The songs 'Ode to Sleep', 'Holding on to You', 'Car Radio', 'Guns for Hands', and 'Trees' were taken from their previous independent album, Regional at Best, and re-recorded for Vessel as a result, the former project was pulled from distribution by the band's label. The duo signed to Fueled by Ramen in 2012. The band played their last show as an unsigned band at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio, to a crowd of 1,800 in attendance. The pair soon gained popularity through a series of videos made by friend Mark C. In June, the duo played their first out-of-state show to a group of 12 people. The band released Regional at Best later that year. Joseph said that he 'loved' the performance. Joseph first saw Dun when he was playing a show with House of Heroes.
Soon afterwards, Josh Dun joined the band Joseph had been friends with Dun for around a year. Both Thomas and Salih parted ways with the band in 2011. The group released their debut album Twenty One Pilots. High-school colleagues Tyler Joseph, Nick Thomas, and Chris Salih formed Twenty One Pilots in 2009.
