The Unlikely Candidates

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = The Unlikely Candidates

| image =

| image_size =

| landscape = yes

| alt =

| caption =

| alias =

| origin = Fort Worth, Texas, United States

| genre = {{hlist|Indie rock|indie pop|pop rock|alternative rock|rock}}

| years_active = {{start date|2008}}–present

| label = Another Century,{{cite web|title=The Losers Sign With Another Century|url=https://www.anothercentury.com/unlikely-candidates-sign-another-century/|publisher=Another Century Records|date=October 7, 2016|access-date=February 15, 2017}} Atlantic

| associated_acts = Dirty Heads

| website = {{URL| https://linktree.com/TheUnlikelyCandidates}}

| current_members = Kyle Morris
Cole Male
Brenton Carney
Jared Hornbeek

| past_members = Josiah Maughan
Kevin Goddard

}}

The Unlikely Candidates are an American indie rock band from Fort Worth, Texas, formed in 2008.{{cite web|last=Mariani|first=Anthony|title=Atlantic Records Signs The Unlikely Candidates|date=12 April 2013|url=http://www.fwweekly.com/2013/04/12/atlantic-records-signs-the-unlikely-candidates/|publisher=Fort Worth Weekly|access-date=October 2, 2013}} The band consists of lead vocalist Kyle Morris, lead guitarist Brenton Carney, guitarist Cole Male, and bassist Jared Hornbeek. Their song "Novocaine" topped the Alternative Songs chart and has received over 66 million streams and video views as of July 2021. They were signed with Atlantic Records as of 2013, but switched to Another Century, a smaller label, in October 2016.{{Cite web|last=Calimbahin|first=Samantha|date=2017-02-22|title=Why The Unlikely Candidates Haven't Made an Album...Yet|url=https://fwtx.com/api/content/05004dca-af7e-54cb-92ac-f8118223b123/|access-date=2020-10-14|website=Fort Worth Magazine|language=en-us}}

Career

= Early years and ''Follow My Feet'' (2008–2016) =

The band was formed initially in 2008 by childhood friends Kyle Morris and Cole Male.{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=The Southern Cafe & Music|title=The Unlikely Candidates {{!}} The Southern Cafe & Music Hall|url=http://www.thesoutherncville.com/events/detail/the-unlikely-candidates|access-date=2021-05-30|website=www.thesoutherncville.com|language=en}} After uniting in high school, the band immediately separated themselves from the typical musical traditions associated with Texas, and turned up with an alternative style of their own. However it wasn't until 2013 when they released their first music.

In April 2013, they released their debut single, "Follow My Feet." On September 30, 2013, they released their debut EP, also called Follow My Feet.

In March 2016, the band released an instrumental version of the EP. The cover art is the same as the original with inverted colors.{{Citation|title=Follow My Feet (Instrumentals) - EP|date=3 March 2016|url=https://us.napster.com/artist/the-unlikely-candidates/album/follow-my-feet-instrumentals-ep|language=en-US|access-date=2021-02-14}}

= ''Bed of Liars'' and ''Danger to Myself'' (2016–2018) =

Since the release of Follow My Feet, the band have released two more extended plays that feature a departure from the sound of Follow My Feet in 2017: Bed of Liars, which was released in February, and Danger to Myself, released in October. "Your Love Could Start a War" (Bed of Liars EP) was released in February 2016, and now has over 15 million worldwide streams. The song was their biggest success since "Follow My Feet" and made an appearance on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Shortly after the band switched record labels in October 2016, they released the song "Ringer." The EP Bed of Liars was released on February 17, 2017. A music video for "Ringer" was released on April 7, 2017, which is composed of different clips sent in from fans of the band around the world. The music video for "Violence" was released in July 2017.

According to Kyle Morris, songs like Ringer and Reaction were written in [guitarist Brenton Carney’s] house after being told that the band needed to write songs or else they might have gotten dropped from the label. The band spent a couple of weeks in California, and were partially influenced from West Coast-style rap while working on Bed of Liars.{{Cite web|date=2017-07-07|title=The Unlikely Candidates Are Set for Success - C&I Magazine|url=https://www.cowboysindians.com/2017/07/the-unlikely-candidates-are-set-for-success/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=Cowboys and Indians Magazine|language=en-US}} The band has logged countless miles on the road alongside artists such as Young the Giant, the Dirty Heads, Fall Out Boy, and Brick + Mortar.

