After Fights Back Against Record Label Captivity With New Album

The American pop duo After, consisting of Graham Epstein and Justine Dorsey, has experienced a trajectory marked by both critical scrutiny and shifts in label representation. Formed in 2023 in Los Angeles, California, the group draws inspiration for its name from the 2003 visual novel After…

The duo first entered the music scene in 2023 with the release of the single Something Special, which was followed later that year by In a City Called Garden and The Dove. Throughout 2024, After continued to build their discography with the release of three additional singles: Obvious, The Element, and The Story.

Extended Play Releases and Label Transitions

On April 4, 2025, the band released their first extended play, titled After EP, through the labels 7th Heaven and Ultraworld. This release was preceded by the singles Obvious, Ever, and 300 Dreams, which served as the primary catalysts for the group’s initial attention within the industry.

Later in 2025, the duo transitioned to Mom + Pop Music for the release of their second extended play, After EP 2, which debuted on October 17, 2025. This project featured the singles Deep Diving and Outbound. The track Deep Diving in particular generated considerable fanfare for the duo.

Critical Reception and Musical Style

Despite the commercial attention garnered by specific singles, the critical response to After’s work has been mixed. Pitchfork provided a critical evaluation of the EPs, assigning them a rating of 4.5/10.

The group’s sound is categorized across several contemporary electronic and pop genres, including synth-pop, pop rock, electropop, chillwave, and trip hop. Their aesthetic has been described by Rolling Stone as Y2k-inspired pop.

Comprehensive Discography

The duo’s output since 2023 is organized as follows:

• Extended Plays: After EP (April 4, 2025) and After EP 2 (October 17, 2025).
• Non-Album Singles: Something Special, In a City Called Garden, The Dove, and The Element.
• EP-Associated Singles: Obvious, The Story, Ever, 300 Dreams, Deep Diving, and Outbound.