Balance And Composure

Born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Balance and Composure took shape in 2007 around Jon Simmons, Andy Slaymaker, Matt Warner and Bailey Van Ellis, later expanding with guitarist Erik Petersen. The band emerged from the American emo scene of the late 2000s, with songwriting that blends emo, post-hardcore and alternative rock — initially driven by taut, melodic guitars before incorporating darker, more spacious moods akin to post-grunge and melodic post-punk. After the EPs I Just Want to Be Pure (2008) and Only Boundaries (2009), Balance and Composure released a split with Tigers Jaw in 2010, a key indicator of their roots in the Pennsylvania scene. This was followed by the albums Separation (2011), The Things We Think We’re Missing (2013) and Light We Made (2016), which show a gradual broadening of their sound, moving away from a frontal approach toward a more atmospheric one. After a farewell tour and a period of hiatus, Balance and Composure returned in 2023 with the single Too Quick to Forgive, recorded with longtime collaborator and producer Will Yip. The relaunched lineup, featuring Dennis Wilson on drums, then released With You in Spirit in 2024.