Priory

Priory is an American indie pop outfit originating from Portland, Oregon, primarily centered around the creative partnership of Brandon Johnson and Kyle Dieker. Emerging in the early 2010s, the band initially explored a sound more closely aligned with the Pacific Northwest's folk-rock tradition, characterized by acoustic textures and earnest vocal harmonies.

However, their evolution saw a significant pivot toward a polished, synth-driven electropop aesthetic, most notably captured on their major-label debut 'Need To Know'. This transition was marked by the massive success of the single 'Weekend', which epitomized the mid-2010s 'indie-pop' boom. Their sound identity is defined by the juxtaposition of 'raunchy folk rock' roots with 'Casiotone' electronic flourishes and high-fidelity studio production. Critically, they are viewed as a bridge between the earnestness of late-2000s indie and the neon-soaked synth-pop of the 2010s. They occupy a similar cultural space to acts like JR JR and Step Rockets, focusing on rhythmic infectiousness and anthemic choruses while maintaining a distinctively Northwest sense of atmosphere.