The band was announced via Iraheta's Twitter feed on January 3, 2013 when she said she "felt like doing something different"[1] and announced she had a new band called Halo Circus which would be opening for Teddy Campbell on January 26, 2013 at The Troubador in West Hollywood, California.[2] Iraheta was previously a solo singer; she met David Immerman and Valerie Franco while promoting her debut album, Just Like You. Franco was her drummer, and Immerman her guitarist, while performing as the opening act for Adam Lambert's Glam Nation Tour alongside Orianthi in 2010. She met Hagger when Immerman had asked her to record vocals on a song Hager and him had been working on. After the recording, Hager asked Iraheta "What are you doing? You should be writing". Shortly after they began to write a few songs together, then the band Halo Circus was formed. Iraheta explained the name of the band was "spiritual, mystical, and mysterious" and that is why she liked it. She further explained that Halo meant "the sacredness of life," and that circus is "the craziness of the world we live in."[3] Allison eloped with Hager the day after their first gig on January 27, 2013. She announced it public via twitter on May 23, 2013.[2]
There was an intimate performance, interview with Iraheta, and article about the band featured on The Yahoo Music and The Rolling Stone websites on February 21, 2013.[3][4] The band was also featured on The Hollywood Reporter website on April 17, 2013 when Iraheta talked about her previous experiences as a solo singer and her future with the band. She said the delay in her music was because she was "Done singing" and "In a sad place". Iraheta felt this was because she had previously been dropped by the record label, Jive. She also mentioned the band's second gig, at The Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California that night.[5] Most recently, they played their third gig at The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, California on May 21, 2013. They played a 45 minute set.[2] On May 30, 2013 footage from this performance, along with an interview with Iraheta and Hager was featured on the NBC Latino website. In the interview, Hager said "Allison happens to be one of the finest vocalists I've ever heard on every level".[6]
It was announced on June 14, 2013 that Franco would be leaving the band.[7] The band played their fourth gig at The Whisky A Go Go on June 22, 2013, with new drummer, Veronica Bellino.[8] The band is played their fifth gig, free of charge, at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach, California on June 29, 2013.[9] For their sixth gig, Iraheta and Immerman returned to their roots, when the band opened for Adam Lambert at the California Mid State Fair in Paso Robles, California on July 19, 2013.[10]
It was announced July 23, 2013 that the band had made a record deal with Manimal Vinyl. It was announced the first single would be "Gone", set to be released October 8, 2013. The single was the first song they'd had ever written together; before they were even officially a band. The song is based on Iraheta's struggle from previously being dropped by Jive Records. The debut album is set to be released sometime in early 2014. Iraheta said the album's sound draws influences from Roy Orbison and Rihanna.[3][11] It was previously stated the album will be available through CD, Vinyl, and digital download.[12]