The Ivy

The Ivy is an American indie pop band formed in New York City in 1994. The band’s original members included Andy Chase, Adam Schlesinger, and Dominique Durand. Prior to forming Ivy, Andy Chase placed an advertisement in 1991, which led to his collaboration with Adam Schlesinger. In 1994, they met Dominique Durand, a French native who had moved to New York City. Sharing an appreciation for artists like The Go-Betweens, The House of Love, and The Smiths, Durand was persuaded to contribute vocals, leading to the formation of Ivy.

In 1994, Ivy signed with Seed Records and released their debut single, “Get Enough,” which was recognized by the UK magazine Melody Maker as Single of the Week. This was followed by the EP “Lately.” In 1995, the band released their first full-length album, “Realistic.” Their cover of “I Guess I’m Just a Little Too Sensitive” from “Lately” led to a tour with the song’s author, Edwyn Collins. Ivy also toured with Lloyd Cole, Madder Rose, and Saint Etienne during this period. The band’s second album, “Apartment Life,” released in 1997 on Atlantic Records, garnered critical acclaim for its well-crafted pop songs. Despite being dropped by Atlantic, they re-released the album in 1998 with 550 Music. Their music gained wider recognition with “This Is the Day” and “I Get the Message” featured in the film “There’s Something About Mary.”

Ivy continued to release music, including “Long Distance” in 2001 on Nettwerk, which expanded their audience with a more atmospheric sound, notably the single “Edge of the Ocean.” They scored the Farrelly Brothers’ film “Shallow Hal” and had their songs featured in numerous other films and television shows. In 2002, “Guestroom,” an album of cover songs, showcased their influences. “Worry About You” was used as the theme song for Stephen King’s “Kingdom Hospital” and in the pilot episode of “The 4400.” Their 2005 album “In the Clear” received positive reception, and “All Hours” was released in 2011. Following a hiatus and the passing of Adam Schlesinger in 2020, Chase and Durand released “Traces of You” in 2025, an album assembled from Schlesinger’s previously unreleased material, demonstrating a continuity of their artistic vision.