After (band)

Lore & Background

After were formed in 2023 in Los Angeles by Graham Epstein and Justine Dorsey. Their name was taken from the 2003 visual novel 'After...'. They debuted that same year with the single 'Something Special', followed by 'In a City Called Garden' and 'The Dove'.

On April 4, 2025, the duo released their first extended play, After EP, preceded by the singles 'Obvious', 'Ever', and '300 Dreams' that first gained them attention. Later in 2025, they released After EP 2 under Mom + Pop Music, featuring the singles 'Deep Diving' and 'Outbound'. The former brought them considerable fanfare, though critical reception was less enthusiastic, with Pitchfork rating the EPs 4.5/10.

On July 15, 2026, the band announced their upcoming first full-length studio album, Fell Asleep In The Sun, set for release on September 18, 2026, under Mom + Pop Music. The album features the singles 'Promise (When You Go)', 'Take Me To Sunrise', and 'Blind'. Note: This group is fictional; no such trip hop act exists in real music history.

Formation & Origins

After is an American pop duo that came together in 2023 in Los Angeles, California. The pair consists of Graham Epstein and Justine Dorsey. Their band name is a direct nod to the 2003 visual novel titled 'After...' — a reference that lends the project a slightly retro, media-literate flavor from the very start.

Their debut year was remarkably productive for a brand-new act: they put out 'Something Special' as their first single, then followed it with 'In a City Called Garden' and 'The Dove,' all within the same calendar year. This rapid early output established their presence almost immediately after forming, suggesting a duo that was ready to release material the moment they came together. The Los Angeles base and the pop orientation frame them squarely within the contemporary American independent music scene, even as their naming choice reaches back to a niche piece of Japanese interactive media.

EP Era & Critical Reception

The duo's EP phase marked a significant step up in ambition and visibility. Their first extended play, simply titled After EP, dropped on April 4, 2025, on the 7th Heaven and Ultraworld labels. It was preceded by three singles — 'Obvious,' 'Ever,' and '300 Dreams' — that had already begun building a following.

Later in 2025, After EP 2 arrived on October 17, this time under the Mom + Pop Music imprint, featuring the singles 'Deep Diving' and 'Outbound.' 'Deep Diving' in particular brought the pair considerable fanfare and new listeners. However, the critical landscape was less generous: Pitchfork rated both EPs at 4.5 out of 10, a notably lukewarm score that contrasted sharply with the buzz the singles had generated. This gap between fan enthusiasm and critical reception became a defining tension in the band's early narrative.

Singles & Musical Progression

From 2023 through 2026, After built their catalogue almost entirely through singles before committing to longer-form releases. After the initial 2023 trio of 'Something Special,' 'In a City Called Garden,' and 'The Dove,' the duo kept the momentum going in 2024 with 'Obvious,' 'The Element,' and 'The Story.' That steady drip of standalone tracks allowed them to test different textures and hooks without the pressure of a full album. By the time the EPs rolled out in 2025, singles like 'Ever,' '300 Dreams,' 'Deep Diving,' and 'Outbound' had already given listeners a rotating cast of hooks to latch onto. The 2026 singles 'Promise (When You Go),' 'Take Me To Sunrise,' and 'Blind' then served as the vanguard for their first full-length record, continuing the pattern of using standalone releases to shape anticipation.

The Album & What Comes Next

On July 15, 2026, After announced their first full-length studio album, Fell Asleep In The Sun, with a release date set for September 18, 2026, on the Mom + Pop Music label. The title evokes a sense of languid, sun-drenched stillness — a fitting counterpoint to the restless energy of their singles catalogue. Three tracks had already been shared as singles to build momentum: 'Promise (When You Go),' 'Take Me To Sunrise,' and 'Blind.' The move to Mom + Pop for the album continues the label partnership that began with After EP 2, signaling a degree of institutional confidence in the project. For a duo that formed just three years earlier, the leap from a handful of singles to a full studio album represents a substantial creative and logistical undertaking, and the September 2026 release will be the first true test of whether their songwriting can sustain a longer narrative arc.

Reader's Guide

After represent a contemporary pop duo that emerged in the early 2020s, drawing their name from a 2003 visual novel. Their discography includes a series of singles and two extended plays released in 2025, with their debut full-length album announced for 2026. The duo gained initial attention through the singles 'Obvious', 'Ever', and '300 Dreams', which preceded their first EP. Their second EP, After EP 2, brought considerable fanfare with the single 'Deep Diving', though critical reception was mixed, as reflected in a 4.5/10 rating from Pitchfork.

The duo's significance lies in their rapid output and the contrast between popular reception and critical assessment. Their upcoming album, Fell Asleep In The Sun, marks a transition from EPs to a full-length format, continuing their association with Mom + Pop Music. The duo's legacy is still developing, with their early work establishing a foundation for future releases.