[embassy]

Embassy’s beginnings date back to a small hotel room in Valencia, Spain in the spring of 1998. There, singer-songwriters Mike Seminari and C.Todd Nielsen stumbled upon an incredible oneness in musical ideas and vision as they began laying the groundwork for an original rock band. Their visions were seamless, their goals were lofty, and their musical chemistry was instant.

Immediately upon returning to the states and to their school, Miami University, the songwriters began their search for like-minded musicians who shared a love for bands like Pearl Jam, U2, Radiohead and the Beatles. In a just a few months, they had assembled a 5-piece group and were playing to packed houses at the local college bars in the small, college town of Oxford, OH. With increasing local support and recognition, it soon became apparent that a bigger springboard may be needed to launch the band to larger-scale success. With this in mind, the band headed to the Southeast in 2000 to tap into the original rock scene known for producing such acts as Hootie, Dave Matthews, and REM, to name a few. For the next two years, the band would endure an ever-changing line-up of musicians as it continually refined its music and vision. In the end, Seminari and Nielsen found themselves back in Ohio where they had started. Setting up camp in Columbus, the duo began a new search for musicians who shared the musical talent and chemistry that would take them to next level.

Following weeks of unsuccessful auditioning for drummers and bass players from various Columbus music scene websites, C.Todd happened upon an old friend one night while out at the bars. After a short exchange, the friend mentioned a drummer who was looking for a new project. Enter Andrew Timple. After just a few short phone conversations and a quick listen to previous demos, it was obvious that Timple shared the same tastes in music as well as same the drive, passion, and influences of Seminari and Nielsen…not to mention, the kid could drum like no one the two had ever heard. The trio quickly went to work on rehearsing material and finishing out the line-up. One night, Timple invited his former guitarist and band mate, Trevor Connor, to sit it. Within minutes, it was clear that Connor was the man for the job. He played with more talent, speed, and passion than the rest of the competition and was therefore immediately picked up as the fourth member of [embassy]. However, the missing link was still at large, as the band had yet to find a bass player.

Weeks of frustrating auditioning followed as the group struggled to find a bass player to match its enthusiasm, style and influences. Yet, just when it seemed they had tried every player in Columbus, a light bulb went off in Timple’s head as he remembered a former work associate, Andrew Rausch, who played guitar. Timple remembered a lunch conversation the two had shared months before in which Rausch mentioned he was looking for a band. He said he could play bass in addition to guitar and that he just wanted to begin playing out again, regardless of the instrument. Rausch attended the next rehearsal and the connection was immediate. Within minutes, the group could see that Rausch’s style, precision, and knowledge of his instrument were a perfect match for the group. Thus, [embassy] was born.

With such a unique, yet classic melding of influences, the sound that ensued was, and continues to be unmistakably [embassy]. Their songs combine catchy vocal harmonies with the edge and drive of modern alternative rock, weaving them together with thought-provoking lyrics. With their epic choruses and poetic verse, [embassy]’s music grants listeners a rare combination of both melody and introspection, which is undoubtedly the reason for their ever growing fan base across the United States. In just one short year, the band has earned substantial recognition, including being named as a Top 10 Finalist in MTV and College Television Network’s “Best Music On Campus Contest” in 2003. Furthermore, [embassy]’s self-titled EP has been featured by prominent industry websites, including www.CultureDose.Net, www.KingsOFAR.com, and www.AlternativeAddiction.com. With additional industry attention beckoning and continuous improvements to their uncompromising sound, [embassy] is undoubtedly a must-see band in 2004.