FITZ

Fitz is a singer-songwriter best known as the leader of the indie-pop band Fitz and the Tantrums. Born Michael Sean Fitzpatrick on July 21, 1970, in Montluçon, France, Fitz actually grew up in Los Angeles, where he quickly became interested in the arts. He studied experimental film at the California Institute of the Arts, where he met James King, with whom he would later form Fitz and the Tantrums. Fitz worked as a sound engineer for producer Mickey Petralia, working on albums by artists such as Beck and The Dandy Warhols. After buying a used organ, he realized he needed to start a band, so he enlisted some musicians and the project Fitz and the Tantrums was born. The group released their debut album Pickin’ Up the Pieces in 2010, topping the US Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. This was followed by three more albums over the course of the decade, earning the group acclaim and increased popularity. In 2014, Fitz participated in the holiday charity album Welcome to Our Christmas Party by supergroup Band of Merrymakers. In 2020, Fitz put out “Head Up High,” his first release as a solo artist. Written and recorded during lockdown, the song is an uplifting and energetic anthem about staying optimistic even in the dark days. “Head Up High” serves as the title track to Fitz’s solo debut album, released in 2021.