Formed as a four-piece band in 2013, founding musicians Allison Iraheta and Matthew Hager re-established Halo Circus as a duo in 2018.
After Iraheta recorded vocals on a song Hager had been working on, they began to write together, and later decided to form a band.
They recruited drummer Valerie Franco and guitarist David Immerman, both of whom had performed previously with Iraheta, and founded Halo Circus.
[1] In an interview with New-Transcendence.com, Iraheta commented on the origin of the band's name: "We wanted a name that represented the lightness and darkness of the world we live in.
The band was signed to indie label Manimal Vinyl in 2013 and released the single "Gone", consisting of two mixes and a Spanish version of the song.
[citation needed] As Hager and Iraheta continued to collaborate as songwriters, the band played a series of high-profile shows.
[4] In February 2015, with Brian Stead replacing David Immerman, the band decided to shelve an album they had intended to release as their debut.
The "Desire" video, directed by Nick Egan, was shot in South Central L.A., with Iraheta wearing a pageant-style sash reading "Immigrant.
[2] The band's "Follow the Rabbit US Summer Tour" of small clubs kicked off in Southern California on August 18, 2016.
"[citation needed] On September 25, 2019, after an eight-month silence on social media, Iraheta announced on Facebook that Halo Circus would be disbanding due to her parting ways with Hager both professionally and personally.