The band later expanded to include Catherine Tully on violin, Andy George on cello, and Rob Dean on drums, while Johnson became the main singer and songwriter.
In February 2006, the band released its first album, The Bright Carvings, on the small independent record label Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation.
The band appeared at several festivals in the UK, including Latitude, Green Man, Truck, Secret Garden Party and End of the Road.
In 2009, she and Kevin Gori formed Nat Johnson and the Figureheads, who released albums on Damaged Goods Records and Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation.
MTSU reformed for a one-off gig at Queens Social Club in Sheffield in March 2016 to mark the 10th anniversary of the release of The Bright Carvings.