I Dont Know How But They Found Me (stylized inall caps), often shortened toIDKHow (stylized asiDKHOW),[2] is an Americanindie pop solo project based inSalt Lake City, Utah, fronted by singer-songwriterDallon Weekes. It was originally formed as a duo in 2016 consisting of Weekes and drummerRyan Seaman, a former member of Weekes' previous project The Brobecks, until the latter's departure in 2023.[3]
Formed in secrecy, Weekes and Seaman denied the band's existence before promoting their debut EP1981 Extended Play, released in 2018. The duo was described as "the hottest unsigned band in the world" on the cover ofRock Sound in March 2018,[4][5] before signing withFearless Records. The band released their debut studio albumRazzmatazz in 2020. After Seaman's departure in 2023, the band continued as the solo project of Weekes and their second studio albumGloom Division was released the following year.
Prior to the formation of the band, Dallon Weekes and Ryan Seaman were longtime friends who had worked together in the past. Seaman joined Weekes' former band The Brobecks in 2008 and played drums for Weekes' solo projects, including the songs "Sickly Sweet Holidays" and "Please Don't Jump (It's Christmas)."[6][7][8]
Initially a solo act, Weekes had been writing and recording songs for several years while on the road withPanic! at the Disco.[9][10] Seaman performed drums on these songs, which eventually became their debut EP1981 Extended Play, and Weekes proposed that they present themselves as a duo.[11]
The "I Dont Know How But They Found Me" moniker and project idea has existed since 2009.[12] Uniquely, the punctuation of the band name is intentionally incorrect, with no apostrophe in "don't" and no comma after "how." Weekes credited it to his time in Panic! at the Disco, stating that in the band, "punctuation was a big deal, so I just wanted to take the opposite approach and get rid of it all."[13] The band's name was inspired by a quote from the movieBack to the Future.[14]
Weekes and Seaman began secretly performing in small venues from late 2016 to mid-2017. They debuted at Emo Nite Los Angeles's 2-year anniversary event on December 6, 2016.[15] After the show, different sources wrote about a "new side project" by Weekes and Seaman and confirmed the band name.[16][17] Even when confronted with photos and videos taken at the shows, Weekes and Seaman denied the projects existence for months.[18] Weekes later stated that they did not want to exploit his and Seaman's name recognition and association with the well-known bands they played in.[19] Seaman would depart his bandFalling in Reverse in May 2017, followed by Weekes leaving Panic! at the Disco in December.[20]
I Dont Know How But They Found Me performing in June 2018; Dallon Weekes (left) and Ryan Seaman (right)
The duo teased the release of their first song "Modern Day Cain" one day prior with a post on their Instagram account.[21] On August 18, 2017, the full song was self-released on iTunes and Spotify, and followed up with a music video on the same day.[22][23] The single reached number 8 of the Top 10 Alternative Music Charts on iTunes on the day of release.[24] The duo's second single "Choke" was released on October 26, 2017.[25] It was again self-published and accompanied by a lyric video.[26] The single peaked at number 7 of the iTunes Top 100 Alternative Music Charts. The band went on a few short tours between July and December 2017, playing shows in Utah, California, and other neighboring states, as well as one show in New York. They also performed as the opening act forThe Aquabats[27] andDashboard Confessional.[28] On March 14, 2018, they released the song "Nobody Likes The Opening Band" as a free download on their website accompanied with a music video.[29] On March 28, it was announced that the band would perform at theReading and Leeds Festivals.[30]
On August 24, the duo re-released "Choke" alongside a new song titled "Do It All The Time" as adouble A-side single viaFearless Records.[2] In October, the duo announced their debut EP titled1981 Extended Play, with a release date of November 9.[31] Later that month, they released a single from the EP titled "Bleed Magic".[32] Upon its release, the EP topped the USBillboard Heatseekers chart.[33] In March, 2019, the duo announced "Night Heat", a headlining tour consisting of 17 stops across North America as well as music festivals from April 28 to May 18 with the band Superet supporting headlining dates.[34]
On April 26, 2019, the duo released the single "Choke (Acoustic)" which features a cabaret style version of their hit single.[35] The band also released aChristmas EP titledChristmas Drag on November 15, 2019, which includes a cover of "Merry Christmas Everybody". This was followed by three music videos, one for each song on the EP.
