Emily Armstrong has officially joined Linkin Park, yet her journey with the band almost began years earlier. During an insightful discussion on the Zach Sang Show (embedded below), it was revealed that one of Armstrong’s initial interactions with the iconic band occurred while they were preparing for the Chester Bennington tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl. This pivotal event marked a significant moment in both her career and the band’s history, showcasing the deep emotional connections within the music community.

Discover the Fascinating First Meeting Between Emily Armstrong and Mike Shinoda

During the engaging conversation, the two musicians shared the story of their first encounter. Mike Shinoda reminisced about how drummer Rob Bourdon was the one who initially suggested that Mike meet Emily. Although other friends also encouraged this introduction, Shinoda emphasized that their intentions were not to push Emily into becoming the band’s new vocalist. Interestingly, this coincided with Armstrong reaching out to Linkin Park’s members after hearing about the Bennington celebration, highlighting the serendipitous nature of their connection.

READ MORE: What Linkin Park Performed at 2017’s Chester Bennington Tribute Show

Armstrong expressed her eagerness to participate in the tribute event but had her reservations. “I was like, ‘Oh, I’d really like to do that.’ I shared my thoughts with friends, and they encouraged me to ask. I thought, ‘Oh, right. But they have everyone already involved,’” she recounted, reflecting on her initial doubts about joining such a storied lineup.

She continued, “I was thinking, ‘Who the heck am I? Why would they even consider me?’ I did reach out, but unfortunately, it was a bit late in the process.” Armstrong explained how someone had learned of her interest, but by then, the band had finalized their plans, making it impossible for her to join.

Shinoda shared his perspective on the situation, noting that they were already deep into rehearsals for the tribute show. “It was literally the week of the performance. We were already in the thick of rehearsing all the songs, and there was so much on our plates to prepare for the event that we didn’t want to disrupt our workflow,” he explained, shedding light on the logistical challenges they faced.

In hindsight, Shinoda believed that it was fortunate that Emily didn’t join them at that time. “[It] was lucky that it didn’t work out that way because by not having Emily present in that kind of space, when we eventually came together to create new music and bond, it felt like a blank slate,” he reflected, emphasizing the importance of timing in their collaborative journey.

How Emily Armstrong Proved Herself to the Band

As Linkin Park has shared in previous interviews, Armstrong was initially among several talented musicians who were invited to collaborate on new music as the original members began to rekindle their creative spark. It was only later that she was considered for not just singing with the band, but also for officially joining them in the relaunch of Linkin Park, a pivotal moment in the band’s evolution.

During the discussion, Mike Shinoda revealed that the decision to include Armstrong in the band happened quite naturally. He recalled a significant moment when the idea of reviving Linkin Park took a decisive turn. “I think the one big turning point came when Joe [Hahn] and I were discussing the new music we were writing. We had already created over a dozen songs that we loved, and Emily had contributed lead vocals on one or two and backgrounds on a few others,” he elaborated, illustrating the collaborative spirit that had been reignited among the band members.

Shinoda continued, “It was just me, Joe, and Dave [Farrell] when Joe suddenly asked, ‘Do you think Emily could sing all the parts? Could we demo her voice as the lead on some tracks to see how that sounds?’ He was completely serious and not joking around.” This moment highlighted the faith the band had in Armstrong’s talent, showcasing their willingness to explore new avenues in their music.

Feeling inspired by Joe’s suggestion, Shinoda thought, “This dude’s a believer! I knew she would be excited to take part, and I was confident that he would appreciate her voice. The fact that he arrived at that conclusion before I even mentioned it was a significant moment for all of us,” he shared, highlighting the collaborative and trusting atmosphere that characterized their creative process.

Linkin Park’s new album From Zero is now available, and the band has just announced an exciting world tour to support the release. Fans can find the album and explore tour dates and ticketing information on their official website.

Catch Mike Shinoda and Emily Armstrong on The Zach Sang Show