Amanda Palmer

Amanda Palmer is an American singer, songwriter, pianist and performance artist best known as the co-founder, lead vocalist and pianist of the punk-cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls, alongside drummer Brian Viglione. Formed in Boston, the duo developed a distinctive theatrical style blending punk energy, cabaret drama and confrontational, whiteface-influenced stagecraft that set them apart from conventional rock acts.

As a solo artist, Palmer pursued a raw, piano-driven sound marked by dark humor, unflinching emotional honesty and a strong DIY, community-oriented ethos, becoming an early and influential advocate of crowdfunding and direct fan support in the music industry. She also formed the duo Evelyn Evelyn with Jason Webley and has collaborated with a wide range of musicians and writers across her career, including her husband, author Neil Gaiman.

She grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, and was part of Boston's Cloud Club artist community, an environment that shaped her cross-disciplinary approach spanning music, spoken word and performance art. Songs such as «Runs in the Family», «In My Mind» and «Astronaut: A Short History of Nearly Nothing» reflect her confessional songwriting and eclectic arrangements, and her career has been recognized with honors including a Boston Music Award for Artist of the Year.