Formed in 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the group consisted of vocalist Jane Smith, guitarists Aaron Hunt and Austin Livingood, bassist Mitch Winsett, and percussionist Wes Comer.
Prior to forming Belle Histoire, lead vocalist Jane Smith and drummer Wes Comer were members of the pop punk band Formulas.
[23] That same month, Belle Histoire returned to the MidPoint Indie Summer Series alongside The Bright Light Social Hour, Buffalo Killers, Khaira Arby, Wymond Miles of The Fresh & Onlys, Art vs. Science, The Psychodots, Lydia Loveless, Patrick Sweany, Ha Ha Tonka, The Ridges, Orgone, Bear Hands, Lightning Love, Fort Lean, The Budos Band, Kansas Bible Company, Class Actress, Wussy, and R.
[28] Belle Histoire toured with The Orphan The Poet throughout July,[29] and performed at the inaugural Bunbury Music Festival, headlined by Jane's Addiction, Weezer, and Death Cab for Cutie with acts including Neon Trees, Crash Kings, The Airborne Toxic Event, Foxy Shazam, Imagine Dragons, Manchester Orchestra, Grouplove, The Gaslight Anthem, Guided by Voices, and City and Colour; Belle Histoire shared a stage with Child Bite, Now, Now, Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, and Passion Pit (the latter of whom cancelled due to illness).
[30][31] They played a stop on Chiodos Reunion Tour in August,[32] and in September, they made their debut at the main MidPoint Music Festival, with a lineup including Pomegranates, Mad Anthony, Bad Veins, and The Antlers.
[35][36] In April, the band once again played the MidPoint Indie Summer Series, this time alongside We Were Promised Jetpacks, Mike Mains & The Branches, The Dopamines, Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, Matt Pond, Plumb, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, and Why?.
[2] An appearance by Smith on season 4 of the reality singing series The Voice, where she covered Florence and the Machine's "You've Got the Love", solidified her decision to pursue a solo career rather than continue the band.
[1] Other outlets drew comparisons to Regina Spektor, Florence and the Machine, The Civil Wars, Eisley, Deas Vail, Laura Stevenson and the Cans, Feist, States, Madi Diaz, Ingrid Michaelson, and Stars.
[23][38][39][20][15][13] Band members cited influences including Coldplay, Young the Giant, Phantom Planet, Fun., The Civil Wars, Bruce Springsteen, Josh Ritter, James Taylor, Sara Bareilles, and jazz music.