Introduction
Emily Marcia Armstrong (born May 6, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She cofounded Dead Sara in 2005 and was announced as Linkin Park's new co-lead vocalist in September 2024, replacing Chester Bennington who died in 2017.
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. In an interview with the El Paso Times in 2012, Armstrong said music was the one thing that kept her motivated in life.
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. 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. As a performer, she was influenced by artists including Iggy Pop and Janis Joplin.
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. 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. The first single from the album, "Weatherman", was an indie rock hit. Following the album's release, in addition to playing support slots in the US and Europe for artists including Muse, Dead Sara were featured on the Warped Tour.
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. They recorded their third album, Ain't It Tragic, during the COVID-19 lockdown. It was released on Warner Records in 2021.
Linkin Park
On September 5, 2024, it was revealed that Armstrong had joined Linkin Park as co-lead 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. 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.
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, and Courtney Love brought Armstrong to New York to sing on Hole's 2010 album, Nobody's Daughter. She has recorded and/or performed live with artists including The Offspring, Beck, Demi Lovato, Awolnation, and Robby Krieger of the Doors.
Discography
Dead Sara
- Dead Sara (2012)
- Pleasure to Meet You (2015)
- Ain't It Tragic (2021)
Linkin Park
- From Zero (2024)