The band formed in 1994 under the moniker Flowing Tears & Withered Flowers. Under the first name, they released a demo called Bijou in 1995, two full-length albums: Swansongs in 1996 and Joy Parade in 1998, and an EP named Swallow in 1999. On Swansongs, Manfred Bersin contributed the male vocals. After the EP's release, the band abridged their name to Flowing Tears