The Random Spike was originally created as a New York studio project in 2007 by producer, mixer and songwriter Fletcher as an alternative to the cutter cookie approach of pop music at the time. A fan of Bristol Drum and Bass, his goal was to develop an American counterpart with more electronic influences, pop arrangements and melodies. When he began recording, it seemed at first that this would become a jazz/DnB instrumental project, until he wrote lyrics to one of the first tracks he had written, ‘Mind Field’. He began looking for a vocalist, and Eleanor Kleiner (of The Whispering Tree) came into his life. At that point, Fletcher decided to make it a half vocal, half instrumental album, but Ms. Kleiner talents would change things, not only with her amazing vocals, but with her amazing writing. This new collaboration would become The Random Spike’s first album, the aptly titled Debut released in 2008. The release got some attention, and the track Retaliate would become the TRS trademark sound, but due to it only being a studio project without live shows, along with Fletcher producing other artists, and Eleanor’s commitments to her other group, the inaugural incarnation of The Random Spike would only make one album together.

Fletcher would continue to collaborate and produce other artists, but he always knew that another Random Spike album would be made, he just wouldn’t know when and with who. Flash forward to 2010, and while auditioning vocalists for his record label in Philadelphia, Brianne Upchurch would walk in. Originally coming in for a pop/ electronic audition, Fletch heard a maturity and uniqueness in Ms. Upchurch’s vocals. Curious, he flipped the audition and asked if she would be interested in doing something a bit different musically, she was game, and returned for a songwriting and vocal audition, that day Fire Escapes was written and she would become the new vocalist for The Random Spike. Brianne would bring in more pop influences to Fletcher’s sometimes chaotic musical ideas by adding excellent lyrics and stirring vocal performances. Their first time in the studio together would become 2011’s Observing the Sun which featured the tracks Recovery is Relative, Your Imagination and Northern Lights. Besides being an awesome songwriter and performer, she represented TRS proudly with every live performance. This incarnation of TRS would go on to record another album.

With enthusiasm and good intentions, in the spring of 2013 Fletch and Brianne would begin recording a third Random Spike album. Staying in the same musical mode establish with the previous albums, but adding Synth-Pop and Dub-step elements (it was very popular at the time) to the mix, the results would become 2014’s The Thin Line. However, due to personal and professional life changes within the group, Brianne would exit TRS. Unable to do shows or any promotion, the album was pulled two weeks after its initial release.

In the meantime, Fletcher (now, Fletcher Z) has begun writing tracks for the new TRS album as he continues to find a new lead vocalist to help him move the new sound forward. The first Best of compilation album is now available leading to the release of the new album (working title, Redux) in early 2022.

To be continued……