The band has released three official EPs and three full-length LPs and toured on the festival circuit in the United States, including SXSW and CMJ, as well as national tours with RX Bandits, These Arms Are Snakes, mewithoutYou, Foals, So Many Dynamos, Ra Ra Riot, Minus the Bear, Princeton, The Fall of Troy, Nurses, Pattern Is Movement, Good Old War, Portugal.

Bassist Shiraz Dada, drummer Chris Hainey, Dave Davison (guitar and vocals), and guitarist Erin Elders first came together trying to find a sound that was both technical and organic, in the same vein as their influences Don Caballero and Hella.

[1] Regarding their musicianship, Elders said that Maps & Atlases' goal as a band was "to put existing technical elements in a new context, and create something artistically unique, but still accessible.

"[6] The band toured Trees, Swallows, Houses for nearly two years, gaining a local following with shows around the Midwest, playing alongside acts including Russian Circles, Matt & Kim, Karma with a K, and Rahim.

NPR described the EP as "a supercharged mix of odd meters, intertwining guitar runs and hurried, half-spoken vocals that pass so quickly, it's nearly impossible to follow with just one listen.

[8] The band spent the majority of 2009 writing and recording songs for their first full-length album with producer Jason Cupp (Finch, American Football, Anthony Green, Nurses, Good Old War, and more) at various studio locations.

While scant on original material, the EP was positively received, with Heather Steele of The 405 commenting, "Living Decorations does not fit the math rock mould of Maps & Atlases past.

[14] In an October 2015 interview with Nashville college radio station WRVU, Davison commented on playing Maps & Atlases shows as a trio: "It’s interesting.

Davison also addressed the band's nearly six-year apparent hiatus from record-making, during which the group (minus Elders) played occasional shows but released no new recorded music as Maps & Atlases.

The downtime eventually culminated in a series of shows in early 2018 (including a short Japan tour), various teases through the band's social media channels[18] and more.

In addition to the band, the members of Maps & Atlases have had various side projects – some official and others informal, occasional, or uncredited, throughout the indie music scene.

He appeared on Sargent House label mate Good Old War's 2008 release, Only Way to Be Alone, playing guitar on the track "Weak Man".

[20] He also provided guest vocals on "ART SCHOOL CRUSH," a track from the 2013 record "Bootie Noir" by fellow Chicago artist NNAMDÏ.