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Emily Armstrong (musician)

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Emily Armstrong
Armstrong performing in 2022
Armstrong performing in 2022
Background information
Birth nameEmily Marcia Armstrong
Born (1986-05-06) May 6, 1986 (age 38)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2005–present
Labels
Member of

Emily Marcia Armstrong (born May 6, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter and musician.[1] She cofounded Dead Sara in 2005 and was announced as Linkin Park's new co-lead vocalist in September 2024, in place of Chester Bennington who died in 2017.[2][3]

Early life

Armstrong was born and raised in Los Angeles. She started to write songs and play guitar when she was 11 and began to sing when she was 15. She dropped out of high school; she knew she wanted to be in a rock band as soon as she picked up the guitar, and had no interest in pursuing anything else.[4] In an interview with the El Paso Times in 2012, Armstrong said music was the one thing that kept her motivated in life.[5]

Career

Dead Sara

In 2002, Armstrong began playing with guitarist Siouxsie Medley, who she met through a mutual friend. They had similar taste in music; both Medley and Armstrong were influenced by Nirvana and L7, among others, and 1960s and 1970s folk and blues artists and classic rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, and Fleetwood Mac.[6] As a songwriter, Armstrong was significantly influenced by folk rock. Her interest in open and alternate tunings, such as those used by Mitchell, resulted in what Guitar World referred to as Dead Sara's signature sound.[7] As a performer, she was influenced by artists including Iggy Pop and Janis Joplin.[8]

Initially known as Epiphany, Dead Sara's first gig was at the Los Angeles nightclub The Mint in March 2005. In addition to singing, Armstrong played the bass.[7] They toured for the first time in 2007, and in 2010 founded their own indie label, Pocket Kid Records, releasing their full-length debut, Dead Sara, on the label in 2012.[9] The first single from the album, "Weatherman", was an indie rock hit. Following the album's release,[10] in addition to playing support slots in the US and Europe for artists including Muse, Dead Sara were featured on the Warped Tour.[10]

Dead Sara's second album, Pleasure to Meet You, and a 4-song EP, Covers, also came out on Pocket Kid. Covers included two versions of Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box", Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name", and Patti Smith's "Ask the Angels". In 2018, the EP Temporary Things Taking Up Space was released on Atlantic.[11] They recorded their third album, Ain't It Tragic, during the COVID-19 lockdown. It was released on Warner Records in 2021.[12]

Linkin Park

On September 5, 2024, it was revealed that Armstrong had joined Linkin Park as colead vocalist, debuting with the band at a livestreamed event on the same day. They performed and released "The Emptiness Machine", the lead single of the group's forthcoming album From Zero, which will be released on November 15, 2024.[2][3] Linkin Park will embark on a six-date arena tour across four continents, beginning on September 11 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood and concluding at the Coliseo Medplus in Bogotá on November 11.[13]

Other recorded and live appearances

Armstrong received significant attention as a singer even before the release of Dead Sara's debut. Noting her "strong, urgent sound", Grace Slick said Armstrong was a singer she admired in an interview with the Wall Street Journal in 2011,[14] and Courtney Love brought Armstrong to New York to sing on Hole's 2010 album, Nobody's Daughter.[10] She has recorded and/or performed live with artists including The Offspring,[15] Beck, Demi Lovato,[16] Awolnation,[17] and Robby Krieger of the Doors.[18]

Controversy

Controversy related to Armstrong's alleged affiliation with the Church of Scientology[19] and her relationship with convicted rapist Danny Masterson was revived after it was revealed that she had joined Linkin Park. The controversy first arose while Masterson was on trial in 2023.[20][21]

Discography

Dead Sara

Linkin Park

References

  1. ^ Mervis, S; Alpert, E (July 14, 2012). "Warped Tour All Punked Out as Usual". Pittsburgh Post Gazette (via ProQuest). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (2024-09-05). "Inside Linkin Park's Secret Comeback". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  3. ^ a b Paul, Larisha (2024-09-06). "Linkin Park Unveil Emily Armstrong as New Co-Vocalist, Announce 2024 World Tour and Album". RollingStone. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  4. ^ Burger, David (September 24, 2012). "Song of the Day: X96 Big Ass Show performer Dead Sara's 'The Weatherman'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  5. ^ Pullen, Doug (May 22, 2012). "Dead Sara Rocks Up a Storm on New CD". El Paso Times (Retrieved via ProQuest).
  6. ^ Law, Sam (2022-05-11). "5 Reasons Why You Need to Check Out Dead Sara". Kerrang!. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  7. ^ a b Arrieta, Vincent (2022-04-14). "How Dead Sara take Joni Mitchell's approach to alternate tunings and apply it to the ferocious world of rock 'n' roll". Guitar World. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  8. ^ "Entertainment - Technorati". technorati.com. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  9. ^ Lymangrover, Jason. "Biography: Dead Sara". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  10. ^ a b c Baltin, Steve (2012-03-28). "Dead Sara Gears Up for Breakout Year". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  11. ^ Graff, Gary (2018-05-04). "Dead Sara Is Back With 'UnAmerican' Video From Upcoming EP: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  12. ^ "How LA rock band Dead Sara found inspiration during the pandemic for album 'Ain't It Tragic'". Daily News. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  13. ^ Garcia, Thania (September 5, 2024). "Linkin Park Selects Emily Armstrong From Rock Band Dead Sara as New Singer, Reveals Tour and Album 'From Zero'". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  14. ^ Myers, Marc (April 29, 2011). "She Chased White Rabbits". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  15. ^ Punknews.org (2013-01-15). "Videos: The Offspring: "Gone Away" (w/ Emily Armstrong)". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  16. ^ Ruggieri, Melissa. "Demi Lovato excavates demons with honesty on new album: 'I can't believe I'm not dead,' she sings". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  17. ^ "AWOLNATION announce new album, unveil "Jump Sit Stand March" feat. Dead Sara's Emily Armstrong". Consequence. 2024-05-31. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  18. ^ Baltin, Steve. "The Doors' John Densmore On Paying Tribute To Ray Manzarek, Supporting The Youth And More". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  19. ^ Ortega, Tony (September 19, 2020). "Read Danny Masterson's 'demurrer' he's hoping will get his criminal charges dismissed". The Underground Bunker. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  20. ^ "Linkin Park Fans Re-Share Cedric-Bixler Zavala's Message to Emily Armstrong Over Alleged Links to Scientology and Danny Masterson". NME. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  21. ^ Blistein, Jon (2024-09-06). "Cedric Bixler-Zavala Slams Linkin Park's Emily Armstrong Over Alleged Danny Masterson Support". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
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