Lost in the Trees is the brainchild of singer/guitarist Ari Picker, who formed the project after studying at Berklee College of Music and releasing the folk-influenced EP, Time Taunts Me, in 2007 under Trekky Records. Picker reinvigorated the project in 2008, assembling a new lineup that included members from Trekky Records and the University of North Carolina's orchestra program. The band's lush sophomore album, All Alone in an Empty House, was released in 2008 and reissued in 2010 after signing with Anti- Records, followed by the emotionally charged A Church That Fits Our Needs in 2012 and Past Life in 2014, the latter serving as the group's third album.

Lost in the Trees, initiated by Ari Picker, evolved from his early days with the B-Sides to a full-fledged ensemble incorporating strings, horns, and orchestration. Picker's personal tribulations, notably the loss of his mother in 2009, profoundly influenced the band's music, culminating in albums like A Church That Fits Our Needs. Their narrative-driven approach to music continued with Past Life in 2014, solidifying their place as a band that merges personal storytelling with intricate orchestral arrangements.