MS MR

Shadowy New York-based chillwave duo MS MR first caught the public's attention with their infectious 2012 single "Hurricane," a dark yet sinfully melodic heartbreak anthem that blended the iciness of Phantogram and Bat for Lashes with the commercial grandeur of Adele and Florence + the Machine. Initially steeped in anonymity, the pair were revealed to be vocalist Lizzy Plapinger (also co-founder of the pop imprint Neon Gold) and producer Max Hershenow. The duo inked a deal with Sony not long after "Hurricane" hit the blogosphere; the Candy Bar Creep Show EP was released in September 2012 via IAMSOUND. Another single, "Fantasy," arrived in early 2013, a few months before MS MR's debut album, Secondhand Rapture, appeared that May. For their second album, Hershenow and Plapinger collaborated with Tove Lo and MNDR; How Does It Feel, which featured the single "Painted," was released in July 2015. ~ James Christopher Monger