Ist Ist

The band formed in late 2014,[3] and were originally going to call themselves DAS IST, but decided it sounded too industrial, so went with IST IST.[4] They gained popularity in the Manchester music scene from word-of-mouth after gigs at venues such as The Ritz, Gorilla and The Deaf Institute. After a number of singles, the band went on to release two EPs, Spinning Rooms in 2018, and Everything Is Different Now in 2019, before releasing their debut album Architecture in 2020,[5] which reached number three on the UK Independent Albums Chart.[6]

The band recorded their second studio album The Art of Lying during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020.[7] Released on 26 November 2021,[8] it became the first charting release for IST IST, entering the UK Albums Chart at number 87 the following week.[9]

The band released their third studio album Protagonists on 31 March 2023,[10] playing The O2 Ritz in Manchester, England as the headline act on the same date.[11] An extended edition digital only LP, Protagonists - Bandcamp Deluxe Edition,[12] was also launched the same week, which included all of the tracks on Protagonists, plus eight bonus tracks from their live set played in Hebden Bridge, in December 2022.[12]

On Good Friday, 7 April 2023, the band announced their highest chart rating for any of their albums to date, reaching number 2 in the Independent Chart, number 6 in the Vinyl Chart, number 10 in the Physical Album sales chart, and number 41 overall in the Album Sales chart for the UK, significant milestones for the band.[13]

The release of Protagonists was followed up by two more dates after the O2 Ritz, at Oporto in Leeds[11] and at The Fighting Cocks in Kingston, near London,[11] the latter of which was notable for the band's first ever live Q&A session with the audience before the gig. After a short Easter break, the band plan to tour the UK from 13 April, including dates at Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham, Birmingham, The Thekla[14] in Bristol and London's Omeara. The UK leg of the tour finishes in Whitby at the Tomorrow's Ghosts Festival, before they head for Europe for dates in Antwerp, Cologne, Paris, Rees, Nijmegen, Bielefeld, Rotterdam, Hulst, The Melkweg in Amsterdam and Berlin, the Nijmegen and Rotterdam shows having already sold out at the time of writing.[11]

Adam Houghton in 20223

Current members

• Adam Houghton – lead vocals, guitar (2014–present)
• Joel Kay – drums and occasional backing vocals (2014–present)
• Andy Keating – bass, occasional backing vocals (2014–present)
• Mat Peters – synthesiser keyboards and guitars (2018–present)[15]