The Walters

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The Walters

about the artist

When it comes to the story of THE WALTERS, it's easier to start at the present: The Chicago-formed, LA-based indie-rock quartet are finally releasing their first-ever LP, GOOD COMPANY, on March 28, 2025 — more than a decade after forming at a DePaul University house party in 2014. In that time, they've seen the very first song they ever wrote, the breezy "I Love You So," become a viral sensation, netting over 2 billion streams and 10 billion TikTok views around the world. They've broken up, reunited, signed to a major label, and gone independent once again.

Indeed, the path…

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When it comes to the story of THE WALTERS, it's easier to start at the present: The Chicago-formed, LA-based indie-rock quartet are finally releasing their first-ever LP, GOOD COMPANY, on March 28, 2025 — more than a decade after forming at a DePaul University house party in 2014. In that time, they've seen the very first song they ever wrote, the breezy "I Love You So," become a viral sensation, netting over 2 billion streams and 10 billion TikTok views around the world. They've broken up, reunited, signed to a major label, and gone independent once again.

Indeed, the path the band — singer/guitarist Luke Olson, guitarist Walter Kosner, bassist Danny Wells and drummer Charlie Ekhaus — has traveled is far from linear, full of twists and U-turns that would be head-spinning enough to dissuade most artists from soldiering on. But despite these ups and downs, The Walters maintain the road to here has only made them stronger.

While the early and immediate success of "I Love You So," included on their debut EP, Songs For Dads, saw the band rapidly ascend from Midwest locals to international buzz band, this early success — coupled with the resulting rigors of a grueling tour schedule and internal strife — came with a price for the group. Less than a month after what should have been the crowning jewel of their career, a triumphant set at their hometown Lollapalooza in 2017, the band called it quits.

"There was just a lot of immaturity and failure on our part to realize we were on the up and up, that things were really successful," Olson says. "We just fell apart."

But a funny thing happened while The Walters were away: Their legend grew, with songs like "I Love You So" and the 120 million-streamer Young Men EP finding a new life thanks to social media. Their global fanbase (including the legendary John C. Reilly, who's professed his love for the band) continued to swell, captivated by the band's timeless melodies, thumping rhythm section and poignant lyrics. By 2021, with bridges mended and inspiration calling again, The Walters were back together, their reunion heralded with glee by Variety and Billboard.

It's this sort of lasting resonance, the ability to impact listeners without being actively present, that speaks to the authenticity that's baked into their music. The band delivers that same spirit in spades on Good Company, sidestepping the chase for accolades or awards in favor of letting their truest selves shine through. The album offers a seemingly effortless blend of classic sounds and contemporary production, a genre- (and generational-) spanning set of songs that speak to audiences of all ages with its poise and maturity — whether The Walters are soundtracking sun-kissed sock-hops ("Tell Me"), dialing in reverb-drenched '60s-style goodness ("Broken Hearts and Memories"), pounding through Billy Joel-inspired piano jaunts ("Life On The Line"), spinning life-affirming balladry ("TV," with its slide guitar sharply cutting through a bed of ambient, dreamlike haze) or wistfully wishing for a reprieve from the rigors of life ("Ole Years").

Featuring songs produced by Ekhaus, Wells, Doug Schadt (Maggie Rogers, SHAED) and Gabe Goodman (Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Del Water Gap), the TK-track album showcases the musical escapism and melting-pot style the band has honed over time: layers of stacked harmonies inspired by vocal groups like The Beach Boys and The Four Tops; the richly textured, progressive-pop charm pioneered by Pet Sounds; the quiet, contemplative lyricism of folk legends like Neil Young; the swagger of more modern acts like Dr. Dog and The Strokes.

It all combines to create the most collaborative, both inwardly and externally, set the band has ever released. The years apart, along with their comeback EP, 2022's aptly named Try Again (Warner), taught The Walters a great many things, and embedded in these songs is a renewed sense of trust, honesty, and musical freedom — powerful weapons when placed alongside the sonic depth and warmth that make Good Company so immediately captivating and comforting.

"There's definitely no way we could have made this record even a year or two ago," Kosner says. "We needed to go through this process to be able to finally get to a place where we can just make the best music we can." Adds Olson: "We're in a much healthier place, and the creativity is really flowing. Some of my favorite songs on the album are ones the other guys wrote. I just love singing them, and to be in that space is incredibly exciting."

Now, with the second act of their career unfolding in real time, The Walters are approaching the road ahead with a renewed sense of purpose, gratitude and optimism. They've seen the other side, having emerged with the understanding that they're better, stronger, more satisfied when they're together — much like the mantra they espouse on the album's twinkling title track, a search to make sense in an upside-down world, ultimately finding peace in the universality and camaraderie of the shared human experience.

"It has not been an easy or straightforward journey for us at all," Olson says with a laugh. "It feels like we've come so far in one sense, but also that there's a lot more work to do to get where we want to be. Thankfully, we finally believe we're in a place as a band where we can do that."

• • •

SHORT BIO

When it comes to THE WALTERS, it's easier to start at the present: The Chicago-formed, LA-based indie-rock quartet are finally releasing their debut LP, GOOD COMPANY, more than a decade after forming at a DePaul University house party in 2014. In that time, they've seen the first song they ever wrote, "I Love You So," become a viral sensation, netting 2 billion streams and 10 billion TikTok views. They've played a triumphant set at their hometown Lollapalooza, broken up, reunited, signed to a major label, and gone independent again.

All these experiences combine on Good Company to create a swirl of musical escapism: layers of harmonies inspired by vocal groups like The Beach Boys and The Four Tops; the richly textured, progressive-pop charm pioneered by Pet Sounds; the quiet, contemplative lyricism of folk legends like Neil Young; the swagger of more modern acts like Dr. Dog and The Strokes. It's a a genre- (and generational-) spanning set that speaks to audiences with poise and maturity, whether the band is soundtracking sun-kissed sock-hops ("Tell Me"), dialing in reverb-drenched '60s goodness ("Broken Hearts and Memories"), pounding through Billy Joel-inspired piano jaunts ("Life On The Line") or wistfully wishing for a reprieve from the rigors of modern life ("Ole Years"). Embedded in them all is a renewed sense of trust, honesty, and musical freedom — powerful weapons when placed alongside the sonic warmth that makes The Walters so immediately captivating and comforting.

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