The band's next EP, Danger to Myself, was released on October 27, 2017. It includes the song "Celebrate," an alternate version of a song by the Dirty Heads. The EP was re-released on January 12, 2018 to include a new song, "Oh My Dear Lord." This song eventually became another one of the band's notable hits and has over 13 million worldwide streams. A music video was released for the song in March 2018. Kyle Morris has said that the EP was primarily influenced from life on the road, and his experiences while touring in a band.{{Cite web|last=Pernett|first=Gisselle|date=February 22, 2019|title=The Unlikely Candidates Map Out New 'Strange Lines' Tour with The Brevet|url=https://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/the-unlikely-candidates-band-tour-dates-the-brevet/}}

= ''Panther Island'' (2018–present) =

On August 17, 2018, they released the single "Best I Ever Had," which was followed by "Bells" on October 12, 2018. The song has been described as "dark-yet-catchy."{{Cite web|date=2018-10-15|title=The Unlikely Candidates release dark yet catchy new single "Bells"|url=https://substreammagazine.com/2018/10/unlikely-candidates-bells-single-2018/|access-date=2021-05-30|website=Substream Magazine|language=en-US}} They released the single "Strange Love" in February 2019. In March 2019, they released their breakout single "Novocaine", which quickly gained popularity, and is currently the band's biggest hit. On March 14, 2020, it reached #1 on the Alternative Songs chart.{{Cite magazine|title=The Unlikely Candidates Earn First Alternative Songs No. 1 With 'Novocaine'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9333018/the-unlikely-candidates-alternative-songs-number-1-novocaine|access-date=2021-02-14|magazine=Billboard|date=11 March 2020|language=en}} On the song, the band shared, “it’s sort of the celebration and lamentation of being a slacker. I think we all have that voice that wants to be lazy and avoid responsibility a little longer. So it’s about being okay with it and that lifestyle somewhat.”{{Cite web|date=2020-03-03|title=[Q&A] The Unlikely Candidates Dominate the Alternative Charts with "Novocaine"|url=https://thehiddenhits.com/2020/03/03/the-unlikely-candidates-novocaine-interview/|access-date=2021-05-30|website=The Hidden Hits|language=en}} In later 2019 the band went on the Strange Lines tour with Brick + Mortar and the Brevet. The tour was named after what would have been the band's first studio album, due in Fall 2019, but the album ended up being scrapped.

A year later on April 16, 2020, they released a song called "Invincible." On May 29, 2020, the band released a new single titled "High Low". Frontman Kyle Morris said the song "is about isolation, loneliness, and longing for human connection". They released the music video for the song on October 7, 2020. On June 25, 2021, the band released another single called "Gemini".

In March 2022, it was officially announced that the band's debut studio album Panther Island would be released on May 20, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/tucband/status/1504152441310359557|title=Here's the big reveal PANTHER ISLAND will be out 5/20. It took us 9 years to get an album out and I just want to thank all of you for sticking around|website=Twitter.com|access-date=May 9, 2022}} A promotional single from the album, "Sunshine", was released on March 18, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/tucband/status/1499877285402394625 |title=The time has come. Our full length LP drops 5/20. "Sunshine" out 3/18, pre-save link coming soon!|website=Twitter.com|access-date=May 9, 2022}} The second promotional single from the album, "How I Am", was released on April 22, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/tucband/status/1517368406290354177|title=HOW I AM 🖤 out now Stream it, tell your friends, repost it in your story if you dig it |website=Twitter.com|access-date=May 9, 2022}} On Christmas Day 2022 they released a music video for their song "Grenadine".

On December 9, 2024, drummer Kevin Goddard announced that he would be leaving the band to focus on his mental health and his family.

On March 14, 2025, they released a new single called "Fingers Crossed", with a music video released on March 31.

Influences

Morris once said that the band is usually influenced from bands that normally don't stick to one particular sound, like the Beatles or Blur. Their style of songwriting has been described as "grandiose, yet garage band-like."{{Cite web|url=https://bandwagmag.com/2019/02/the-unlikely-candidates-kyle-morris-on-seeking-the-unexpected/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=bandwagmag.com|title=The Unlikely Candidates: Kyle Morris on Seeking the Unexpected|date=24 February 2019}} The band is also notable for straying from music styles typically associated with Texas, such as country music.

