Chvrches

Chvrches are a Scottish synthpop band formed in Glasgow in 2011, consisting of vocalist Lauren Mayberry, multi-instrumentalist Iain Cook, and multi-instrumentalist Martin Doherty. Their music combines dense, layered synthesizer production with Mayberry's clear, expressive soprano voice and lyrics that engage directly with themes of identity, power, and emotional vulnerability. The Bones of What You Believe (2013), their debut album, arrived to enormous critical and commercial enthusiasm — a record of immediate melodic hooks wrapped in sophisticated electronic production that established the band as one of the most promising acts of the decade. It was followed by Every Open Eye (2015), which entered the UK charts at number two. Love Is Dead (2018), produced by Greg Kurstin, pushed further into mainstream pop territory, generating the band's biggest commercial success while receiving a more mixed critical reception. Screen Violence (2021) was regarded as a return to form — darker in tone, more influenced by post-punk and new wave, and featuring a notable guest vocal from Robert Smith of The Cure on the track How Not to Drown. Beyond their musical output, Lauren Mayberry has been an outspoken voice on online harassment and gender inequality in the music industry, addressing these issues publicly and becoming a visible advocate for change. Chvrches are one of the most successful Scottish acts of the 2010s and remain a significant presence in electronic pop.