Virag Antal, founder of the group, learned to play the traditional folk instruments hurdy-gurdy, zither and cimbalom or hammered dulcimer while at school in Hungary.

[1] She started the group in 1993 at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music among fellow students as a project.

Before long the group started receiving requests to play at venues such as the indie-music nightclub The Zoo in Brisbane.

The band toured the east coast of Australia and performed at Australian music festivals including Livid, Big Day Out and WOMADelaide.

Paul Petran, Music Deli presenter for ABC Radio National, said that Tulipan "sound like no other band in Australia at the moment".