On August 5, 2020, IDKHow released a lyric video for the single "Leave Me Alone" and announced the coming release of their debut album,Razzmatazz.[36] On September 16, the title track "Razzmatazz" was released, along with a lyric video.[37] On October 2, "New Invention" and an accompanying lyric video were released.[38] The album was released on October 23, 2020.
The duo made several television appearances the following year, including their television debut onJimmy Kimmel Live! on January 25,[39] a performance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show on February 23,[40] andCBS This Morning's Saturday Sessions.[41][42][43] They also released a cover of theBeck song "Debra" alongside theEllen performance, and later released a new single called "Mx. Sinister" which had previously performed live under the title "Mr. Sinister."[44][45]
IDKHow performed their first non-televised live show since the start of theCovid-19 pandemic at Utah'sFork Fest in June, which was followed by four headlining dates in the UK in August. These included sold-out shows at Glasgow'sSWG3 and London'sKentish Town Forum as well as a set on the Main Stage of theReading and Leeds Festivals. The band then announced the Razzmatazzmatour, which ran from November 2 – November 20, 2021, as well as the Thought Reform Tour, which ran from January 18 – February 26, 2022.[46] A remix of "New Invention" featuringTessa Violet was released on November 5, 2021[47] and preceded the release of a deluxe version ofRazzmatazz. This version included seven additional tracks, including a cover ofthe Cure song "Boys Don't Cry", a demo version of "From the Gallows", live renditions of "Sugar Pills" and "Leave Me Alone" and the previously released remix of "New Invention".[48]
On May 31, 2022, the band announced The Welcome to Hellvetica Tour, a North American co-headlining tour withJoywave.[49]
On September 16, 2023, Weekes announced the band's signing toConcord Records, as well as the departure ofRyan Seaman after "a series of broken trusts," leaving Weekes as the sole member of the project.[3] On October 5, 2023, IDKHow released a new single titled "What Love?" and its accompanying music video,[50] and announced their sophomore album,Gloom Division, to be released February 23, 2024.[51] The band also announced that they would be performing a holiday-themed hometown show later that year[52] alongside an international Gloomtown Tour announcement to support the new album in 2024.[53][54] On December 7, 2023, a second single was released, titled "Gloomtown Brats".[55] On January 11, 2024, a third single titled "Infatuation" was released, as well as its music video.[56]
Gloom Division was officially fully released on February 23, 2024, with "Downside" as the fourth single.
Around the time of its inception, the band described itself as "...a band out of time. One who faded away into obscurity after struggling to find success in the late 70's and early 80's".[51] The music, appearance, and social media presence of the group were strongly influenced by the style of the 1980s, and Weekes has stated that he draws inspiration from the pop culture of the time.[65]
^"Beyond The Stage Magazine – January 2018".Issuu. p. 41.Archived from the original on 2019-05-28. Retrieved2018-02-11.The band debuted at Emo Nite Los Angeles's 2-year anniversary party without much notice or information.
^"Dallon Weekes talks IDKHBTFM and addresses the Panic! At The Disco animosity rumors".Altpress.com. 2017-09-25.Archived from the original on 2018-05-12. Retrieved2018-02-11.Their long-awaited official first single, "Modern Day Cain," was released last month and rose up to No. 8 on the iTunes Alt Rock chart within just a few hours of release, beating out heavyweights Imagine Dragons and Fall Out Boy.
^"Amped! Music Magazine".Ampedzine.com. Archived fromthe original on 2018-08-28. Retrieved2018-02-11.'Choke' was released at midnight on October 26th and has since reached number 10 on the alternative charts...
^"Beyond The Stage Magazine – January 2018".Issuu. p. 42.Archived from the original on 2019-05-28. Retrieved2018-02-11.Think classic 70s Bowie, Oingo Boingo and Elvis Costello, all of which Weekes sighted as big influences while making the record.
