Ryan Nelson and Melissa Quinley met as co-workers at Dischord Records[3] and began writing songs together in Nelson's house.[4] Slowly a collection of fourteen tracks was amassed that the duo released on Dischord as "Volunteered" Civility & Professionalism in 2006.[4][5] Nelson then relocated to Flint, Michigan to attend school[3] and the project was put on hiatus.[2]
When Nelson returned to Washington D.C. in 2012,[2] the two reunited and added keyboardist/guitarist Jason Hutto (The Aquarium, Warm Sun) and Quinley's husband,[3] drummer Dennis Kane.[2] This lineup released the band's second album, Real Lessons In Cynicism, in 2015.[6][7]