Adams developed an interest in music at an early age and became proficient in the clarinet. She studied composition at
Brown University where she graduated in 2008. While performing with the Low Anthem, Adams released a solo album
Bed of Notions in 2011. Adams met Miller in 2012 and began collaborating, inviting Belli to join later that year. In 2013, it was announced that Adams had left the Low Anthem to pursue her new project, noting that she wanted "to have more creative freedom". In between, Adams briefly worked as a NASA technician. Arc Iris's first, self-titled album was released on April 1, 2014 through the Los Angeles-based record label
ANTI- Records. Co-produced by Dan Cardinal, it was recorded in Boston while the artwork was created by Kacie Smith. It was described as 'traditional music thrillingly positioned at the nexus of the old and new'. The band toured as support to
Nicole Atkins,
St. Vincent and
Tweedy and filmed a video for the song "Whiskey Man" directed by Matt Wignall. On June 2, 2016,
Bella Union announced the release of Arc Iris's second record,
Moon Saloon. The album's first single, "Kaleidoscope" premiered on
Stereogum. The band recorded the album over a five day period as they had been invited to perform as support to St Vincent on her UK tour. On August 5, 2016,
NPR's
All Songs Considered debuted the video for 'Moon Saloon' which was shot entirely on a 360 degree camera. In 2017, Arc Iris toured a complete reimagination of
Joni Mitchell's
Blue. On August 7, 2017, Arc Iris announced the formation of an offshoot band called Bwahaha that featured Ryan Miller of
Guster. In early 2018, the band toured alongside
Kimbra. On July 27, 2018, Arc Iris released their third album,
Foggy Lullaby, a complete re-imagination of Joni Mitchell's
Blue. Shortly after releasing
Foggy Lullaby, the band announced the release of
Icon of Ego on
Ba Da Bing Records and premiered "$GNMS" a reworking of "Money Gnomes" off their debut album. In January 2020, the band premiered their performance art piece, iTMRW: Sci-Fi Ballet which featured six dancers of the HDC Dance Ensemble. In mid 2020, the band relocated to Los Angeles and currently host a monthly concert series called 'Live at Glass Hill'. April 2023 saw the release of the band's fifth full length, We Found Home, released on Press on Records. ==Discography==