valentine" 2022
"Poodles Dancing"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

As featured artist[edit]

List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[21]
US
R&B
/HH

[22]
US
Rap

[23]
LTU
[24]
SCO
[25]
UK
[26]
UK
R&B

[27]
WW
[28]
"Bowl Cut"
(DoM featuring Madeline of Cults)
2011 Non-album single
"She Knows"
(J. Cole featuring Amber Coffman and Cults)
2013 90 24 11 47 77 68 10 175 Born Sinner
"Moonshine"
(Chewing featuring Cults)
2018 Pacific Ocean Blue
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other charted songs and certified songs[edit]

List of other charted songs, showing year charted, selected chart positions, and name of the album
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Bub.

[30]
US
Rock

[31]
CAN
[32]
LTU
[24]
NLD
Tip

[33]
NZ
Hot

[34]
UK
Indie

[35]
"Always Forever" 2013 Static
"Gilded Lily" 2017 12 14 81 49 16 35 9 Offering
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances[edit]

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Sail It Slow" 2010 Guards Guards

Production and songwriting credits[edit]

Title(s) Year(s) Artist(s) Credit(s)
"NDL Overture"
(featuring Niko Omilana & Miles Away)
2021 CTI Producers & Writers

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (March 8, 2010). "Rising: Cults". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  2. ^ "Cults — Pitchfork". Pitchfork. September 29, 2013.
  3. ^ Rowe, Sian (May 27, 2011). "Cults: loved by Lily, patronised by Perez, and now a hit with soccer moms". The Guardian. Retrieved August 4, 2023. Follin and Oblivion (not his real name, he was christened Ryan Mattos) met in San Diego two years ago when he was tour-managing Madeline's brother's band the Willowz.
  4. ^ "Thunderdome Studios Recording". Wix.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  5. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry. "The Playlist: Cults – "Go Outside"". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  6. ^ "Cults - Go Outside - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  7. ^ Breihan, Tom (April 4, 2011). "Cults Unveil New Album". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  8. ^ "Cults Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  9. ^ Tangari, Joe. "Album Reviews: Cults: Cults". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  10. ^ Kelly, Zach. "The Playlist: Cults – "Abducted"". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on August 27, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  11. ^ "ATP America presents I'll Be Your Mirror curated by Portishead & ATP – All Tomorrow's Parties". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  12. ^ "Nightmare Before Christmas curated by Battles/Caribou/Les Savy Fav - All Tomorrow's Parties". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  13. ^ "Interview with 3news.co.nz". 3news.co.nz. Retrieved January 16, 2012.[permanent dead link]Article is still available in the Newshub Archive, here.
  14. ^ "{is your friend} please read me. or I will eat you up & swallow you whole". Coup De Main Magazine. September 27, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  15. ^ "Cults: Host". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  16. ^ a b "American single certifications – Cults – Always Forever". Recording Industry Association of America.
  17. ^ Peaks on the Billboard 200:
  18. ^ Peaks in Lithuania albums chart:
  19. ^ Peaks on the UK albums chart:
  20. ^ "Cults Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  21. ^ Peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:
  22. ^ Peaks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart:
  23. ^ Peaks on the Hot Rap Songs chart:
  24. ^ a b
  25. ^ Peaks in Scotland:
  26. ^
  27. ^ Peak chart positions on UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart:
  28. ^ Peaks on the Billboard Global 200:
  29. ^ "BRIT Certified". BPI. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  30. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of November 26, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  31. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of January 28, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  32. ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of January 28, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  33. ^ "Dutch Single Tip 19/11/2022". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  34. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  35. ^ "Top 40 Independent Singles 18 November 2022 - 24 November 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  36. ^ a b "British certifications – Cults". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 24, 2023. Type Cults in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  37. ^ "American single certifications – Cults – Gilded Lily". Recording Industry Association of America.
  38. ^ "Canadian certifications – Cults". Music Canada. Retrieved January 24, 2024.

External links[edit]