Echosmith cites their musical influences as 1980s new wave bands like The Smiths, Joy Division, and early U2 as well as more recent bands like Coldplay and The Killers. The document then provides background on alternative rock, noting it emerged from underground music in the 1980s and grew popular in the 1990s, consisting of genres like grunge, Britpop, and indie pop that were influenced by punk rock. While some alternative rock bands achieved mainstream success in the 1980s, many remained cult acts until the popularity of Nirvana and grunge in the early 1990s brought alternative rock into the musical mainstream.