Mystee began as the solo project of singer-songwriter and seasoned front woman Ilana Held, as an escape from the bleak reality of lockdown restrictions. Drawing inspiration from love and loss in the face of a long spree of bad luck, Held weaves an American folk mentality into her hook-laden indie pop music.

In 2023, after making the move from Boston to Colorado, Held joined forces with Josh, Keaton, and Joey, leveling Mystee up from a solitary project to a four-piece band.

Musically, Mystee draws inspiration from artists like Palehound, Soccer Mommy, and Snail Mail.