X AMBASSADORS.

BROTHERS, FRIENDS AND A NEW CITY

Sam and Casey Harris grow up in Ithaca, in the US state of New York. They start making music together at a young age. After moving to New York City, drummer Adam Levin joins the fold. Guitarist Noah Feldshuh is part of the early lineup; later, the band continues as a trio.

Early original work is released under the name Ambassadors, including Litost. The transition to X Ambassadors comes with a wider reach. The sound evolves from a band with guitars, keys, and drums into a combination that also accommodates electronic rhythms and influences from soul and hip-hop.

VHS MAKES THE LEAP

VHS is released in 2015, featuring Renegades and Unsteady. The album reaches number seven on the US Billboard album chart. The songs are immediately recognizable, but they use different tools.

Renegades leans on a recurring guitar pattern and a rhythm that invites you to walk along with it. The melody remains simple enough to sing along to quickly. In Unsteady, the weight comes from the voice itself: Harris shows how strength and insecurity can exist side by side.

A BAND THAT CHANGES SHAPE

Orion follows in 2019. On Boom, the rhythm takes on an angular, almost stomping role. The voice reacts to that pulse, making the song move differently than the smoother guitar line of Renegades.

With 2021's The Beautiful Liar, the group seeks a darker, more narrative environment. The album shows they want to go beyond just building the same radio hit over and over. Timbre and transitions also carry part of the story.

Yet, a recognizable core remains. Casey adds color to the foundation with keys and harmonies, Adam maintains the movement, and Sam can go from restrained to exuberant within a few lines. It’s about the relationship between those elements, not just about how hard the chorus hits.

TOWNIE LOOKS BACK

On 2024's Townie, the focus shifts emphatically back to Ithaca. In interviews, Sam explains how he initially wanted to shake off that background. Later, the place where he grew up becomes a source for new songs.

Follow the Sound of My Voice is about the bond between the brothers. Sam describes how he sometimes helps navigate for Casey, who is visually impaired, but also how much direction Casey gives him. The song is therefore about mutual support.

Listen also to Your Town. The environment of youth does not become a tourist snapshot; it consists of people, memories, and the distance that arises when you leave. That makes the music personal without you having to know the same streets.

2025 sees the release of VHS(X), a new recording of their breakthrough record to mark its tenth anniversary. This re-recording offers a different perspective on familiar material. The original 2015 version remains a unique moment in the band's history.