Mark Pontius

Mark Andrew Pontius is an American musician who is best known as a founding member and drummer of the American alt pop band Foster the People; he left the band in 2021. Prior to joining Foster the People in 2009, Pontius was part of the now-defunct indie pop band Malbec.

Mark Pontius
Pontius in 2011
Pontius in 2011
Background information
Birth nameMark Andrew Pontius
Also known asPonsi
Born (1985-01-03) January 3, 1985
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Drums
  • percussion
Years active2003–2021

Early life

Pontius was born on January 3, 1985, in Florida to Harriet and Lawrence Lee "Larry" Pontius.[1] Growing up, Pontius drummed in garage bands and community groups.[2] Pontius graduated from Lyman High School in Longwood, Florida in 2003.[3][2]

After graduating high school, Pontius moved to Los Angeles to study cinematography. He attended and graduated from film school but pursued a career in music after graduation.[2] In 2004 and 2005, Pontius appeared on the GSN game show Extreme Dodgeball,[4] competing for the Silent But Deadly Mimes in one season and the Reef Sharks in the second season.

Career

2003–2010: Malbec and early musical contributions

After moving to Los Angeles, Pontius joined the indie pop band Malbec which was fronted by Pablo Signori and included music producer Speakerbomb.[5][6]

Besides being the band's drummer, Pontius also directed and edited all of their music videos.[5] Pontius left the band in December 2009 and subsequently formed Foster the People. Malbec disbanded the following year.[7]

2010–2021: Foster the People

Around the fall of 2009, Mark Foster recorded the song "Pumped Up Kicks" at his workplace and it was released as an early single for the band.[8] In May 2010, the band was signed to Columbia Records imprint Startime International for a multi-album deal due to the song's increasing success. "Pumped Up Kicks" was officially re-released as the band's first single on September 14, 2010;[9] it was labeled as a "sleeper hit" and eventually peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 starting with the week of September 10, 2011.[10] It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in February 2012.[11]

On May 23, 2011, the band's first studio album, Torches, was released and earned the band their second Grammy Award nomination, one for Best Alternative Music Album.[12] It also peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200. Three years later, the band released their second album, Supermodel on March 14, 2014. It is currently their highest peaking studio album on the Billboard 200 at number three.[13] On July 21, 2017, Foster the People released its third album, Sacred Hearts Club, an album influenced by the global issues of the current times, which featured the single "Sit Next to Me."[14]

In 2017 and 2018, Pontius worked with Gabe Simon under the name Mr Gabriel. The two produced a series of tracks together, including "Holy Water," a song produced at Pontius' Tennessee studio, Fat Horse Ranch, which includes archival drums and bass performed by his late father.[15][16]

He left the band in 2021 to focus on his family.[17]

Personal life

Pontius has one daughter.[18] He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.[19][20]

Discography

Studio albums
With Malbec
  • Malbec EP (2006)
  • Keep It A Secret EP (2007)
  • Dawn of Our Age (2008)
  • Answering Machine EPs (2008–2009); 5 EP project
As Delivery (solo project)
  • Takes My Time (2010)
With Foster the People
Main article: Foster the People discography
As Suitnop (solo project)
  • Phage One EP (2022)
  • Phage Two EP (2022)

Singles
With Mr. Gabriel[16]
  • "Holy Water" (2017)
  • "Starlight" (2017) with Jai Wolf
  • "Help Me Out" (2017)
  • "Millennial Falcon" (2018)
  • "Tambourine" (2018)
  • "Civilized" (unreleased)

Other credits

  • With Mark Foster, Stephan Altman, and Peter Barbee: "When You Find Love" (2015) for Little Boy; co-artist
  • With Elephant Castle: "I’m a Loser" and "Life in Outer Space" (2020); drums credit
  • Original music for the podcast Awakening OD by Jessa Reed (2020)

References
  1. Harper, Sarah (September 28, 2011). "Interview with Mark Pontius of Foster the People". KnightNews.com. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  2. Clyde Brothers (interviewer); Mark and Rebecca Pontius (interviewee) (2012). Mark and Rebecca Pontius on "The Bubble" with the Clyde Brothers (Podcast). Clyde Brothers. Retrieved December 5, 2019 – via youtube.com.
  3. "Mark Pontius - Lyman High School - Longwood, FL". lymanhighschool.net. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  4. "Foster the People Fast Facts".
  5. Potts, Ricky (January 28, 2009). "Artist Interview: 1-on-1 with Malbec". Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  6. Martens, Todd (June 26, 2011). "Foster the People: Pumped up, indeed". Los Angeles Times.
  7. Bronson, Kevin (March 18, 2014). "Ears Wide Open: Beginners". buzzbands.la. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  8. "Foster the People's Mark Foster on". Seattle Weekly.
  9. Johnson, Steve (October 3, 2011). "The dark meaning of Foster the People's lyrics in Pumped Up Kicks". Chicago Tribune.
  10. "Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  11. "Foster The People". GRAMMY.com. November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  12. Garrad, Susie (October 27, 2017). "How an entire hipster generation fell for Foster The People and their irresistible debut Torches". HappyMag.tv.
  13. Martens, Todd (March 29, 2014). "Foster the People goes political with 'Supermodel'". Los Angeles Times.
  14. "Foster the People interview: 'This record had its own pressure'". The Independent. July 21, 2017.
  15. "Obituary for LARRY PONTIUS (Aged 73)". The Orlando Sentinel. June 5, 2013. pp. B5. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  16. Bound, Chris (April 23, 2018). "INTERVIEW: Gabe Simon discusses his new project Mr. Gabriel". Mystic Sons. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  17. Gallagher, Alex (October 14, 2021). "Foster the People drummer Mark Pontius exits band after over a decade". NME. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  18. @carolinewalkup (May 13, 2019). "I became a mom just around a month ago when she entered the world fast and furiously, like a spring storm. We've been quietly celebrating life with her, absorbing all the love and learning we can. Our eyes have been opened (sorta 😴) and our hearts are full. Sunday Lane Pontius (our Sunny!), thank you for choosing me to be your mom" – via Instagram.
  19. "Mark Pontius of Foster the People". GOOD SAINT. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  20. "An open, industrial loft in DTLA gets a cozy makeover". Los Angeles Times. June 11, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
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