Oh Wonder Explained

Background:group_or_band
Oh Wonder
Origin:London, United Kingdom
Years Active:2014–present
Current Members:
  • Josephine Vander West
  • Anthony Vander West

Oh Wonder are an English, London-based alt-pop duo consisting of Anthony Vander West (né West) and Josephine Vander West (née Vander Gucht). Since releasing their debut album, they have seen international success with their alt-pop singles. Oh Wonder recorded and released one song a month for a year, starting in September 2014.[1] All of the songs were released together as a self-titled debut album on 4 September 2015.[2] On 14 July 2017, the duo released their second album, Ultralife. On 12 February 2020, they released their third album, No One Else Can Wear Your Crown. On 8 October 2021, the now-married duo released their fourth studio album, 22 Break. All four albums were written, recorded, produced, and mixed by the duo and have seen cross-platform success.

The band played sold-out shows in London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles one week after their debut album release, which marked the beginning of their touring career. They have since played multiple headline shows and festivals in numerous countries.[3]

History

Formation and early years

Before Oh Wonder was formed, Josephine was a solo artist, first going by her own name and later under the alias LAYLA. Anthony was originally part of the groups Tonight Is Goodbye, Futures, and We the Wild.[4] The two first met in High Wycombe on 21 March 2010, when Anthony was in the audience at one of Josephine's solo gigs. A year later, she attended one of his shows, talked with him, and they began writing songs and making music together.

The duo released their first two songs under the name Wonder Wonder but changed it to Oh Wonder when they learned of another band with a similar name.[5]

2014–2016: Oh Wonder

See main article: Oh Wonder (album).

Oh Wonder had an unorthodox approach to releasing their eponymous debut album, Oh Wonder. Over the course of a year, the duo released one new single each month, beginning 1 September 2014,[6] having written, produced, and mixed each song in their home studio in London.[7] These monthly installations culminated in the 2015 release of that first album, which also included two previously unreleased songs. The record reached number 26 on the UK Albums Chart, number 16 on the Canadian Albums Chart,[8] and number 80 on the US Billboard 200.[9] [10]

Oh Wonder gave their debut live performance for BBC Radio 1 at Maida Vale Studios, after receiving avid support from BBC Introducing and DJs Huw Stephens and Greg James.[11] The band's first TV performance was on Conan, which aired in the US on 20 January 2016. They performed their single "Lose It".[12]

Since their debut album release, Oh Wonder has toured internationally in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Russia, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Their performance in Manila was their first show in Asia.[13] They also toured as the opening act on the final installment of the Badlands Tour with Halsey from 21 July to 12 August 2016.[14] Their 2016 debut festival appearances included Bonnaroo,[15] Firefly,[16] and Lollapalooza[17] music festivals in the United States, in addition to Live Out in Monterrey, WayHome Festival in Oro-Medonte, Canada, and Electric Picnic in Stradbally, Ireland.[18]

2016–2018: Ultralife

See main article: Ultralife (album).

On 30 March 2017, Oh Wonder announced that they'd finished their second studio album, to be titled Ultralife. The record's lead track, "Ultralife", was released the day after. As with their previous album, the group released new singles every two weeks in the run-up to the album's publication.

The duo embarked on the Ultralife World Tour in 2017, which saw them play a long run of headline shows in 34 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. They also played three shows with Beck on his 2018 North America Tour.[19]

2019–2020: No One Else Can Wear Your Crown and Home Tapes

See main article: articles and No One Else Can Wear Your Crown.

On 5 September 2019, Oh Wonder released "Hallelujah", the first single from their upcoming album, followed by "Better Now" on 25 October and "I Wish I Never Met You" on 14 November. The same day, they announced via Twitter that the album, titled No One Else Can Wear Your Crown,[20] would be released on 7 November. This was followed by the singles "This Christmas", "Happy", and "In and Out of Love". As part of the press coverage around their third album, Josephine and Anthony revealed they were in a relationship and had been for the past seven years.[21]

The pair were to embark on a tour to support No One Else Can Wear Your Crown throughout Europe and North America in March 2020; however, the latter part of the tour, including the entirety of the North American segment, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]

Whilst subject to the 2020 UK "stay at home" restrictions related to the novel coronavirus, Oh Wonder released a series of new tracks on an EP titled Home Tapes.[23] [24] [25]

2021–2022: 22 Break and 22 Make

On 22 September 2021, Oh Wonder announced their fourth studio album, 22 Break, and released the title track. Described by the duo as "maybe the first break-up album in history written and recorded with the person you're breaking up with", the album documents their near-split in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and their time away from touring.[26] It was released on 8 October 2021, alongside a 40-minute black-and-white short film accompanying the record in full.[27] [28]

