While living in
Providence, Rhode Island, Stark began performing as Lavender Diamond in a play that she and
puppeteer Xander Marro wrote, created and toured with called
Birdsongs of the Bauharoque inspired by the work of artist
Paul Laffoley. A self-produced CD of Stark's songs accompanied the tour in a hand-sewn,
silkscreened sleeve. Lavender Diamond became a duo and eventually a four-piece band after Stark relocated to Los Angeles. With the help of local patrons Brian Kaneda and Josh Scuteri, Lavender Diamond self-released a four-song
EP and performed at L.A.'s
ArthurFest, at
South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and at the
CMJ New Music Seminar in
New York City. In
2006 Lavender Diamond signed to
Rough Trade Records in
Europe, and
Matador Records in the U.S., and toured and performed with
The Decemberists for three weeks. In 2007 the band released its first full-length album,
Imagine Our Love and appeared on the
Madonna tribute/
charity record,
Through the Wilderness. In 2009 they covered
"Purple Rain" for
SPIN Magazine's tribute to
Prince's Purple Rain. The band parted ways with Matador and went on hiatus for a few years while its members continued to work and play in other projects. In 2011, the original Lavender Diamond lineup reunited for a few concerts in the Los Angeles area, and in 2012 released their second album,
Incorruptible Heart. Bandmember/cartoonist
Ron Rege Jr. furnishes Lavender Diamond with all of its artwork. ==Members==