Christian punk-pop quartet Hawk Nelson formed in Peterborough, Ontario, in 2003. Originally comprising frontman Jason Dunn, guitarist Davin Clark, bassist Daniel Biro, and drummer Matt Paige, the group's self-released debut EP, Saturday Rock Action, earned the attention of fellow Peterborough native Trevor McNevan, vocalist of Tooth and Nail label act Thousand Foot Krutch, and thanks to McNevan's cheerleading the label extended a contract offer to Hawk Nelson, who issued their full-length debut, Letters to the President, in mid-2004. That fall the band co-starred in an episode of the NBC drama American Dreams, portraying the Who and delivering a performance of the classic "My Generation." Clark and Paige exited the lineup soon after, and with new guitarist Jonathan Steingard and drummer Aaron "Sqwid" Tosti, Hawk Nelson made a cameo appearance in the 2005 Hollywood family film Yours, Mine & Ours, performing their song "Bring ‘Em Out." Their sophomore LP, Smile, It's the End of the World, followed in the spring of 2006.