The indie pop band Charming was formed in the fall of 1994 by University of Virginia engineering students Ravi Krishnaswami (guitar/songs) and Dave Sherwin (drums); with the addition of singer Shana Lie-Nelson, guitarist Jamie Perez and bassist Chris Garvey, the group began attracting a fervent local following, eventually recording the Ritual EP on Krishnaswami's four-track machine. A lengthy hiatus followed, during which time both Lie-Nelson and Perez quit the band; with new vocalist Nicole Stoops, Charming recorded their excellent 1997 debut LP Giant for the Twee Kitten label, swapping bassist John Ciccone for Garvey a short time later.