Members

Kyle Morris: lead vocals
Brenton Carney: lead guitar
Cole Male: backing guitar
Jared Hornbeek: bass

= Former members =

Josiah Maughan: bass
Kevin Goddard: drums/percussion

Discography

=Albums=

Panther Island (2022)

=Extended plays=

Follow My Feet (2013){{cite web|title=An Unlikely Hit|date=17 April 2013|url=http://www.fwweekly.com/2013/04/17/an-unlikely-hit/|publisher=Fort Worth Weekly|access-date=2 October 2013}}
Bed of Liars (2017){{cite web|title=The Unlikely Candidates Count The Minutes Until 'Bed Of Liars' EP|url=https://www.anothercentury.com/unlikely-candidates-count-minutes-bed-liars-ep/|publisher=Another Century Records|date=January 9, 2017|access-date=February 15, 2017}}
Danger to Myself (2017){{cite web|title=The Unlikely Candidates Danger To Myself' EP|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/danger-to-myself-ep/id1298115664|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029012418/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/danger-to-myself-ep/id1298115664|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 29, 2017|publisher=RED Music|date=October 27, 2017|access-date=October 27, 2017}}

=Singles=

==As lead artist==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

! colspan="4" scope="col" | Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%;" | US
AAA
{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-unlikely-candidates/chart-history/aaa/|title=The Unlikely Candidates Chart History - Adult Alternative Songs |access-date=February 12, 2020}}

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%;" | US
Alt.
{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-unlikely-candidates/chart-history/mrt/|title=The Unlikely Candidates Chart History - Alternative Songs |access-date=February 4, 2020}}

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-songs/2020-03-07|title=Alternative Songs: March 7, 2020|magazine=Billboard|date=2 January 2013|access-date=March 3, 2020}}

! scope="col" style="width:4.5em;font-size:85%;" | Mediabase Alt.

! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%;" | US
Rock
{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-unlikely-candidates/chart-history/ark/|title=The Unlikely Candidates Chart History - Hot Rock Songs |access-date=February 18, 2020}}

scope="row" |"Follow My Feet"

| rowspan="2"| 2013

| 6

| 35

| —{{efn-ua|"Follow My Feet" did not chart on the Rock Songs chart but did peak at number 34 on the Rock Airplay chart.{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-unlikely-candidates/chart-history/rka/|title=The Unlikely Candidates Chart History - Rock Airplay |access-date=February 12, 2020}}}}

| rowspan="2" | Follow My Feet EP

"Howl"

|—

|85

|—

scope="row" |"Your Love Could Start A War"

| rowspan="2"| 2016

| —

| 36

| —{{efn-ua|"Your Love Could Start a War" did not chart on the Rock Songs chart but did peak at number 50 on the Rock Airplay chart.}}

| rowspan="3" | Bed Of Liars EP

scope="row" |"Ringer"

| —

| 38

| 29

| —

"Violence"

|2017

|—

scope="row" |"Oh My Dear Lord"

| rowspan="3" | 2018

| —

| 50

| —

|Danger To Myself EP

"Best I Ever Had"

|—

| rowspan="3" {{Non-album singles}}

"Bells"

|—

"Strange Love"

| rowspan="2" |2019

|—

scope="row" |"Novocaine"

| 37

| 1

| 5

| Panther Island

"Invincible"

| rowspan="2" |2020

|—

| {{Non-album single}}

scope="row" |"High Low"{{cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2020/5/29/the-unlikely-candidates-premiere-new-single-high-low.html|title=The Unlikely Candidates premiere new single "High Low"|website=ABC News Radio|last=Johnson|first=Josh|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=June 11, 2020}}

| —

| 19

| 16

| —

| rowspan="4" | Panther Island

scope="row" |"Gemini"

| 2021

| —

| 48

| —

scope="row" |"Sunshine"

| rowspan="2"| 2022

| —

scope="row" |"How I Am"

| —

"Fingers Crossed"

|2025

|—

|{{TBA}}

colspan="6" |"—" denotes a single that did not chart

==As featured artist==

scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"\| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"\| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Album
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%;" \| US Alt. ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:85%;" \| US Rock
scope="row" \|"Celebrate" (Dirty Heads featuring the Unlikely Candidates) \| 2017 \| 12 \| 31 \| Swim Team
scope="row" \|"NeverEnding Nightmare" {{small\|(Chad Tepper featuring the Unlikely Candidates)}} \| 2022 \| — \| — \| {{N/A\|Non-album single}}
colspan="5" style="font-size:85%" \| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

==Notes==

References

Category:Indie rock musical groups from Texas

Category:Musical groups established in 2008

Category:2008 establishments in Texas

Category:Another Century Records artists

Category:Musical quintets from Texas

Category:Atlantic Records artists