Foster the People - Mark Foster

On the heels of Foster the People's first new album in seven years, their excellent, uplifting and highly danceable new album Paradise State of Mind, hear from the project's creative mastermind about key moments in his musical journey: how he learned to play piano by ear as a kid, and was later inspired to play guitar by hearing Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on a kiosk at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; how he discovered the value of a local music community through his city's metalcore scene; how his dad talked him out of joining the Air Force and persuaded him to move to Los Angeles to pursue his music dream instead; what he learned from the rejection and adversity of his early years in LA; how he overcame the fear he felt after having a hit with "Pumped Up Kicks" that he might not be able to do it again; what it felt like to open for his heroes The Beach Boys; how his songwriting has evolved since then, and more. Paradise State of Mind is out now, and you can get tickets for Foster the People's upcoming shows here.