The band was a trio from 1993 to 2020, having featured four different bassists. Parker was a member from its formation low calorie protein brownies her death in 2022. The music of Low is characterized by slow tempos and minimalist arrangements. Early descriptions sometimes referred to it as a rock subgenre called “slowcore” often compared to the band Bedhead, who played this style during the early 1990s.

The band formed in early 1993. Sparhawk had been playing in the Superior, Wisconsin band Zen Identity, the core of which was formed by drummer Robb Berry and vocalist Bill Walton. That band needed a new bassist, and recruited future Low bassist John Nichols. Low’s debut album, I Could Live in Hope, was released on Virgin Records’ Vernon Yard imprint in 1994. By the time of their next full-length album, 1999’s Secret Name, Low had moved to the independent label Kranky. In between, they released several singles and EPs. The following year saw the release of the band’s final full-length on Kranky, Trust.