On 7 October 2022, the band published a sequel album, 22 Make, as a celebration of their relationship.[29]

2024: That Woman

In March 2024, Josephine announced that she had been working on a solo album under the stage name That Woman, with Anthony serving only as a producer. Her debut single, "Hymn for a Woman", which explores different aspects of womanhood, was released independently on 3 May 2024.[30]

Personal life

Anthony and Josephine married in July 2021,[31] and both changed their surnames to Vander West.[32]

They run a complex of music recording studios, Highwater, located on the bank of the River Thames in Deptford, London,[33] as well as a coffee shop, NOLA Coffee, located in the London district of Peckham. "NOLA is an embodiment of all their favourite experiences of cafes around the world distilled into one beautiful space".[34]

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:22em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
UK
[35]
AUS
[36]
BEL
(Fl)

[37]
BEL
(Wa)

[38]
CAN
[39]
IRE
[40]
NLD
[41]
SWI
[42]
US
[43]
Oh Wonder 26 55 135 19 54 50 87 80
Ultralife
  • Released: 14 July 2017[48]
  • Label: Island, Republic
  • Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
8 37 28 115 17 38 48 62 76
No One Else Can Wear Your Crown
  • Released: 7 February 2020[49]
  • Label: Island
  • Format: CD, digital download, vinyl, streaming
8 84 86
22 Break
  • Released: 8 October 2021[50]
  • Label: Island
  • Format: CD, digital download, vinyl, streaming
51
22 Make
  • Released: 7 October 2022[51]
  • Label: Island
  • Format: CD, digital download, vinyl, streaming
123
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

EP

Singles

As lead artist

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
BEL
(Fl)
Tip

US
Rock
[52]
"Body Gold"2014Oh Wonder
"Shark"
"Dazzle"
"All We Do"
"The Rain"
"Lose It"201545
"Technicolour Beat"
"Midnight Moon"
"Livewire"
"White Blood"
"Landslide"103
"Drive"6
  • ARIA: Gold
"Heart Hope"
"Without You"34
"Plans"
"Ultralife"201747 36Ultralife
"Lifetimes"48
"My Friends"
"Heavy"
"High on Humans"
"Solo"
"All About You"
"Bigger Than Love"
"Heart Strings"
"Slip Away"
"Overgrown"
"Waste"
"Hallelujah"[55] 201942 No One Else Can Wear Your Crown
"Better Now"[56]
"I Wish I Never Met You"[57]
"This Christmas"[58]
"Happy"[59] 202046 No One Else Can Wear Your Crown
"In and Out of Love"
"Lonely Star"[60] Home Tapes
"Keep on Dancing"[61]
"I Like It When You Love Me"[62]
"22 Break"202122 Break
"Don't Let the Neighbourhood Hear"
"Rollercoaster Baby"
"Magnificent"202222 Make
"Fuck It I Love You"
"True Romance"
"Can We Always Be Friends?"
"—" denotes singles that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
UK
[63]
AUS
[64]
CAN
[65]
NZ Heat.
[66]
US
[67]
US
Dance

[68]
US R&B/HH
[69]
"The Way Life Goes"
201787 85 48 4 24 13 Luv Is Rage 2
"Superlove"[73]
201848
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Songwriting and production credits

TitleYearArtistAlbumContributing member(s)SongwriterProducer
"Echoes"2015Lauren AquilinaAnthony Vander West
Josephine Vander West
"Hello Hello"2017Lewis WatsonMidnightBoth
"Deep the Water"
"Forever"
"Give Me Life"
"Slumber"
"Fly"MeadowlarkPostcardsAnthony Vander West
"Eyes Wide"
"Slow Fade"2019Ruth B.Maybe I'll Find You AgainBoth
"Personal Best"Maisie PetersIt's Your Bed Babe, It's Your Funeral
"Nothing Like You"
GryffinGravity
"Another Song"2020Lewis WatsonThe Love That You Want
"Dizzy"
2021Chloe Moriondo
"I Wish I Wasn't Me"2023Eric NamHouse on a Hill
"Never Ever Love a Liar"Bea and her BusinessIntroverted ExtrovertAnthony Vander West
Josephine Vander West
"If I Was a God"Anthony Vander West
Josephine Vander West
"Born to Be Alive"Anthony Vander West
Josephine Vander West
"Good Things"2024Anthony Vander West
Josephine Vander West

