Studio Album · No. 1

Torches Songwriting Credits by Foster the People

2011 Startime / Columbia 10 tracks 38:24

Produced by Rich Costey, Paul Epworth, Mark Foster, Tony Hoffer, Greg Kurstin  ·  Engineered by Mark Foster, Greg Kurstin, Mark Rankin, Rich Costey, Charlie Stavish, Greg Calbi

Startime / Columbia Indie PopSynth-PopDance-PopPsychedelic Pop
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Foster the People carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Foster the People 0 tracksoutside writers
Foster the People's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
1
Lyricists
5
Producers
2011
Released
Data Insight

Mark Foster wrote all ten tracks on his own, with no co-writer anywhere on the record. He also recorded most of it and mixed one track, which makes the debut the closest thing in the catalogue to a solo album released under a band name.

Torches is Foster the People's debut, released in May 2011 after "Pumped Up Kicks" had already become a hit. It entered the Billboard 200 at number eight with 33,000 copies and is certified platinum in four countries.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Helena Beat
Mark Foster Mark Foster Greg KurstinMark Foster Foster the People (Performer)
2
Pumped Up Kicks #3
Mark Foster Mark Foster Mark Foster Foster the People (Performer)
3
Call It What You Want
Mark Foster Mark Foster Paul EpworthMark Foster Foster the People (Performer)
4
Don't Stop (Color on the Walls) #86
Mark Foster Mark Foster Rich CosteyMark Foster Foster the People (Performer)
5
Waste
Mark Foster Mark Foster Greg KurstinMark Foster Foster the People (Performer)
6
I Would Do Anything for You
Mark Foster Mark Foster Paul EpworthMark FosterTony Hoffer Foster the People (Performer)
7
Houdini
Mark Foster Mark Foster Rich CosteyMark Foster Foster the People (Performer)
8
Life on the Nickel
Mark Foster Mark Foster Paul EpworthMark Foster Foster the People (Performer)
9
Miss You
Mark Foster Mark Foster Greg KurstinMark Foster Foster the People (Performer)
10
Warrant
Mark Foster Mark Foster Greg KurstinMark Foster Foster the People (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 6 contributors

MF
Mark Foster
Writer · Producer
On this album10 written
GK
Greg Kurstin
Producer
On this album4 produced
PE
Paul Epworth
Producer
On this album3 produced
RC
Rich Costey
Producer
On this album2 produced
TH
Tony Hoffer
Producer
On this album1 produced
FT
Foster the People
Performer
On this albumGuest

More from Foster the People

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Supermodel
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2017 100%
Sacred Hearts Club
Columbia
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2024 100%
Paradise State of Mind
Atlantic
11 tracksProd. Chrome Sparks

Frequently Asked Questions Torches

Who wrote Torches?
Mark Foster, alone, on all ten tracks. No other writer is credited anywhere on the album.
Who wrote "Pumped Up Kicks"?
Mark Foster. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one in Australia and Canada.
How did the album sell?
It is certified platinum in the United States, Australia, Canada and the Philippines. No sales figure is published on the cited pages.
How did it chart?
Number eight on the Billboard 200, selling 33,000 copies in its first week.
Who produced it?
Rich Costey, Paul Epworth, Mark Foster, Tony Hoffer and Greg Kurstin. Greg Calbi mastered.
Is this the only album he wrote alone?
Yes. Every album after it has co-writers on most or all tracks.
How long is the album?
38:24 across ten tracks, the band's shortest.

Sources

Wikipedia: Torches Wikipedia: Foster the People discography Cover Art Archive: Torches by Foster the People