Formed in Cincinnati by singer/keyboardist Nicholas Petricca, WALK THE MOON built up a devoted following on the strength of their ecstatic live show and their undeniably infectious single “Anna Sun.” A relentless touring machine with an ever-snowballing family of fans, the band quickly graduated from Ohio club scene favorites to international stars. They hit the late-night TV circuit with performances on Letterman, Fallon, Conan, and Carson, played for massive crowds at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, and joined the likes of fun., Pink, Panic! At The Disco, and Fitz and the Tantrums on the road.

WALK THE MOON’s live show is not a spectator sport. Instead, it’s an interactive celebration of life and love, a communal commitment to joy and living in the moment. Onstage, Petricca leads audiences in a mass exorcism of the things that bring them down, casting out the demons of doubt and insecurity with hands raised to the sky.

Earlier this year, after six weeks of marathon writing sessions in Ohio, the band relocated to North Hollywood, where they entered the studio with producer Tim Pagnotta (Neon Trees, Tokyo Police Club). What followed was more than two solid months of recording, the band eager to reach new heights with the album’s production.

The results speak for themselves. Lead single, “Shut Up And Dance” stands as the catchiest song the band’s ever written. An ode to freeing yourself from the shackles of self-consciousness and embracing the present, it’s already a live favorite, with a sing-along chorus that works audiences up into a frenzy.

“We’re venturing into unmarked regions of the map with these songs,” says guitarist Eli Maiman, “but we’re leaving breadcrumbs along the way so people can follow us.”

“What we’ve ended up with is a bunch of really committed, confident shouts into the darkness,” says Petricca of the new album.

As more and more of the songs make their live debut, WALK THE MOON is finding that the darkness is full of eager fans and new listeners, all shouting back and singing along until the lights come up.