Car Seat Headrest: Indie Band Led By Will Toledo

Car Seat Headrest is an American indie rock band formed in 2010 in Leesburg, Virginia. Led by singer-songwriter Will Toledo, the band consists of Andrew Katz (drums), Ethan Ives (guitar), Seth Dalby (bass), and Toledo himself (vocals/guitar). The group’s name is derived from a joke Toledo made while traveling in a car as a child.

Early Work & 'Twin Fantasy'

Toledo began writing and self-recording music under the name Car Seat Headrest in 2010, releasing 11 albums prior to signing to Matador Records in 2015. During this time, he created his most acclaimed work to date, the album ‘Twin Fantasy’. The album was originally released online for free in 2011, but was re-recorded and released as a full-length album in 2018.

Recent Success

The band’s first two albums released on Matador Records, ‘Teens of Denial’ (2016) and ‘Twin Fantasy’ (2018), both earned critical acclaim. In 2020, Car Seat Headrest released the album ‘Making a Door Less Open’, which saw them experimenting with more electronic sounds. The album was met with mostly positive reviews.

Collaborations & Other Projects

Toledo has collaborated with a variety of other artists, including Frank Ocean, Mitski, and Titus Andronicus. He has also released music through his solo project 1 Trait Danger and has performed with the supergroup Boygenius alongside Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus.

Legacy

Car Seat Headrest has become one of the most successful independent bands of the 2010s. Along with other indie rock bands like The National and Parquet Courts, Car Seat Headrest has helped to shape the sound of modern indie rock.