Debut at Emo Nite Los Angeles

Weekes and Seaman began secretly performing in small venues from late 2016 to mid-2017. They debuted at Emo Nite Los Angeles’s 2-year anniversary event on December 6, 2016. After the show, different sources wrote about a “new side project” by Weekes and Seaman and confirmed the band name. Even when confronted with photos and videos taken at the shows, Weekes and Seaman denied the project’s existence for months. Weekes later stated that they did not want to exploit his and Seaman’s name recognition and association with the well-known bands they played in. Seaman would depart his band Falling in Reverse in May 2017, followed by Weekes leaving Panic! at the Disco in December.