Formed in Ithaca, New York in 2009, X Ambassadors originally featured Harris' keyboardist brother Casey Harris, childhood friend/guitarist Noah Feldshuh, and drummer Adam Levin. Initially calling themselves Ambassadors, they released a self-titled EP in 2009. To the bandmembers' surprise, their song "Litoist" garnered online buzz and was eventually put into rotation on Virginia's 96X radio station. Another song, "Unconsolable," also drew listeners, and the attention helped score the group a management deal and recording contract.

 

 

In 2018, they returned with their own single, "Joyful," the title track from a planned sophomore release. However, by 2019 the band had canceled that album and instead moved forward with the release of the full-length Orion. Produced by X Ambassadors along with Ricky Reed, Earwulf, and others, Orion featured the singles "Boom," "Hey Child," and "Hold You Down," as well as the track "Confidence" featuring K. Flay.