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Donelson. Marcy. Oh Wonder | Biography & History | AllMusic. AllMusic. 27 August 2016.
  2. Web site: Discovery: Oh Wonder. Ryang. James. 3 September 2015. Interview Magazine . 6 September 2015.
  3. Web site: Oh Wonder on Instagram: "Last show done ☑️ high fives and endless love to everyone that made it to one of the 318 shows that we've played across 45 countries.…". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BmO68L-nCg6 . 24 December 2021 . limited. Instagram. 7 October 2018.
  4. Web site: Hixon. Shalene. Band Spotlight: Oh Wonder. Cal Times. 10 January 2018.
  5. News: New Noise: Oh Wonder Wonderland Magazine. 3 March 2015. Wonderland. 6 July 2018.
  6. Web site: "Oh Wonder" album brings up wonderous emotions. 2 February 2016 . 21 August 2016.
  7. Web site: Feldberg. Isaac. Oh Wonder caps off an electric debut tour - The Boston Globe. The Boston Globe. 21 August 2016.
  8. Web site: Hixon . Shalene . Band Spotlight: Oh Wonder . 4 May 2024 . Cal Times.
  9. Web site: Official Albums Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. 21 August 2016.
  10. Web site: Oh Wonder – Chart history Billboard. www.billboard.com. 21 August 2016.
  11. Web site: Oh Wonder, Radio 1 Live Music - BBC Radio 1. BBC. 26 August 2015 . 27 August 2016.
  12. Web site: Conan O'Brien Presents: Team Coco – Timeline Facebook. www.facebook.com. 27 August 2016.
  13. Web site: GoodVybes makes big waves on its first music fest salvo. entertainment.inquirer.net. 29 February 2016. 21 August 2016.
  14. Web site: Halsey Announces Summer Tour with Bad Suns, Oh Wonder. Sherman. Maria. Fuse. 27 August 2016.
  15. Web site: Q&A: Oh Wonder Cool Down Bonnaroo SPIN. 14 June 2016. 21 August 2016.
  16. Web site: Oh Wonder's Firefly Set was a Glittery, Muddy Singalong. Fuse. 27 August 2016.
  17. Web site: SPIN At Lollapalooza 2016: Portraits Of Frank Turner, Bastille, Dua Lipa, And More SPIN. Fortune. Drew. 2 August 2016. 27 August 2016.
  18. Web site: Meet Our New Fave Duo, Oh Wonder!. 26 July 2016. en-US. 27 August 2016. 27 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160827220946/http://www.umusic.ca/news/meet-oh-wonder/. dead.
  19. Web site: 15 March 2018 . Beck expands 2018 North American tour, including shows at MSG and Red Rocks . 5 May 2024.
  20. Web site: OW3 is finally here! Our new album NO ONE ELSE CAN WEAR YOUR CROWN is coming out February 7th We've also announced the first instalment of our World Tour! Pre-sale ticket access is now open for UK/Europe! We cannot wait for you to hear these new songs. Wonder. Oh. 14 November 2019. @OhWonderMusic. en. 26 February 2020.
  21. Web site: Love is in the air as Oh Wonder release new album. 14 February 2020. Corr. Alan. RTÉ.ie.
  22. Web site: Tour. Oh Wonder. 7 April 2020.
  23. Web site: Oh Wonder Present New 'Home Tapes' Project to Fans mxdwn.co.uk. en-US. 18 May 2020.
  24. News: Vigil. Dom. 17 April 2020. Oh Wonder Continue "Home Tapes" Series With New Single, "Keep On Dancing". The Prelude Press. 18 May 2020.
  25. News: Sue. David. 5 April 2020. Oh Wonder unveil 'Home Tapes' self-isolation project. New Sounds. 18 May 2020.
  26. Web site: Oh Wonder announce surprise 'break-up' album '22 Break', share title track. 22 September 2021.
  27. Web site: 16 October 2021 . Oh Wonder Break Down Their Break Up Album That Brought Them Back Together . 4 May 2024 . Entertainment Voice.
  28. Web site: Robinson . Ellie . 23 September 2021 . Oh Wonder detail fourth album, '22 Break', and share dazzling title track . 4 May 2024 . NME.
  29. News: Oh Wonder's New Album, '22 Make' Is Out Now . udiscovermusic.com . 11 October 2022 . 14 February 2023.
  30. Web site: Hulpiau . Johannes . 3 May 2024 . Debuutsingle That Woman – "Hymn for a Woman" . 4 May 2024 . Dansende Beren . nl-NL.
  31. News: 9 October 2021 . Oh Wonder: We spent our honeymoon covered in cockroaches in a burning building . 3 May 2024.
  32. Web site: 31 January 2022 . Oh Wonder's Anthony and Josephine Vander West on creating a home and studio in Dulwich, south-east London, as personal as their dreamy alt-pop music Journal The Modern House . 3 May 2024 . www.themodernhouse.com.
