The alternative rock band, Tonic emerged from Los Angeles in 1993 to become famous for their emotional lyrics and their radio-friendly sound which helped establish post-grunge rock during the late 1990s. Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo formed Tonic in 1993 after growing up together and later added Dan Lavery on bass and Dan Rothchild as the original bassist to complete their lineup in the thriving rock music scene of the time.

The platinum-selling debut album Lemon Parade (1996) brought Tonic to the mainstream through its enduring single "If You Could Only See." The song established itself as a dominant rock track throughout the decade by reaching Billboard's Mainstream Rock Top 10 and becoming a permanent fixture on adult alternative radio.