Evanescence

Formed by lead singer Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody in 1995, the duo had met a year earlier at a youth camp in Little Rock, Arkansas. Lee and Moody subsequently began writing and recording songs together, which included the early tracks “Solitude”, “Give Unto Me”, “Understanding”, and “My Immortal”. A couple of these songs found their way onto local radio, following which the pair performed their first live show and settled on the name Evanescence. In 1998 the band released their debut self-titled EP, limited to a hundred copies, followed a year later by the EP “Whisper”.

Later in 1999 Evanescence invited keyboard player and drummer David Hodges to expand the lineup, who recorded on the band’s debut album “Origin” in 2000. Evanescence subsequently signed with Wind-up Records, who relocated the band to Los Angeles and gave them living and rehearsal space on top of vocal and acting classes. After two years, in which time drummer Rocky Gray, rhythm guitarist John LeCompt, and bassist Will Boyd were added to the lineup, the band completed their label debut.

Featuring Dave Fortman on production duties, Evanescence released “Fallen” in March 2003, becoming one of the year’s most successful albums. Debuting at No. 7 however rising to No. 3 on the Billboard 200, the gothic-inspired, metal crunching, climatic-pop release secured five Grammy nominations of which the band won Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance. The record was led by the smash hit single “Bring Me to Life”, which charted in over 15 countries and secured platinum certification. The album transformed Evanescence into an internationally recognised group, and was supported by an extensive worldwide tour.

Following the supporting tour bassist Will Boyd left the group to spend time with his family, with former Revolution Smile guitarist Tim McCord taking his place. The band’s official sophomore album, “The Open Door”, was released in October 2006 and eclipsed the success of their debut by topping the U.S. Billboard 200. Led by the single “Call Me When You’re Sober”, the album earned a string of positive reviews and was once again supported with relentless touring.

In 2011 Evanescence returned from touring and time out to released their self-titled, third studio album. Once again topping the Billboard 200, the record is seen as a cohesive, creative, and progressive album for the group which lends infleunces from gothic rock, nu metal, and electro. Spanwing the singles “What You Want”, “My Heart is Broke”, and “Lost in Paradise”, the record’s supporting tour was alongside The Pretty Reckless and Fair to Midland.

Influenced profoundly by her guitar-playing father’s untimely death, in 2003 Flaherty enrolled at Stanford University, which is where the rapper first toyed with the idea of making rap music. Initially a statement on the simplistic and misogynistic nature of modern rap music, Flaherty wrote and recorded the parodic song “Blingity Blang Blang”, and enjoyed it so much she vowed to continue. The rapper subsequently spent her freshman year experimenting with her style and recording tracks on her computer, before growing in confidence and playing to live audiences.

In 2004, whilst in her junior year, K. Flay issued her debut mixtape “Suburban Rap Queen” on Flayzer Beam Records. The record earned significant local buzz and the rapper’s subsequent shows were highly populated events. With her studies drawing to a close, it would be five years before the rapper released any new material with 2009’s “Mashed Potatoes” mixtape. Once again released on Flayzer Beam, the record was followed the collaborative EP “Single and Famous” alongside rapper MC Lars.

Infused with electro-pop instrumentation the rapper issued the mixtapes “I Stopped Caring in ’96” in 2011 and “West Ghost” in 2013. The same year Flaherty made her major-label debut on RCA Records with her 2013 EP “What If It Is”, which spawned the single “Rawks”. In order to release her first official studio album, “Life As A Dog”, Flaherty crowdfunded via PledgeMusic and released the record to contributors in June 2014. Charting at No. 14 on the Billboard Rap Albums chart and No. 133 on the Billboard 200, the record combines upbeat indie-rock with loose beats and well-crafted verses.