Matthew Healy and Ross MacDonald of UK pop/rock quartet the 1975 recently participated in an exclusive GRAMMY.com interview to discuss the band's formation, their writing process and expressing their creative vision on their first EP, Facedown, among other topics.

"We'd … always tried to catch up to major labels, tried to be a band that we wanted to be and then tried to be a band that major labels wanted [us] to be," said Healy. "With the first record we were like, 'Well, let's truly, truly try and express our creative vision and if people are into it then people are into it."

Formed in Manchester, England, the 1975 comprise George Daniel (drums), Adam Hann (guitar), Healy (vocals/guitar), and MacDonald (bass). Drawing on the influences of artists ranging from Michael Jackson to the Rolling Stones and Sigur Rós, the group released their debut EP, Facedown, in 2012 featuring the lead track "The City." They subsequently released the EPs Sex and Music For Cars, the latter of which featured the UK Singles chart Top 20 hit "Chocolate."

After playing shows across the UK and a showcase at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, in 2013, the 1975 made their U.S. headlining debut with a performance at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, Calif., on July 24, 2013. They followed with the release of their self-titled debut album on Sept. 9, 2013. Co-produced by Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys), The 1975 cracked the Top 30 on the Billboard 200 and features 16 tracks, including "Chocolate," which made the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100. 

The 1975 are currently in the midst of an international tour, with dates scheduled through January 2015.