Defined by Becky Stark's airy soprano vocals and idealistic lyrics, Lavender Diamond sees their music as an instrument of peace, justice, and hope. When the band first appeared in the early 2000s, they were associated with the era's indie folk scene, but even on early releases like 2005's Cavalry of Light EP, Lavender Diamond had more in common with the earthy yet ethereal sounds of Vashti Bunyan, Linda Ronstadt, and Carole King than with most of their contemporaries. Though their releases were sporadic after 2007's debut album Imagine Our Love, the open-hearted purity music remained whenever they reunited, and on 2020's Now Is the Time, their messages of healing and optimism were more relevant than ever.

Lavender Diamond's origins go back to Bird Songs of the Bauharoque, an early 2000s punk operetta inspired by the work of American painter/architect Paul Laffoley. Created by Stark and puppeteer Xander Marro while she lived in Providence, Rhode Island, Stark starred in the production as Lavender Diamond, a winsome part bird/part human who wants peace on earth. The indie stage show was a hit and toured 56 cities across North America in 2003. Stark's self-produced, self-released debut album Artifacts of the Winged was sold during the tour. That year Lavender Diamond also contributed the track "Emptiness Is a Conductor" to Hen House Studios Anthology 3 and self-released the single "When Are You Coming Home?"

To further her music career, Stark moved to Los Angeles in 2004. She soon connected with former Brown classmate and guitarist Jeff Rosenberg (also of Pink Brown, Tarentel, and Young People) and the pair formed a country-pop act. Stark also played classical arias and Tin Pan Alley originals with pianist Steve Gregoropoulos (W.A.C.O.). With former Swirlies drummer Ron Regé Jr., she formed the psychedelic doo-pop combo Mystical Unionists, who issued the EP An Introduction to The Mystical Union of Souls. Eventually, the members from these projects joined forces as Lavender Diamond, and in 2004 the project released "Themepark Ashtray," a 2004 split single with Vague Angels on the Pretty Activity label. In 2005, the Cavalry of Light EP appeared, followed by a split 7" with Queens of Sheeba for Cold Sweat later that year.

Lavender Diamond's steady stream of releases and performances at ArthurFest, South by Southwest, and the CMJ New Music Seminar led them to sign with Rough Trade and Matador in late 2006. The following January saw the reissue of Cavalry of Light, while the band's breezy debut album Imagine Our Love appeared that May. Also in 2007, Lavender Diamond contributed a version of "Like a Prayer" to the Madonna tribute album Through the Wilderness. Two years later, they performed the title track of Prince's Purple Rain on Spin Magazine's tribute to the album, Purplish Rain.

After leaving their labels, the members of Lavender Diamond took some time off from the project. Stark appeared in films including City of Ember, performed with the Decemberists, and appeared on John C. Reilly's installments of the Blue series of singles on Third Man Records. After playing a few shows together in 2011, Stark and the rest of the band reunited to record their second album with OKGO's Damian Kulash, Jr. and Dave Fridmann. The results, Incorruptible Heart, arrived in September 2012. Another hiatus followed, during which Stark performed with Eleni Mandell and Inara George as Living Sisters and with She Him. The trio of Stark, Gregoropoulos, and Regé Jr. reunited once more for December 2020's Now Is the Time. Written and produced by Lavender Diamond, the album featured contributions from Bright Eyes' Nathaniel Walcott, SASAMI, guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and Tucker Martine. ~ Heather Phares & MacKenzie Wilson, Rovi