  33. Web site: Highwater . 3 May 2024 . HIGHWATER.
  34. Web site: October 2022 . about us – NOLA . NOLA Coffee.
  35. Web site: Oh Wonder. select "Albums" tab. Official Charts Company. 27 August 2016.
  36. Web site: ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums. Australian Recording Industry Association. 24 July 2017. 22 July 2017.
  37. Web site: Discografie Oh Wonder. Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien. 29 December 2016.
  38. Web site: Discografie Oh Wonder. Belgium (Wallonia) Charts Portal. Hung Medien. 29 December 2016.
  39. Oh Wonder Chart History: Canadian Albums. Billboard. 14 March 2020.
  40. Web site: Discography Oh Wonder. irish-charts.com. 5 September 2016.
  41. Web site: Discografie Oh Wonder. dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. 5 September 2016.
  42. Web site: Discography Oh Wonder. www.swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. 5 September 2016.
  43. Oh Wonder Chart History: Billboard 200. Billboard. 14 March 2020.
  44. Web site: Oh Wonder by Oh Wonder. Apple Music. 4 September 2015. 14 March 2020.
  45. Web site: British album certifications – Oh Wonder – Oh Wonder . 5 May 2024 . BPI.
  46. Web site: Silver - BPI. Music Canada. 12 December 2017.
  47. Web site: Oh Wonder "Oh Wonder" IFPI . 5 May 2024 . www.ifpi.dk.
  48. Web site: Ultralife by Oh Wonder. Apple Music. 14 July 2017. 14 March 2020.
  49. Web site: No One Else Can Wear Your Crown (Deluxe) by Oh Wonder. Apple Music. 7 February 2020. 14 March 2020.
  50. Web site: 22 Break by Oh Wonder. Apple Music. 8 October 2021. 8 October 2021.
  51. Web site: '22 Make' – check out new track 'Magnificent'. Dork. Ackroyd. Stephen. 10 March 2022. 20 May 2022.
  52. Oh Wonder - Chart history: Hot Rock Songs. Billboard. 14 March 2020.
  53. Web site: "British album certifications – Oh Wonder – All We Do . 5 May 2024 . BPI.
  54. Australia. 2022. single. 7 March 2022.
  55. Web site: Hallelujah – Single by Oh Wonder. Apple Music. 5 September 2019. 14 March 2020.
  56. Web site: Better Now – Single by Oh Wonder. Apple Music. 25 October 2019. 14 March 2020.
  57. Web site: Oh Wonder – I Wish I Never Met You. Spotify. 14 November 2019. 14 March 2020.
  58. Web site: This Christmas – Single by Oh Wonder. Apple Music. 29 November 2019. 14 March 2020.
  59. Web site: Oh Wonder – Happy. Spotify. 3 January 2020. 14 March 2020.
  60. Web site: Lonely Star – Single by Oh Wonder. Apple Music. 3 April 2020. 10 April 2020.
  61. Web site: Keep On Dancing – Single by Oh Wonder. Apple Music. 17 April 2020. 17 April 2020.
  62. Web site: I Like It When You Love Me – Single by Oh Wonder. Apple Music. 1 May 2020. 1 May 2020.
  63. Web site: Lil Uzi Vert. 20 April 2017 . Official Charts Company. 26 May 2017.
  64. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #446. auspOp. 4 November 2017. 11 November 2017. 11 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171111152405/https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/11/aria-chart-watch-446/. dead.
  65. Lil Uzi Vert – Chart History: Canadian Hot 100. Billboard. 14 March 2020.
  66. Web site: Discography Lil Uzi Vert. charts.nz . Hung Medien . 26 May 2017.
  67. Lil Uzi Vert Chart History: Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. 14 March 2020.
  68. Oh Wonder – Chart History: Dance/Electronic Songs. Billboard. 14 March 2020.
  69. Lil Uzi Vert Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. 14 March 2020.
  70. Web site: American album and songs certifications – Oh Wonder: Recording Industry Association of America.. Recording Industry Association of America. 14 March 2020.
  71. Web site: Lil Uzi Vert Ft Nicki Minaj – The Way Life Goes . 5 May 2024 . BPI.
  72. Web site: Lil Uzi Vert feat. Oh Wonder "The Way Life Goes" IFPI . 5 May 2024 . www.ifpi.dk.
  73. Whethan Makes 'Superlove' With Oh Wonder, Announces 2018 Tour: Listen . Bein . Kat . 15 June 2018 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20180617071045/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8461191/whethan-new-song-superlove-oh-wonder-2018-tour . 17 June 2018 . 17 June 2018.