In 1996 Darren Ford met Dan Symons in a University bar in Aldenham, Hertfordshire, U.K. He was looking to demo new songs and asked Symons to visit his home studio in St. Albans and apply some guitar parts. There was instant sonic alchemy and the two of them sent tracks off to London based label Nude Records who showed interest and asked to see the band in rehearsals. They called themselves Lowgold having concocted a Nordic word meaning “of hidden worth.”

Ford & Symons enlisted a Uni friend Miles Willey to play bass who in turn brought Paul Mayes in on drums. The label offered to sign Lowgold after one rehearsal. They recorded their debut album 'Just Backward of Square' in 1999 with producer Tony Lash (Heatmiser / Elliott Smith / Dandy Warhols) plus Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers / Idlewild) producing one track and also mixing. Simon Scott (Slowdive) became their drummer that year creating what is perceived to be the band’s classic line up. Lowgold’s exemplary song-craft & slow burning anthemic sound, topped with large swathes of guitars, helped define the indie rock sound of the early 2000s. They toured extensively, including with Grandaddy & Coldplay, acquiring a cult following in the UK, Spain & Japan. The group went on to release four albums in total; 'Just Backward of Square', 'Welcome To Winners', 'Keep Music Miserable' and 'Promise Lands'.