A Number Of Names

A Number of Names came together in Los Angeles in the late 2000s, with Alex Dezen handling vocals and guitar. Their sound pulled from post-punk and shoegaze, with some ambient electronic touches mixed in. They put out a debut EP called 'People Who Used to Live Here' that got some positive attention, but it was their second album, 'Gemini,' that really connected. The single 'Shari Vari' from that record became their breakout track.

After 'Gemini,' the band kept releasing albums like 'Viviparous' in 2011, 'Dark Matter' in 2014, and 'Everywhere I Go' in 2016. Their lineup shifted over time, with Nicholas Thornbury on bass, Matthew Joyce on drums, and Jessica Dobson on keyboards at one point. Dezen's lyrics tended to be introspective and sometimes cryptic, which drew some criticism for being too opaque.

Their music was often described as atmospheric, with layered textures and melodic hooks. They've been mentioned as an influence by other indie acts, though the specifics beyond that are pretty thin. They were active through the 2010s, putting out records that found an audience without becoming a mainstream fixture.