Citizens

Originally known as Citizens & Saints, Citizen is a Christian rock band that launched in 2011 in Seattle, Washington. Frontman Zach Bolen formed the group while serving as a worship leader at the Mars Hill Church, a controversial megachurch that doubled as Citizens' first record label. After releasing the debut EP Already/Not Yet in May 2012, the band made its full-length debut with 2013's self-titled Citizens. A critical and commercial success, Citizens reached Number 20 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart and Number 6 on Top Heatseekers. A Christmas-themed EP, Repeat the Sounding Joy, followed later that year. Bolen resigned from his posts at Mars Hill in 2014, and the band left the church's label. Now working exclusively with BEC Records, an imprint of the long-running Christian label Tooth & Nail Records, Citizens returned that November with a second full-length album, Join the Triumph. Brian Eichelberger, who had previously produced the band's debut, reprised his role for Join the Triumph. Incorporating more electronic effects and synthesized textures than previous records, Join the Triumph reached Number 30 on the Christian Albums chart in the US, as well as Number 9 on Top Heatseekers. Citizens remained active throughout the remainder of the decade, releasing 2016's A Mirror Dimly and 2019's Fear on the label Gospel Song Records. The Joy of Being followed in 2020, along with The Joy of Being (Phone Demos), a collection of homemade recordings that served as a launchpad for the studio album itself. Continuing to expand beyond the traditional borders of contemporary Christian music, Citizens released "Everything and More" in 2022, with the single becoming a Top 50 hit on the Christian Airplay chart. An accompanying EP, A Thousand Horses, arrived that same year.

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