Natives of New York who grew up in Washington, D.C., the Nields sisters have been singing most of their lives. Narissa (b. June 2, 1967), who wrote her first songs at the age of seven, and Katryna (b. April 30, 1969), who was taught to sing by her father, spent hours singing together in the kitchen of their home and in the back seat of the family car. They strengthened their singing abilities after taking a class with Revel Singers director John Langstaff at the Potomac School.

Narissa and Katryna continued to sing together until separating to attend college. Katryna pursued an education in religion at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, while Narissa studied English at Yale University. After meeting David Jones, a graduate student and talented guitar player, Narissa fell in love. After their marriage in 1990, Jones took his wife's maiden name.

Following college, Narissa, Katryna and David Nields played at folk music coffeehouses in Washington, D.C. as an acoustic trio. In 1991, the Nields temporarily relocated to Windsor, Connecticut, where David worked as an English teacher and theater department chairman at the Loomis Chaff Boarding School.

The Nields' 1992 debut album, 66 Hoxsey Street, and second album, Live at the Iron Horse Music Hall, released in 1993 and recorded during a performance in Northampton, Massachusetts, spotlighted their three-way collaboration. The Nields expanded to a quintet prior to recording their third album, Bob On the Ceiling, produced by bassist Dave Chalfant (b. Jan. 31, 1968, Barcelona, Spain) in 1993. Although drummer Dave Hower (b. Jan. 8, 1967, New York) only played on five tracks, he became a full-fledged member of the band soon afterwards. The Nields' fourth album, Gotta Get Over Greta, was produced by Kevin Moloney, who previously oversaw recordings by U2 and Sinead O'Connor. Released by Razor & Tie in 1996, the album was reissued by EMI/Guardian the next year with three additional tracks. Play followed in 1998.

In addition to their work with the Nields, Narissa and Katryna Nields have sung harmony on Dar Williams' albums The Honesty Room and Mortal City.