With her experimental and intimate music, American Liz Harris from Portland, Oregon, appeared in 2005 with the solo project Grouper, releasing her first self-titled work on CD-R. Taking the genres dark ambient, drone, dream pop, post-rock as references, Grouper has since released a series of obscure works, but which reverberated in the independent scene. Way Their Crept, their first official album, released back in 2005 on the Free Porcupine label, was well received by critics.

Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill, their 2008 album, was featured on several best of the year lists, including publications such as Pitchfork, Stereogum and Drowned in Sound.

Musician Liz Harris gained more notoriety with Grouper in 2013 when she released the album The Man Who Died In His Boat. The following year, in October, Ruins came out.

In 2015, she appeared in a trio called Helen, who released the album The Original Faces. Grouper returned in 2018 with Grid of Points. A new album,Shade, was released in 2021.