Making mellow pop with an earnest spirit and glistening '80s new wave and '90s R&B-influenced production, joan is the duo of Alan Thomas and Steven Rutherford. Their first EP, portra, arrived in 2018, drawing favorable comparisons to the 1975 and LANY. They have continued to evolve, embracing a vibrant blend of classic boy band and contemporary pop sounds, as on 2020's Cloudy and 2021's dual Hi and Bye EPs. They also paired with singer Josie Dunne for the moody 2022 single "Point."