The Dear Hunter was originally intended as a vehicle for music Crescenzo had written that did not fit with the sound of the Receiving End of Sirens.
While elements and characters featured on the demos would reappear on the subsequent Acts, Crescenzo has confirmed that there was a transformation in how he represented these themes and persons; while the story had its origins in his personal life, the Acts removed most autobiographical elements in favor of fiction: The reason I originally wrote it is obviously because I was bitter.
I went through something with a girl, and like most immature artist people, you write about it and complain a lot...And that is why I didn't want anyone to hear those (songs from the demo)...I think I did what any writer does – they include themselves in their work to an extent as much as they can, since that is your only real link to humanity – what you experience.
[3]In May 2006, Crescenzo was "asked to leave" the Receiving End of Sirens[2] and began working on the Dear Hunter's first studio album.
She decides to raise him removed from harsh realities, and tries to abandon her life as well- but her selflessness soon turns her back to old habits, and she ruins herself for him.
Shortly after the release of Act I, Crescenzo recruited Luke Dent of the recently split band Faraway for vocals and keyboards and Erick Serna as a second guitarist.
Originally, the band had written almost 2 hours of music for the album, but managed to trim the run time down to 80 minutes so as to fit on a single compact disc.
Prior to a string of dates with Circa Survive, Josh Rheault and brothers Sam and Luke Dent left the band.
[7] Wildrick later joined the band as a permanent member, along with Sagan Jacobson of Crown Atlantic on bass and Crescenzo's brother Nick on drums.
On December 9, 2008, it was announced that Nate Patterson, Crescenzo's former bandmate in the Receiving End of Sirens, would begin playing bass for the band, as Sagan Jacobson had left.
After the headlining tour, the Dear Hunter entered the studio to record Act III: Life and Death.
[8] During this time, former bassist Josh Rheault announced on tour that he had rejoined the Dear Hunter on acoustic guitar, backing vocals, and keyboards.
[9] At some point prior to the completion of The Color Spectrum, Josh Rheault and Erick Serna both left the band to pursue their respective musical projects.
As you double vocals, they lose their intimate inflection, and whatever transparent emotion that's trying to be conveyed in them is washed out, which can be a good thing.
[14] The band embarked on a month-long North American tour with Gavin Castleton and Eisley in late September, finishing with a show in San Francisco accompanied by Awesöme Orchestra.
On February 14, 2020, the Dear Hunter released an orchestral LP in collaboration with composer Brian Adam McCune and San Francisco-based group Awesöme Orchestra through Cave and Canary Goods.
Castleton cited being at a point in his life that he cannot "[contribute] the appropriate time, energy and focus" that the "many amazing and ambitious TDH events and releases" would require.
On October 22, 2021, the band released The Indigo Child EP, consisting of orchestral works based on their short film of the same name, and the future concept album saga.
On October 25–29, 2021, the Dear Hunter (along with touring keyboardist Aiden Earley) took part on the S.S. Neverender cruise along with Coheed and Cambria.
On February 4, 2022, the Dear Hunter announced an upcoming American tour with special guests The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die and Tanner Merritt of O'Brother.
The album is the first record in the band's sci-fi/fantasy-themed "Indigo Child" saga, introducing the titular city, and its geographical and social structure on a fictional world.