Do you remember the good old days? The band Congratulations certainly does. Composed of Jamie Chellar on guitar, Greg Burns on bass, James Gillingham on drums, and Leah Stanhope on vocals, the quartet carefully juggles 80s pop, 2000s indie, and modern experimental rock, creating a sound that is both delightfully nostalgic and resolutely contemporary. Dressed in primary-colored uniforms—to the point of being nicknamed “punk rock Power Rangers”—and writing about delirious millennials, ghostly bogeymen, and memorable hairstyles, congratulations has built a short but dazzling career, without ever taking itself too seriously. Ironically, they may be the band that takes not taking themselves seriously the most seriously.

But their music is neither random nor vague. It is precisely this carefree attitude that allows them to create a unique style, free of pretentious idealism or rock star posturing. The band started as a trio when Jamie, James, and Greg met at university through their shared passion for guitar rock. The arrival of Leah, introduced by Jamie’s sister, was the missing piece that gave shape to the project. “Leah’s arrival was exactly what we needed,” says Jamie.

Within the band, everyone strives to maintain a spirit of creative freedom. Studio sessions are not just about composing song after song, but about merging their varied styles and influences into a coherent whole. “Jamie’s influences clearly lean toward soul-funk,” explains Leah. “I have a background in metal, so I bring a more raw touch. James is very into contemporary pop, enriching our songs with stimulating musical textures. And Greg is the Beach Boys surfer on duty.”

On a congratulations track, a surf-pop guitar riff might intertwine with plump synthetic melodies, as on “This Life,” or psychedelic White Album-style strings might mingle with Leah’s sumptuous harmonies, as on “Bubbles.” Their approach is simple: the song comes first. “Musicality is essential for us,” insists Jamie. “It’s about the joy of creating, not just touring or conveying a message.” Leah illustrates this idea with an image: “Imagine a person tied to four strings. Each of us pulls a string in our direction. The person is the song.”

This creative tension defines the band’s identity. With a strong admiration for 80s pop — Prince, Madonna, Devo — they draw inspiration from it to forge their own sound, rather than paying homage. When it comes to lyrics, the process is instinctive: the music comes first, the words follow. The result is like a collective diary, a glimpse into the minds of four friends. “The album is a collage of everything we think and feel,” Jamie sums up.

A key piece of this puzzle is producer Luke Phillips, aka ICEBEING, the band’s de facto “fifth member.” Their chemistry is evident throughout the album. The title track, “City Boy,” showcases their taste for disco, with a Donna Summer/Giorgio Moroder-esque break where Leah sings, “My hair is long / My ass is free.” But it’s “Fought 4 Love” that best captures the essence of congratulations: a catchy, groovy, thunderous riff, halfway between 2000s dance-rock and classic new wave. “It’s an anti-love song,” explains Jamie. “The verses are essential: in our favorite songs, any part can become the chorus. “

It’s this alchemy that makes congratulations irresistible. Beyond the pop melodies, exhilarating vibes, and ’80s style, the magic lies in the meeting of four different talents, united by a common creative vision, capable of creating something greater than themselves.