Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara, Linkin Park’s newest co-vocalist, recalls the moment she entered “dreamland” when the band invited her to join.

Emily Armstrong, Linkin Park’s new co-vocalist, has unsurprisingly stated that she was in “dreamland” when she was approached to join the band, just after their 2024 lineup was unveiled.

Mike Shinoda describes in an interview with Billboard how the band decided to “get a serious temperature check” while in the studio with the Dead Sara singer “this time last year” to see if she was willing to fully commit. Of course, all of that has since led to the upcoming eighth record from From Zero and an upcoming tour.

Emily recalls that they said, “Hey, uh, just a couple questions.” And at the time, we were recording. “Hey, so, you know, we have some big festival stuff and some shows coming up.” Additionally, we believe you would be fantastic, and it’s a year out. We adore what you do and what’s going on with this entire process, and we believe you could sing all the old tunes. “Cool, coo coo coo cool!” is all I can say. I had already spoken to Dead Sara and those in my immediate vicinity, and they said, “Yes.”

It should be obvious if people inquire. They were putting their feelers out on me, and I had previously done so to be sure. “That’s why you don’t feed stray cats!” was reminiscent of Melissa McCarthy’s line from The Heat. I was the stray cat; I had simply kept turning up. However, that was the time.

“So imagine hearing that, and then you have to waltz back into the studio with a casual demeanor, and they say, ‘Okay, Emily, let’s think of another line, we’re working on the verse!’” Emily goes on. I have to act like I’m not [freaking out] because I can’t fucking think of anything else. Since they played it so well, I’m simply attempting to act cool while I’m there for a few more hours. However, you are completely incapable of processing it.

We arrived late that evening, and I recall being in the best possible panic: “Is it real?” I don’t recall ever touching the earth for at least three days. When I got back down, everything was different because I knew that my life would change, but in the best manner possible. I returned to a realm of dreams.