The Secret Handshake is the musical project of self-taught musician Luis Dubuc, who began performing under the name in the early 2000s. Dubuc first got his start playing in a couple of bands with his friends, most notably spending time as the drummer for metallic hardcore unit Thirty Called Arson, who released the album You're Only a Rebel from the Waist Down through Pluto Records in 2003. Inspired by artists like Michael Jackson and Daft Punk, he eventually began writing and recording some songs on the side in his Dallas-based bedroom with just a laptop and Wurlitzer to assist him. By November 2004, Dubuc had self-released his first full-length album, entitled Antarctica. Less than a year later, he followed up with the EP This Is Bigger Than You and I, which was issued through Doll House Recordings. Momentum began building around his quirky electro laptop pop/rock, at times resembling Hellogoodbye's antics and resonating with emo kids looking for a good time. Another EP, Summer of '98 (as in the summer before he started high school), was released in early 2007 through New York's Triple Crown Records, anchored by the vocoder-heavy title track. Dubuc worked closely with his friend Cory Kilduff (from the Rise) on the album, which also contained remixes by acts like the Dillinger Escape Plan and Spank Rock's Ronnie Darko. The Secret Handshake, whose live show includes a full band, spent fall 2007 on the road with Jonezetta.