Alvvays

Alvvays is a Canadian indie pop band that formed in 2011, originating from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and now based in Toronto. The name, pronounced like «Always», was spelled unconventionally after the band discovered other entities already using that word. The lineup is led by vocalist Molly Rankin — daughter of fiddler John Morris Rankin of The Rankin Family — and guitarist Alec O'Hanley, who met in their teens and became the group's core songwriting duo.

The band released its debut single, «Adult Diversion», in 2013, followed the next year by their self-titled debut album on Polyvinyl Record Co., which established their sound: jangly, reverb-soaked guitar pop laced with wry, bittersweet lyrics. Songs like «Archie, Marry Me» became indie touchstones of the era. Their second album, Antisocialites, built on this foundation with sharper production and a slightly more polished, synth-tinged edge, featuring tracks such as «In Undertow» and «Dreams Tonite».

Alvvays' rotating rhythm section has included drummer Phil MacIsaac and bassist Brian Murphy in the band's early years, alongside longtime keyboardist Kerri MacLellan, a childhood friend of Rankin's. The group is recognized as one of the defining acts of 2010s indie pop, admired for melding classic twee and shoegaze influences with hooky, emotionally direct songwriting.