Home News Blitz 3

The Unexpected Journey: Where The Lumineers REALLY Came From And Their 2025 New Album Reveal

• minute read
Contents

The Lumineers, the quintessential American folk rock band known for anthems like "Ho Hey" and "Ophelia," have an origin story that is often misunderstood, featuring a surprising geographical shift that defined their sound and their success. While many fans associate them with the vibrant music scene of Denver, Colorado, the band’s true roots are firmly planted in the suburbs of New Jersey, where the founding members first connected over a shared tragedy and a love for music.

As of late 2024 and early 2025, the band is making headlines again with a new studio album, *Automatic*, and an extensive European and UK tour, proving their enduring influence in the alternative folk and Americana genres. Their journey from the East Coast to the Mile High City is a tale of financial necessity, creative rebirth, and the search for a place where their raw, stripped-down style could truly flourish. This dual origin is the key to understanding the heart of The Lumineers.

The Lumineers: Founding Members and Dual Origin Biography

The core of The Lumineers has always been the songwriting partnership between two childhood friends, Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites. Their bond, forged in their formative years, is the creative engine that drives the band’s signature sound.

  • Band Name: The Lumineers
  • Genre: Alternative Folk, Folk Rock, Americana
  • Founding Members: Wesley Schultz (Lead Vocals, Guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (Drums, Percussion)
  • Key Supporting Members (Current/Past): Stelth Ulvang (Piano, Mandolin), Byron Isaacs (Bass), and the former cellist Neyla Pekarek.
  • Official Formation Year: 2005
  • Original Hometown/Formation Location: Ramsey, New Jersey
  • Current Base/Breakthrough Location: Denver, Colorado
  • Studio Albums: 5 (*The Lumineers* (2012), *Cleopatra* (2016), *III* (2019), *Brightside* (2022), *Automatic* (2025))

The New Jersey Roots: Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites

The story of The Lumineers begins in Ramsey, New Jersey, where Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites grew up. Their musical collaboration started around 2005, following a devastating personal event: the death of Jeremiah’s older brother, Josh Fraites, from a drug overdose. Josh was a close friend of Schultz, and in the wake of the tragedy, music became a form of therapy and connection for the two young men.

For several years, the duo played gigs in and around New York City, including Brooklyn, struggling to gain traction in the competitive and expensive East Coast music scene.

Why The Lumineers Left New York for Denver, Colorado

The pivotal moment in The Lumineers’ history—the one that directly led to their global success—was a cross-country move from the New York area to Denver, Colorado, in 2008. This wasn't a strategic career move based on a thriving folk scene; it was a move born of financial necessity and a search for creative space.

The Cost of Living Crisis: Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites found themselves working multiple jobs just to afford rent in New York City, leaving virtually no time to focus on their music. As Schultz himself recalled, "He couldn't afford New York City anymore and Denver was cheap."

The Denver Opportunity: A couple of friends had already moved to Denver and offered the duo a house to rent for significantly less than what they were paying in Brooklyn. The move to the Mile High City provided the essential ingredient they lacked: time. In the less demanding environment of Denver, they were finally able to dedicate themselves fully to writing and performing their music.

The move also had a profound creative effect. The open-mic nights in Denver were instrumental in honing their raw, stripped-down folk-rock sound, which was a deliberate reaction against the over-produced music of the time. It was in Denver that they truly solidified their identity and began to attract the attention of the local music scene, which quickly led to broader recognition.

The Discography That Defined the Folk Revival

The band’s move to Denver set the stage for their breakthrough, and their discography chronicles their evolution from earnest folk troubadours to arena-filling rock stars. Their albums are central entities in the topical authority of the band.

The Breakthrough: The Lumineers (2012)

Their self-titled debut, *The Lumineers*, released in 2012, was an immediate commercial and critical success. It featured the global phenomenon "Ho Hey" and other key tracks like "Stubborn Love" and "Submarines." The album's raw, clap-along energy perfectly captured the spirit of the folk revival movement. The success of this album cemented Denver as their artistic home.

The Cinematic Follow-Up: Cleopatra (2016) and III (2019)

The second album, *Cleopatra*, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and showcased a more mature, narrative-driven songwriting style. The title track "Cleopatra" and the singles "Ophelia" and "Angela" became instant classics, further establishing their place in the genre.

Their third album, *III*, was a bold, conceptual departure. It was structured as a three-chapter narrative, focusing on a fictional family struggling with addiction and generational trauma. This album demonstrated their willingness to take artistic risks, featuring deep cuts like "Gloria" and "Life in the City."

The Modern Era: Brightside (2022) and Automatic (2025)

The *Brightside* album, released in 2022, was a return to a more spontaneous, electric sound, recorded quickly and with a renewed focus on energy. It featured the upbeat title track "Brightside."

The most current and exciting news for fans is the upcoming fifth studio album, *Automatic*, set for release on February 14, 2025. The lead single, "Same Old Song," released in late 2024, has already given listeners a taste of the band's latest musical direction. This new release and the accompanying 2025 European and UK tour confirm The Lumineers’ status as a major, active force in music.

The Lumineers’ Enduring Legacy and Topical Authority

The Lumineers’ success is a testament to the power of authentic, heartfelt songwriting. Their story—beginning in Ramsey, New Jersey, moving to Brooklyn, and finally thriving in Denver, Colorado—is a powerful narrative of perseverance.

By moving to the Mile High City, Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites found the financial stability and creative freedom they needed to perfect their style, which is often characterized by its stripped-down instrumentation, powerful gang vocals, and emotional lyrical depth. Their influence can be seen across the modern folk rock and Americana landscapes, inspiring countless other artists to embrace a simpler, more organic approach to music.

From the early days of playing open-mic nights in Denver to selling out major arenas worldwide, The Lumineers have built a legacy on songs that feel both intimate and universal. Their continued relevance, highlighted by the release of *Automatic* in 2025, ensures that their music—a sound born in New Jersey but raised in Colorado—will resonate for years to come.

where is the band lumineers from
where is the band lumineers from

Detail Author:

  • Name : Guy Hodkiewicz
  • Username : tlang
  • Email : kbosco@yahoo.com
  • Birthdate : 1981-12-26
  • Address : 625 Isai Forest Apt. 855 West Guadalupe, OK 68293-3293
  • Phone : +1 (812) 466-6237
  • Company : Kuhlman-Emard
  • Job : Philosophy and Religion Teacher
  • Bio : Blanditiis illum ut repellendus impedit ut quo enim. Quae error sequi nisi ab quos. Est tenetur tempora inventore quia et. Neque et consequuntur impedit nemo.

Socials

linkedin:

facebook:

Random Posts