Somos began in July 2012 when they self-released a demo titled Demo 2012. On March 25, 2014, Somos released their first full-length album titled Temple of Plenty via Tiny Engines. On November 4, 2014, Somos released a split with fellow emo band Sorority Noise via Bad Timing Records. On February 24, 2015, Somos and Have Mercy released a split via No Sleep Records. On November 30, 2015, Somos announced they have signed to Hopeless Records with plans to release their sophomore full-length album sometime in 2016. On December 29, 2016, Somos announced via their Instagram that they would be taking an indefinite break but promised fans that it was not a permanent end to the band. On August 22, 2017, Somos returned with the release of single "Strangers On the Train". On August 10, 2019, founding band member Phil Haggerty committed suicide. According to Erikson Institute Director Jane G. Tillman, Ph.D., ABPP: “Suicide is more than a mental health crisis; it reflects a sociocultural and a policy crisis. Suicide occurs at the intersection of a person’s biopsychosocial factors and public policy.” On August 12, 2019, Somos' third full length album was rush-released by Tiny Engines Records, Prison On A Hill, with the goal of assist in paying for Phil's funeral expenses, with excess funds being donated to the Heather Heyer Foundation for positive social change. This early release had nearly 1000 downloads in the first 24 hours. Phil Haggerty was known as a staunch social justice advocate, assisting with the Port of Oakland shutdown alongside Somos bandmate Michael Fiorentino during the Occupy movement. The Occupy movement was about standing up for employee rights, by vigorously joining local union activities. Making Boston news in 2019, Phil was pulling down racist signs "without hesitation" in his East Boston neighborhood with his longterm girlfriend and "soulmate" Olivia Mignosa and as a direct result Phil assisted with and promoted Maverick Square Unity meetings. -Zoe Camp writes, regarding "Prison On a Hill:" "For 99.9% of artists, surprise album drops are all about spectacle: breaking the internet, flipping the bird to record labels and leakers, and—all together now—doing it for the fans. Then there’s the Massachusetts indie-rock band Somos, who made their third album Prison on a Hill available for purchase this week ahead of its street date later this autumn — not because they wanted to cause a viral disruption or make a statement, but because tragic circumstances demand proper tribute and prompt action. More specifically, they did it for Phil Haggerty, their 28-year-old guitarist, who passed away over the weekend; all proceeds from the LP—a heartfelt mix of emo ballads and pop-punk bangers, gussied up with some new wave—will help pay for his funeral expenses. It’s an especially fitting send-off for Haggerty, whose sultry, scraping strums lend an infectious frisson to standout tracks like “Untraceable Past” and “Ammunition.” A standout album for a strong cause: don’t wait around."
