Wye Oak are Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack. Jenn & Andy have been playing music together and apart in Baltimore, MD, and chose their name from the honorary state tree of Maryland.
Their sound has been described as "earnest folk-influenced indie rock with touches of noise and dream pop". Wasner sings lead vocals and plays electric or acoustic guitar, while Stack plays both drums and keyboards, playing the drums with his feet and right hand, and the bass line with his left hand.
They released their first album If Children independently in 2007 and subsequently signed to Merge Records in 2008. The label re-released If Children that year, and a second album, The Knot, followed in 2009. Their new album Civilian was released in March 2011.